Year: 1872

We have all been taught there Is
merit in wasting as few hours as pos
sible in sleep, and that early rising
is one OF the cardinal virtues-admit-
ting for the Protestant moment that
cardinals have virtues. We have all
been educated to believe that the time
given to the bed is lost and that We
gain all the hours we steal from 1t.
Children have been Taught that prompt
rising in the morning is a beautiful
thing.


l am not sorry, therefore, that one OF
the medical, faculty DR.. Hall, has had
the good sense to tell the world that
children until the age of eighteen, and
old and feeble people Che might as well
have said everybody need teh hours
sleep; and that bouncing suddenly out
OF bed in the morning is a. hurttul as It
is disagreeable; tnat fifteen or twenty
minutes spent in gradual waking up
stretching the limbs, and letting the
blood slowly resume its wonted circula-
ton, is time well spent. For a sudden
sending OF the blood to the heart is
severe shock, and the person who gets
up in this hasty reckless manner is GER
tain to be drowsy by midday, unless he
or she is night editor or belle, and
does not get up till afternoon. cons
cur in this-in fact, | alyays knew that
it was true; and think, further that pull
ling anybody out OF bed ought to be
States Prison offense, and that convic-
ton for it could be had before any OF
our ordinary sleepy Jurles-lt they were
wake enough to hear the evidence.


Many people seem to think it unbe-
coming to sleep anywhere, except in
church and at evening lectures They
speak OF it as merit that they DO with
few hours sleep at home. This ls one
reason why there are SO many stupid
people in sOciety-admlttlng for the
argument that there are so many; they
get up too soon or too suddenly, and
are never fairly awake all through.
What seems 10 he stupidity is really
want OF sleep. A good many OF the
sermons, and now and then an editorial,
are written in this state OF mind; and
even fashionable people 90 gaping
around, making yawniDg calls upon &C
quaintvnces who ought TO be in bed,
and who wish the callers were.


The instinct of children against early
and especially sudden rising, is well
founded, and it is pleasant TO have the
learned faculty confirm a long and
growing conviction that it is not a sin
TO lie in bed till the second bell rings.
1t is the experience OF the msJorlty Of
the people that the most delicious
moments of the whole day are those
when they ought TO get up, and do not
We have been now for several thou
sand years going to the ant, and
getting away from the sluggard, to that
degree that we have developed a very
nervous condition. To say nothing OF
being defrauded by our rights, and OF
the legitimate and healthy luxury OF
sleeping long and waking up slowly, as
the plants do, no doubt many OF the
nervous diseases that are attributed to
stock gambling, tobacco and unrequit-
ted love, are due TO want Of sufficient
sleep from childhood up.


1t is perhaps right to shoot soldiers,
who are hired TOR that purpose, for
sleeping at their post. 1t disciplines
them; but it might be better TO relieve
guards oftener and send them TO bed.
Yet civilians generally ought 10 be lee
tured for sleeping too little. All the
passages in school hooks about early
rising should be stricken out, and there
should be verses promising moderate
competence as the reward Of sleeping
enough, and coming out Of sleep by de
grees. Ia old times, perhaps il did not
matter 40 much, when the world was
less busy, and there was less strain
upon the facilities during the waking
hours. But every one can see now
that the world il red.hot with money
getting, and vast enterprises, and poll
tics, and ritualism, and all sorts OF
rights, patent, and some that are not 80
patent, and feverish literature; and
in order 10 bear the wear and carry the
load Of it, a man needs TO sleep more
hours than he did when be only rose
10 eat and drink, and hunt the wild
boar, and sIay a few Of bis neighbors
before an early dinner. We are be.
coming more and more wakeful 30 that
we cannot sleep soundly in the season
we give 10 rest. il ls nervous wake.
fulness, however, and not the full vigor
Of all per rest OF the system. No one
can be at his best in any hour unless he
has given az many hours to solid sleep
as his system requires. The demand Of
business and the exactions Of society
keep most Of us out OF bed unmerciiully,
and in time we get jsdededly used TO the
unnatural life, and take credit 70 our.
selves that we can do with the fevest
hours Of sleep. 1t is a great mistake.
There have been great men who we're
able to accomplish a great amount OF
work with little sleep but We may be
sure that if we want 70 be great mep,
or what is more important in this day.
great women, we shall reach the goal
soonest by being good sleepers. That
was an honorable epitaph on the Dutch
mans tombstone; "He was q gut
sleeper" 1t will not be said OF many
OF this nervous, excited generation.


1t isw well. however, TO plead for the
children. Let il be understood that it
is no merit in q child 70 pop oat OF bed
instantly upon the stroke Of the bell,
ike surprised and opiuscsted jsckin-
the. hoY And give evervhodv time to