Evening star., 1928-12-22

Insomnia, Which comes to every one
upon occasion, has its good points as
well as its bad ones. Doctors say that
it is not so much the actual wakeful-
ness which hurts as 1t is the worrying
about it.
If one can find interest in the state
itself, he will be in position to derive
actual benefit from the experience.
Perhaps the best way to secure this
happy result is to compare the appear
anceS of things during the night with
their appearances during the day.
Familiar places and objects take on
new aspects under the influence of 8
am. No doubt this is one of the charms
discovered by revelers. They find
streets look differently than they did
during more wholesome hours.
He who finds himself unable to sleep
for any cause-it may have been moth
ing more than an unaccuStomed cup
Of coffee for dinner-iS in a fine posi-
tion to enjoy the novelty of night with
out annoying his neighbors.
Undoubtedly. there is a "kick" to the
night which daytime does not enjoy.
One would not go so far as to say 1T
is unwholesome, but surely 1t Is not nor
NAL to the human race. Mankind was
made to go to bed with the birds, which
at this season may be seen tucking their
heads under their wings at 5 o'clock or
thereabouts. We do not say that human
beings should emulate them to that ex-
| tent, but the fact remains that Benja-
min Franklin was a wise man.
The first part of a sleepless night
may proftably be occupied with trying
to go to sleep. Maybe one will succeed!
Most of those who solemnly declare at
the breakfast table that they didn't
sleep wink last night" are unconscious
liars. The number of "winkS" they
consumed, If placed end to end, would
stretch from Washington to Phila-
delphia, at least.
Sleep possesses the marvellous faculty
of packing great deal in little. Some
times minute of really deep Slumber
will do a man more good than eight
hours of restless tossing in half sleep.
Hundreds of confirmed inSomniacs prove
that one may get along on very little
sleep. The worry with which they
of the trouble. If they could once get
the attitude Of not worrying, much Of
the danger of the state would vanish.
While trying hard to go to sleep
one may put so much effort on the
business in hand as to keep ones self
soundly awake. This is another case
in which taking thought will do little
good Profitable occupation of the mind
with given trend of thought may in
duce the coveted slumber, but it is
questionable whether it will do as much
good as a glass of bread and milk
eaten before retiring.
If sleep resolutely fails to come, then
is the time to make the best of it by
comparing night with day, especially
in regard to the commonplaceS of life
and living. Usually one may indulge
in this happy practice without stirring.
Note the window. See yonder curious
cloud formation, visible over the tops
of those houses. The clouds look for
all the world like a row of trees they
so hug earth. they SO blend with the
works of man.
Above them stretches lighter por-
ton which Stimulates sky. This, too, Is
but cloud formation. There Is an angry
look about this double bank, black be-
meath, white above--an appearance of
hurricanes. What time for a hurri-
cane! Plans for tempest are hurriedly
devised as one lies stretched out at ease.
ct is better to worry about an impos-
sible storm than ones all-too-possible