The Philosophy of Sleep

ness, in the winter-time, of rising by day-light, and using candle-light at the close of the day, than rising by candle-light, and using it some hours before day-light approaches. It remains to be ascertained by which system the eyes are least likely to be affected."

The ingenious Dr. Franklin, in one of his Essays, has some fine observations on early rising; and makes an amusing calculation of the saving that might be made in the city of Paris alone, by using the sunshine instead of candles. This he estimates at 96,000,000 of livres, or £4,000,000 sterling. This is mentioned in a satirical vein, but probably there is a great deal of truth in the statement. Indeed, if people were to go sooner to bed at night, and get up earlier in the morning, it is inconceivable what sums might be saved; but, according to the absurd custom of polished society, day is, in a great measure, converted into night, and the order of things reversed in a measure at once capricious and hurtful.

To conclude. The same law which regulates our desire for food, also governs sleep. As we indulge in sleep to moderation or excess, it becomes a blessing or a curse; in one case recruiting the energies of nature, and diffusing vigour alike over the mind and frame: in the other, debasing the

character of man, stupifying his intellect, enfeebling his body, and rendering him useless alike to others and to himself. The glutton, the drunkard, and the sloven bear the strictest affinity to each other, both in the violation of nature's laws, and in the consequences thence entailed upon themselves. What in moderation is harmless or beneficial, in excess is a curse; and sleep, carried to the latter extreme, may be pronounced an act of intemperance almost as much as excessive eating or drinking.