St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-02-10


keeps to Himself. We philosophize and
guess about this phenomenon, but will
never know just what sleep is until
we are told about it when we ge,
through the last sleep. Thank Goo
morning, noon and night for this
strange quietude, this refreshing dis.
missal. this recuperating absence, this
reinforcement of energies, this mighty
benediction.
Consider among the worst crimes
the robbery of ourselves or others OF
the mercy of slumber. Much ruinous
doctrine has been inculcated on this
subject. Thomas Moore gave poor ad-
vice when he said: "The best way to
lengthen our days is to steal few
hours from the night" We are told
that, though they did their work at
night, Copernicus lived to be % years
of age and Galilei IS years and Herschel
81 years. Yes, but the reason was they
were all star hunters, and the only time
for hunting stars is at night. Prob
ably they slept by day. The night was
made for slumber. The worst lamp a
student can have is 1.-The midnight
lamp" Lord Brougham never passed
mere than four hours of the night abed,
and Justinian, after one hour of sleep,
would rise from his couch. But you are
neither a Justinian nor a Lsrd
Brougham. Let not the absurd apotf E.
osis of early rising induce you to the ao-
breviation of sleep. Get up when you
are slept out, unless circumstances
compel otherwise. Have no alarm clock
making its nerve-tearing racket at four
o'clock in the morning, unless special
reasons demand the forsaking of your
pillow at that hour. Most Of the the
cries about early rising we inherited
from times when people retired at eight
or nine O'Clock in the evening. Such
early retirement is impossible in our
own times for those who are taking
part in the great activities Of life.
There is no virtue in the mere act of
early rising. 1t all depends upon what
you do after you get up. 1t would be
better for the world if some people
never Weakened at all.
But most Americans do not get sleep
most widespread and ruinous. What
is much needed is that in all our cities
those who are leaders in social life
turn back the hour of drawing-room
assemblage from ten and eleven to
eight or half-past seven, so that the
guests at ten or half-past ten may meet
sleep at the right hour in their Own
dormitories. Two or three Social
heroines could do that in all the towns
and cities. Thousands of men and wom-
en- are slain each year by late hours.
Five years is more than the average
of endurance. The vitality Of men and
women is depleted, and they go into
chronic ailments, if they do not die
of dyspepsia or consumption or nervous
prostration, and the beauty goes out
of the cheek beyond all restoration of
cosmetics. Late retiring is the mother
of premature wrinkles. Lack of sleep
assassinates social life. A reformation
is needed, and if the customs of the
world could be changed in this matter
and the curtains of social life could be
rung down at a reasonable hour of the
night 90 per cent. would be added to the
worlds longevity.
All those ought to be comforted who
by overwork in right directions have
come to insomnia. In all occupations
and professions there are times when
special draft is made upon the nervous
energy. There are thousands of men
and women who cannot sleep because
they were injured by overwork in some
time of domestic or political or relig-
ious exigency. Mothers who, after TAX
ing q whole family of children through |
the disorders that are sure to strike |
the nursery. have been left physical |
wrecks. and one entire night of slum-
Der is to them a rarity. il not an inn |
possibility. The attorney at law who |
through long trial in poorly venti-
lated courtroom has stood for weeks |
battling for the rights of widows and !
orphans or for the life of client in |
whose innocence he is confident, though |
all the circumstances are unfavorable. |
In his room he tries the case all night i
long. and every night, when he would |
like to be slumbering. The physician,
ing the lives of whole families and fail
ing in his attempts to sleep at night
between the janglings of bis door bell.
The merchant who has experienced \
panics, when the banks went down and
Wall street became a pandemonium.
and there was a possibility that next
day he would be penniless-that night
n -
sleep than if such blessing had never
our planet. Ministers Of the
Gospel. in time of great revival. all their
powers of endurance drawn upon day
by day and week by week and month
by month NM sermonic preparation.
neighborhood visitation, heartbreaking
obsequies. sympathetic hep for the
anxious, the despairing and the dying.
1t is wonder that ministers of the
Gospel have any nerves left and that
the angel of sleep does not quit their
presence forever.
But here and now pronounce high
est consolation for all those who in any
department. have sacrificed their health
70 duty. Your sleeplessness is as much
wound as you can find on any battle
ield and is nm honorable wound. We
III look with reverence and admiration
lpon one who has lost an eve or an arm
n the service of his country. and we
ought to look with admiration upon
hose who. through extreme fidelity to
heir life work, have lost their capacity
or slumber. Remember glorious Al
'ert Barnes going along the streets Of
Philadelphia at four o'clock in the
morning for many years to his church ,
tudy, writing all hi; commentaries be-
ore breakfast. ard keeping on until !,
le was stcne blind. Will not the Lord
eward such sacrifices? And If through ,
our fidelity you have lost capacity to
leep. Goo, who never slumbers or
leeps, vii! look after You. When you
ear the clock strike twelve and one and
wo and three and four without your
DING to your slumber. let ii remind
on that you have not been a sluggard