The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-11-29
CARE FOR sLEEPERs
a CLUB WHERE DOING msmseas
AHE NEVER DISTURBED.

4
-
There Is . Coed Reason For Thfs
csstens, which IL Not AlIewed 20
Ne vfoIsfea-A Short sleep whsoh
ouininstss Il = Tragedy.
There ID an exclusive club IN upper
Ncw York where the employees are for.
hidden from awakening any member
who drops asleep In his chair in the n
brary or sitting room. II visitor I'm
Quires for him he is aout." Other mem.
bers. II they see him. carry on their
conversation In low tones or 60 to the
smoking room O. cafe. Very few new
members are admitted to the club, but
those who are fortunate enough to get
In or those who bring visitors are re-
minded Of this custom.
A physician who belongs to the club
explained the reason Of II. ut Ia
wrong under any circumstances" he
said. ito awaken man who has fallen
into a natural sleep, How do you
know but II is the first time he has
been able to sleep for hours or even
daysl This phenomenon OF sleep Is a
very complicated one. There are many
grades OF sleep, and they affect differ
ent men In different ways. Dreams
are the result of defective or partial
sleep, and their common occurrence
In the lighter varieties OF the state
shows that the Pest taken by most per-
sons Is not profound or continuous
even while 1t lasts.
Don't you know that scores Of per
sons In New York take long trolley
ride In the evening simply to produce
feeling Of sleepiness? II a man looks
straight ahead OF him or reads a news
paper his ride will do him little good.
lie might as well remain at home on
his front stoop. But II be looks about
him, constantly shifting his gaze from
one scene to another, be gets into a
state Of drowsiness such as is brought
about by artificial means when It Is
called hypnotism. That is why 80
many men feel like doing In the club
after they come in from ride or
drive in the park.
Sleep induced by overeating Is not
natural. That brought about by stImn-
fants is nothing but blood poisoning
and stupor, It may be desirable and
even necessary In some cases to pro-
duce this stupor. But the state into
which the brain Is thrown Is not sleep.
II natural sleep follows. 1t Is con-
tingency and not the effect Of the
stimulant. But I was going to tell |
you a story, not deliver a medical lec-sI
ture. ! must not mention names, but |
many old club men Of New York win |
remember the tragedy.
There was a man who was quite |
both In a business and So
cfal way, in the life OF this city. A
dreadful family misfortune brought on
insomnia. He would sometimes 20
forty-eight hours without sleep; then
after normal night or two he would |
not be able to sleep for week. All
his life until bis trouble came upon i
him he had been habitually heavy |
sleeper. After two or three months Of |
this insomnia attack his health began
to give way. Physicians tried all the
usual means Of overcoming the diff
Guilty, but failed He was prescribed (
sleeping drafts until 1t became dan
gerous to continue them longer.
Then he went to Europe, taking
young physician Of my ac-
quaintance as companion. Specialists
abroad prescribed walking and noun
tain climbing, but they discovered that
there Ia nothing to be gained By In
,reasing the fatigue of the body when
worry Of mind win not allow the re-
pose to which the limbs are entitled.
The man came home little the better
'or his trip. he retired from business.
His strength wasted away.
FINALLY By ona Of those curious
'reaks Of nature we occasionally
.aught him dozing at the club. All
Who knew his misfortune sympathized
With him. We moved about as though
n sick chamber until he awoke. He
Ieldom slept more than twenty min
ltes and told US that his restlessness
Il night continued. One afternoon he
anne In positively drowsy. 10 a friend
le said: <ssses.
"T feel as though could sleep for q
yeek, but I can't sleep IL my own
lome-no. Find me 4 he'd here f
I'VE got him upstairs % a room ana
nut a man on guard al. the door, with
to zee that no servant was
llowed to disturb him or make noise.
In hour or SO afterward an accident H
a the kitchen brought the fire engines
- to the door. There was really no
anger, but before ladder could be
aised poor Blanks body came tum-
ling into the area.
"He was killed. Suicide7 No It
Tas the opinion Of all of us that sud
en- awakening from the first sound
leep he had enjoyed for more than
ear upset his mind and that when he
Tas awakened by the noise he did not :
aalize where he was In frenzy he
,aped from the window" New York :