Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-22
MYSTERY OF SLEEP.
Light Being Thrown On Long Dis
eussed Subject.


eussed Subject.
The scientific investigators Of the
world who inquire profoundly into the
mysteries Of life and lay bare the Sc
crets locked in natures heart, who
wrestle with the rebellious elements
and take captive their mighty forces,
who search immeasurable space and
discover new worlds, have not yet
solved the problem of sleep. Aftefthe
flight Of centuries we know little or
nothing about a condition In which
fully one third Of our life Is passed.
To be sure the Jealous PSYCHOLOGISTS OF
comparatively recent years lay claim
to remarkable progress in their effort
to understand thoroughly this long
discussed subject. They assert that
the brain and nervous system need
that rest and renewed life which Is
obtainable only through the medium
Of sleep; that the cessation Of all vital
processes during this period is abso-
lutely essential to our well being, and
they have even analyzed all the pre-
liminary symptoms, such as yawning,
dropping eyelids and utter relaxation
Of the exhausted body. They even
amplify these statements by telling US
that the periods Of sleep in healthy
persons occur as regularly as the days
come and go, that the night with its
mysterious darkness and silence Is
most conclusive to repose, though tits
admitted that in many cases where
person is accustomed to live In the
midst Of a confusion Of noises when
sound Is suspended sleep Is denied.
But beyond these facts, which are al
ready fairly we'll known to most OF us,
the scientists tell us little else and
pass by the unanswerable question,
What Is sleep and what is the real pur-
pose Of sleep?
The ancients believed, we are told,
that in sleep the soul touched a high
er power, and we Of these later years
could do worse than accept this the
ory, thereby explaining the mystery Of
sleep as medicine for the SOUL as
we'll as refreshment for the body. 1t
Is noted, however, that in some cases
sleep proved to be anything but re-
freshing experience, and along the
tenets Of the new thought" creed,
which is at present engaging the at
tention of a large part Of the civilized
world, is the control Of ones thoughts,
particularly just before sleeping. If
our minds linger upon the pure and
peaceful aspects Of life refreshing
slumber is almost sure to ensue, while
If angry, exciting or irritable thoughts
occupy the mind they are apt to ap-
pear to US in some form during the
nights rest, and we are likely to awake
in a dull and depressed condition.
1t is true also, as most Of us have
reason to know, that sleep is not al
ways at our command, even when
tired brains and aching bodies crave
it's benediction of Inconsistencies.
Who has not at some period Of life
wooed repose in vain, at first probably
with bodily relaxation and the blank
est Of minds, then with impatience and
a certain nervous irritability, and at
last with the determination Of final
which Of itself defeats
it's object? A writer on this particu-
lar phase of the subject says that sleep
Is like a pigeon, pursue it and it flies
from you; keep quiet and do not trou-
BILE about 1t and 1t will alight on you.
It is argued, however, that the loss Of
a nights sleep is harmless in itself;
it Is the irritation and anger resulting
therefrom that hurt, and it Is, at least,
to believe that such Is the
case.
But in spite Of all the explanations
and theories offered by the student OF
the subject we are yet unenlightened
as to the true meaning of this neces-
sary condition Of our life. No human
mind has yet explored its mysteries; |
no human understanding can ever hope
to sound it's depths, and the more we
seek to grasp its secrets the more i'm
penetrable they become. Is 1t likely |
that an all wise nature has decreed
that the refreshment Of our bodies the
Of our vital organs, should