The herald., 1898-07-24
TANTALIZING THE SLEEPLESS
Comments by Sufferer Upon Plan
for Avoiding Insomnia


IT belong to the modern noble army oil
martyrs" said young woman. I'm ar
alleged brainworlser. The results DOM
justify the title, perhaps, but that isn't the
point The work I do is generally classeo
as brainwork, so let 1t go at that.
"Well, whether it's because really dc
overtax my feeble mental powers, or be.
cause I worry because I don't tax them
enough, or because 1 haven't enough exer
else, it is fact that there are times when
1 don't get enough sleep. Or think
don't, and that amounts TO the same thing
Consequently I always hail with joy any
advice on the subject Of overcoming insom-
| ria. At present I have such valuable
fund of information along this line that
can almost put myself to sleep by counting
the methods which I have tried and found
wanting.
1.-The other day I was waiting for train
at one Of the elevated railroad stations. and
as stood there looked over the display
Of reading matter on the news stand Ny
heart leaped within me when in a certain
table of contents saw the title, Mental
Control of Sleep My train was just rum
bling UP. 30 didn't have time to take a
peep at the article, and find out whether 1t
would be of any use to me- put down my
20 cents, took UP my magazine and ran for
the train.
II read the article on my way downtown,
and was so mad that accidentally kicked
the old gentleman next to me- which some
how made me feel better, though doubt
II 1t did as much for him. You see, it
wasn't the first time that had read one OF
that same brand Of insomnia articles, and ]
wanted my 20 cents back. If there is one
thing more irritating than another to per-
son who has courted sleep unsuccessfully
weary night after weary night, 1t is to be
told, as for instance, in the language of this
article the other day:
Instead of taking ones cares to bed,
one should dismiss them the moment one
begins to undress. Thinking Is voluntary.
The current Of thought can be stopped by
an act of the will as promptly and almost
as mechanically as the water can be turned
off at the bathroom faucet
Slang or no slang. that makes me tired.
This turning off thought when every nerve
in your body and brain is buzzing away Is
about as sensible as to try to turn off a
thunderstorm by plugging hole in a VIII
lage switchboard. The man who wrote
this article, however, doesn't think so. This
Is what he says about people like me:
The trouble with us when we say we
cant stop thinking Is really that we do
not want to. Like the scheduled victims
OF bibulous indulgence, the man that can
not stop could stop II he would. There is
no limit to the power Of an intelligent will
Humboldt could live and be sane and useful
on an allowance Of two hours sleep out of
the twenty-four Edison once remained
awake for seventy-two hours in order to
complete mental task. Such facts, how
ever, are but little harder than that of 60
ing to sleep at will, which Napoleon, with
Europe on his shoulders, was able to do.
Almost any business man would pronounce
them easier; but sleep, being normal, should
be far more readily enjoyed than dispensed
with.
" The New Testament-which. among
other admirable things. is a good and simple
exposition of healing philosophy-gives a
| recipe for the cure Of insomnia. The New
Testament tells you what to employ-a bet
| ter medicine than any drug-Take nc
thought for the morrow Stop thinking
that is to say, and go to sleep; If there is
some weighty decision to be made, the hou,
will find you equal to it.
Now, what do you think Of that? o.
course, 1t is not necessary deliberately te
worry and think and plan after one goes
to bed. But like the cheerful way ir
which he says: Just stop thinking and 81
to sleep don't believe anybody can make
the mind perfect blank. That's favor
lite phrase.
"I'll wager one thing, either the writer.
Of such articles have never known person
ally the terrors of insomnia, or they have
happily recovered their nervous equilibrl
UNI and have forgotten what they wen,
through. AS for me, have suffered from
s!eeplessness; 1 have recovered, but have
not forgotten. And my advice to those VIII,
are still suffering is this: Turn off tn,
faucet Of thought, as the gentleman sug
gests, If you can. Take lots and lots O.
outdoor exercise. Drink some hot milk be
fore you go to bed. Get out of the city, i
convenient-or inconvenient. Be just al
happy as you possibly can be. The last hi
of advice may seem little of the natur,
Of the one about turning Off thought
isn't, however. There is good testimon!
to the contrary. Consequently, my pre-
scription is: Country nights, exercise, no
milk and happiness. And I've been through
the mill."-New York Sun.
| %--
To Abolish African Slavery
An organization has been fncornnra O,