The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-11-09
HOURS FOR SLEEP
Bed Should Surely Claim One
Third of Persons Life.
Not Much Difference as to What Par
tfcuIar Portion of the Night Is
Devoted to SIun7ber, but
Grab Off Enough.

For long time and in the majority
of places in this country it has been
the habit to stay up late at night, and
in some places the early morning hours
have not been given much attention.
Of course this refers principally to the
larger towns and cities, and while there
would of necessity be some people get
ting to work at seven o'clock the aver
age man or woman coming along at
eight or even later would find things
still iii the cleanin~-up and Opening-up
Stage. Sunrise. on the mountains Or at
sea or in the rural districts, is an event
worthy of attention and we'll rewards
the early riser with its beauty and sig
nificance, hut the early riser in the
town or city has usually found every
thing untidy and must step over ash
cans and dodge the sweepcrs and be
satisfied with the sleepy grunts of work
men who are getting things into shape
for the business of the day. 1t is any
thing but picturesque and is most I'M
attractive.
Whoever it was who discovered sleep
decided that at least one-third of a
persons life was properly spent in bed,
and therefore, when the crowd stops
up until midnight, it is healthy and wise
to remain under cover, or anyway on
the pillows, until eight o'clock The
dancer or card-player Certainly we
mean bridge and other perfectly prop
er games), lingering for the last one
step or the final hand. until one O'Clock,
should not be disturbed until nine. And
so on, according to the accepted plan
of health and happiness. But taking
the other side of the argument-or
rather, reversing the programmed the
average person retire at ten o'clock
and rise at six.
Probably whole lot of people will
grumble at the schedule suggested, and
we don't pretend to say that it must be
done. We haven't been appointed sleep
director yet, nor yet given the right to
wake people up at certain hour. A
great deal has been done, however, in
the last year that tends to a more rea-
sonable sleeping and waking scheme.
Through the winter and early spring
two nights each wee!; were allowed linn
tied lighting Only. This was calculated
to send the people home earlier than
usual, and served to keep some folks
at home after dinner or supper. accord
in2 to the designation of the evening
meal. A great amount of fuel was
saved, according to report, and UP to
date no damage has been reported to
ind ix-iI
The stores are closing early and the
tendency seem to be for an early re-
tirement generally. In Miami they are
trying out Il curfew-but it isn't a
real curfew. 1t only refers to young
folks under a certain age, and it won't
amount to a great deal. The English
understand that sauce should be pro-
vided of suitable strength for both the
gander and the goose, and in England
the curfew law closes all places of
amusement and all business enterprises
at q certain reasonable time. Parents
are expected to take care of their young
daughters and sons and themselves.
The theaterS and concert halls, reStau-
rants and dance halls and recreation
enterprises generally plan their pro-
grams to begin early and end in time
for their patrons to get home consid-
erably before midnight. There IS no
penalty for rising early in London or
elsewhere, and the population, now
very generally retiring about ten
o'clock, is likely 90 per cent up at 6
a. m. A very large per cent is certainly
up at five O'Clock and many at four,
and some earlier.
The eight hours mentioned is not a
rigid rule of health or really beneficial
to everybody. That it is enough for
30 per cent of the population of this
country is certain, and thousands aGG
thousands can live happily, beautifully
and profitably with Il smaller average
of sleep. A few really need more than
eight hours. Thomas A Edison has
been quoted as saying that four hours
sleep was slIfficient-for him. Perhaps
he said it, and possibly that is enough
for some men at some period OF their
lives. The great big majority need
more than four hours, and also can do
very we'll with eight. 1t is then evil
dent that by going to bed as early as
ten o'clock and rising at six the work
err will have q whole lot of morning
tfme-the best always for work or
pleasure or both.