Year: 1871

Ever since the days, of poor Richard,
VIC were about to say, but it dates much
further back than that, SO we will say since
the beginning of the world, there has been q
class of wiseacrcs who are unwilling to
believe tha, any good can come of of per-
son who does not rise with the lark. 1t is
not so important with these philosophers
whether one who follows their advice is
thereby better fitted to perform his re-
quircd duties, since they hold mere early
rising to be virtue which covers multi
Itudc of sins. They insist that carly retir-
ing and early rising "will make make a
man healthy, wealthy, and wise," in spite
of the fact that chambcrmaids, mikmen,
chimney-sweeps, and others, who are earli
est out Of their beds, have never been par
ticu!arly distinguished for any of these
characteristics or acquirments. 1t is USE
less to argue with these philosophers that
early rising, like cold baths in winter,
does not agree with all constitutions they
reply with an allusion to the sluggard upon
whom poverty comes like an armed man,
or to the early bird, or some other person
or thing which has the least possible rela-
ton to our circumstances or employments
1t is bad enough when one of these early
rising philosophers is friend or neighbor;
but when he lives under the same roof,
and not only rises at unearthly hours but
insists upon disturbing the "forty morn.
ing winks" of the household slumbcrers,
he becomes positive nuisance, which
should be exposed that it may be abated.
The fac, is, these good people mistake a
habit for a characteristic. Mere early
rising is as often bad as good trait, for
knaves and drunkards are frequently found
stirring early in the morning. But if, as
is probably the case, carly rising is used by
them as another name for forehandedness,
then much that is said of it may be true.
1t is much more important that man
should have sufficient amount of refresh.
ing sleep than that he should be out of
bed at a given hour in the morning. If
there were any absolute time in the morn.
ing when mankind must cease from slum-
bcr, then most editors Of daily papers and
night workmen generally must be irrevo.
cably consigned to the ranks of the ne'rcr-
dowells. The hours of darkness are nat
urally appointed for sleep; but when
they arc occupied, so much more daylight
must be given to tired natures sweet
restorer." Those who dispute this pro.
position, if passing season at the North
Pole, would, to be consistent, find it neces-
sary to sit up wakefuly during the months
the sun never sets, and slumber soundly
during the equally long period of its dis
appearance.


The natura! time for rising, however.
seems to vary at different seasons of the
year. Now that the nights are warm, it is
not comfortable to sit in well-lighted
room on account of the heat thrown out
from the burners so it is not hard to per.
suade ones selfto retire early. The light
which streams in our windows by six
o'clock these mornings is very apt to wake
us, so it is not difficult to get up at that
time, providing we have our seven or eight
undisturbed hours Of sleep. In winter,
however, the warmth of the fire, the
briliancy of the library lamp, and the
comfort of the easy-chair, arc apt to keep
us up until near or past midnight, so that
six, seven, and sometimes eight o'clock
still finds us enjoying the treasure whose
inventor received Sancho Panza's blessing.
1t is the refreshment we have derived
from our sleep much more than the hour
we rise which determines our working
power for the day.


Poor Richard says the man who rises
late may trot all day without overtaking
his business at night; but We fancy that
depends upon the gait he gets over the
ground. 1t will not do for the baker or
the milkman to lie abed too late in the
morning; but what if the merchant and
the professional man should rise even
earlier than they? If last nights bust
ness had been attended: to, they must wait
the receipt Of new orders by mail, or Of
customers who are not wont to stir until
they have eaten their breakfast.


Ii, however, the doctors correctly inform
US, the besetting sin Of the Americans is
not Incidence, but over. er.activity and exces.
sive excitement, resulting in nervous pros.
tration and brain disorders. Sleepiessness
is much more common than sluggishness;
and pale, haggard, bllous-looking persons,
than rotund, we'll favored, comfortable
folks. 1t is more recreation and good
sleep, therefore, that most Of us want,
rather than such early rising as entails
yawny, half-avake existence during the
rest of the day Forehandedness is much
more prerequisite Of success than the
regular waking Of the alarm clock. lfit
is necessary to get up early, retire early
and rise when you have slept the requisite
number Of hours; but it is not worth while
to plume ones self above his fellows on
any grounds, least of all on account Of be-
ing out of bed q half hour earlier than
ordinary mortals.


70 At recent election in Rhode Is
land Germau-Amercan citizen, who had
100000 in United States bonds, was not
allowed to vote but his negro coachman
was. In that State foreign-born citizens