Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-02
SLEEP OF GREAT MEN.
Among Them We're Many Early
Risrrs, While Some Did Best
Work at Night.

OFrom the New York Herald)
Give hours sleep IS sufficient for
men" declared Napoleon. Seven for
women, children, and fools
History hardly bears out the great Cor
sican's dictum, although there have been
some notable advocates among the
worlds great mon Of the theory general
ly regarded as burning the candle at
both ends" Men. however, undouhtly
differ fundamentally in regard TO tho
need of sleep as they do in other re-
spects. and, whether great or little each
one must work out from experience a
schedule of rest as he must of diet and
exercise. One fact, however. may he
predicatcd Of almost all great persons;
whatever their habits as regards retiring
they hav" been early risors During the
years of Daniel Wobsters greatest Con
gressional activity it was remar ka BILE OF
him that no one ever saw him reading
or preparing for his speeches This was
all done. according to his own confession.
at an early hour when other men were
still enjoying their morning Sumher.
Webster possessed In a high degree what
is known as the morning temper
ament." as distinguished from the might
temperament" and he found. CON
sequently, that his mind manifested
greatest clarity and productivity during
the early hours OF the day.
Ralzac, that titan OF the nineteenth
century. was accustomed regularly to a
rise ut midnight and. after enveloping
himself in his monks habit, to seat
himself at his desk and force his weary
brain to its task of creation. Carried
away by admiration Of the master"
Thcophile Gautier ana number Of
other ambitious youths of the day under
took to initiate this popularity of the
"faher of realism" with the result that
very soon they We're forced to take TO
their beds in earnest to make up for the
hours stolen from slumber Doctors
doubtless. would point to the early taxi
ing off OF Balzac, who died when fifty
one years of age. as proof of the dele
terious effects OF such n regimen. On the
other hand, it NAV be questioned
whether his exhaustion was not due to
the privations and financial troubles of
his early years, rather than to work at
ill-advised hours. II Is as illogical to at
tribute his early death to the abnormal
ity of his habits of labor as to attribute
the long survival Of Voltaire and the ex-
plorer and traveller, Alexander Humboldt,
to Ike cause.
On one occasion Max Muller, as re-
| lated in his autobiography, was return
| ing from an evening entertainment in
| Berlin with Humbolt. who was then
eighty years OF age and the conversation
! turned upon the lattcr's Cosmos" Bit
| tery the savant complained that he was
| no longer able to accomplish as much as
previously, since he now required four
hours sleep instead of two as in earlier
| years.
When I was your age" he remarked to
the philoogian, II would simplp turn
down my lamp, and, after a nap OF two
hours, would be as fresh as ever"
The sleeping room of Votaire's secre-
| tary at Ferney was directly beneath that
Of the author, and at any hour Of the
| day or night, when moved to compo-
sition, the great Frenchman was accus-
toned to stamp upon the floor OF his
chamber and summon the unfortunate
scribe to take down his thoughts When
once under way it was no unsual thing
for him to continue working sixteen
| hours at stretch.
Certainly for the nongenius there can
be little doubt as to which of the two
| 'ieHlpeTlll'HlS II Is wise 10 cultivate.
Goethe, despite his habit OF early rising
was wont to arise In the night to scribble
down poem or song and Emersons
wife was subject to the danger of being
aroused by the philosopher IN his search
| for writing materials, only thought
my dear" he woeld reassure her. as he
seized the fleeing inspiration. Those of
| MS. however, who are not blessed or
cursed with genius can echo Sancho
Panza's fervent prayer: BLESSINGS on
the head of him who invented sleep"
During the time when suspicion point
| ed strongly to Sir Walter Scott as the
author OF the Waverly Novels, the clos
est watchfulness Of his guests at Abbots-
ford failed to detect signs of literary
activity on their hosts part the reason
being that his pen had always completed
its daily abors by the the the amateur
! detectives had arisen from their beds.