Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-20

small a thing as a Welsh rarebit. Eaten
at 10 p. NJ, this is the kind of a rabbit
mat often evoluteS into a big, black dog
at l o'clock, or a pate de foie gras UNI
timely interviewed beneath pink-shaded
lamps can turn to Morphean darkness
and the tortures Of strangulation in the
wee sma' hours" The term nightmare
Is supposed to have been derived from
Mara, the name OF a demon which, ac-
cording to the Scandinavian mythology.
bounced upon people in their sleep and
held the will in thraldom. The Saxons
called the distemper elf-sidenne, or, elf
squatting. l believe that is where the
southern darkies get their ideas of
witches that travel by night. Many an
old nanny has frightened her musings,
who begged for Just one more leetle.
leetle piece OF cake or pie" with the
story OF the witch who rides on a broom
stick and gives greedy children the night
mare.
There Is a phase Of sleep, or, rather
want Of sleep, known as Insomnia, which
is quite the correct thing to nave now, just
as nervous prostration was the
fashionable complaint two seasons ago.
Insomnia and neurasthenia-twin fads
and lovely names-are special New York
diseases, that Gotham's haut ton ply
sicians are fighting with pills and pow
ders.
If you have either malady you are in
the same condition Of nervous collapse
as Is the man or woman who takes too
much-and very much too ~much-cham-
payne. Bromide Of potassium Is not go
ing to cure you.
Neurasthenia is too heightened to affect
ordinary mortals: it is mostly prevalent
among the -four hundred" Insomnia,
a. ,pa A., - a-ztLa. - - ~ - 1
This is said to be one Of the little black
imps attendant on the other afliction,
but to be more readily remedied.
OF his l have my doubts, for OF all
in the name Of advice for human
ailments, the greatest is talked about for
insomnia, for the going off to sleep by
rule or rote, from soporihcs to a plunge
bath.
Lie perfectly still," says the mentor.
DO not nov even a finger: this will
save unnecessary expense OF nerve force"
My friends, nine times in ten the over
wrought nerves need TO balance their
strain by muscular exertion, and the
umbling. rolling, and tossing relieves
ension just as a laugh or cry does.
INSOMNIA A~NTIDOTES.
This talk about going TO sleep by will
is nonsense, as one knows who
las tried it night after night, 10 the
lerge OF distraction. !
Worse Than this, however, are the !
doses given by physicians and {
he self-practice Of bromedia, sulfonel, [
all sorts Of quack pellets. These
i've one a glimpse down the broad, :
road hat leadeth to Mysteries .
nd nervous prostration. =
How to WOO sleep when the tired brain :
10 be wooed Is the great ques- 4,
on. =
why. it's easy enough" says a coun- y
y friend. Just count sheep jumping
Ickward over a fence"
Shall L jump backward and count the
l naturally ask.
mo, Of course not; you keep still and
'unt. Before one hundred are over
~ will be sound asleep" "
l try it and grow intensely interested
efore 20 sheep have cleared the palings
am wider awake than ever. and filling CO
cen fields with fiocks and herds like g
ITO the ancient patriarchs. At a little OIL
Bile d'hote not long since a party OF
omen discussed this ~sleepless subject, :
Insomnia Is ~curable,' remarked a
urdy woman as she helped herself to
me cold meat. a cold vegetable, with :.
'ench dressing. a baked apple, and a IL
&c OF cold bread. But how?' Ques-
med another, a pale. nervous creature, Z
had been complaining OF sleepless- a
SIS. Mainly by temperate eating" she =
piled, land cold baths" ~
AT night?' we asked In chorus. y
Yes, at night; when 1 feel that I am
owing restless and nervous. 1 begin by
the bolster off the bed and get a
7 head on a level with my heels. IL
falls l try a rubber tubing, with a
rforated nozzle fastened to the cold
ter lancet, and spray a gentle cold D
cam up and down my backbone and i
err the liver" a,
wen, for my part" said the girl who
S slipping hot boulllon. II would rather III
up and read Buffers Anology' all
And I agreed with her.
TRY GENTLE TACTICS. c<
point best worth remembering is
It the more gentle the means employed 81
induce sleep the more natural and re-
shing will be the sleep. An essential 10
tor is the temperament. These violent
ans OF trying to force sleep would ex- sc
ist the vitality OF women more delicate
IN our sturdy advocate OF the midnight eA
szle. / heard lately the cheering news
4 theosophy was q cure for insomnia
ere has been q smouldering interest In