The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-07
Concerning Sleep

The late heated perlod--lst us hopefully
speak of il as of the past--has revealed a
sad amount OF nervous overstrain both In
personal breakdowns and in popular dis
quiet The worst legacy which the 10Th
century has bequeathed TO the Goth is
condition OF attenuated nerves. This is
probably more true OF North America
than il is Of Europe. IL is usual to remark
that each new generation on this soil is
more nervous than the last The climate
OF this continent is much more stimulat-
ing. Its peopsS. having more opportunities
OF success, are more ambitious, besides
being. perhaps more under the Puritan
sense Of the preciousness OF time.
on the other hand the people OF North
America probably consume less stim-
ulants.. This Ia not so much because they
are more prudent or virtuous as because
they earlier discover that they could not
stand them Both sides Of the sea have,
however, an enormous deal 10 learn in
this mattel ct, especially AS the re-
sources and tempta atoms I'm this line are
constantly on the increase. But possibly
one of the chief causes OF increased nerve
strain is the wonderful development OF
artificial light In former times IL was
only very climited portion Of the popula-
ton which could afford 10 any great ex-
tent 10 turn night into day: say on a
market night fast by an ingle bleezin'
finely" with the aid possibly of a poor
candle 10 keep the landlady and Tam from
growing too generous. For the most part.
sleep was the one occupation for the hours
Of darkness, and what was lacking I'm
summer was abundantly made up i'm win
ter. When Abraham had nothing 20 do
after dark but 10 sit I'm us tent door and
nm
why he should not live To he over a hun
drod. Races Of people who have no spec
tacles aud after certain age are preclud-
cd from using their eyes on fine work.
simply because they cannot see. must he
saved q wonderful deal OF nerve wear.
We are by no means slorifyine those
times for there is certainly nothing worse
for the nervous system than \ vacant
mind. Rut II IL right 90 realize that we.
I'm these days, have robbed ourselves OF
the requisite amount of nerve recupera-
tion. our social arrangements are such
that I'm spite OF ourselves IL Is usually
near midnight, and often after &C. before
we sct 10 bed and business makes early
demands This is n line i'm which the
10Th century will need to be imperativ
The teaching of the 1oth was all risht
The old rule Of six for a man. seven for
a woman and eight for q fool was <om-
pletely dethroned. II might have done
cise aud-therefor needed na- rasl-It- Is
probably quite enough still FOR people Of
that sort. But II was far from the ideal
Of the British workman OF the first half
of the last century. whose requirements.
according 10 his own conception OF them
were:
Eight hours' work and eight hours play,
Eight hours sleep and eight bob "A day"
" has long been an accepted doctrine
among intelligent people that eight hours
is good average. There may he differ
ences of idiosNncrasy. We have all heard
great stories about Humbolt. living long
and working sreatly on four hours sleep;
of Cavour doing mighty things on Ike
supply. and Of Talieyrand not going To
sleep at all We have also known mon
who boasted like immunities from ma
lures tax upon time who went into
early decay.
Eight hours seems 10 he Acknowledged
10 he about the right supply OF sleep for
the average healthy person and busy
brain " only remains now for this doc
trine IN he put into practice. which n has
never been. with tho necessary corollary
that where there Is lecway IN pnil up
the measure of sleep should he proportion
ately increased. To this end there Is
nothing FOR " but 60 put out the lights
early snd forbid the II o'clock express
van.-Montreal Witness