[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR"] Sin,—I have been interested
in the letters of your corre- spondents on the subject of sleep, though, living out of the world and apart from many of the fashions of the time, that of sleeplessness (or wakefulness, as I think it used to be called) has not yet come my way. But that change of name brings me to what perhaps you will kindly let me say, a little sugges- tion as to the possible cause of the world's new wakefulness. Can it be that in these busy (but why so busy ?) days people have abandoned some of the wise habits of their forefathers These, looking, I think, on the mystic aspect of the night- watches, prepared for them by reading a chapter in the Bible or some book of holy suggestion, by a quiet meditation on the day just spent, and by moments of prayer before retiring to rest. With these they built for themselves a peaceful ante- chamber into which the worries and vexations of yesterday and to-morrow were not allowed to enter ; and if their eyes were " held waking," they counted themselves chosen for night-service in the spiritual temple,—a service of prayer for those who did not pray, or for those who suffered. And not only did these thoughts rob wakefulness of its squalid, present- day aspect, but nothing could so lead their thoughts to the repose needful for sleep as the contemplation of what is eternal and unchanging. A favourite hymn or Psalm kept its rhythm in the peaceful brain till sleep came—not ascetically put away, nor feverishly sought—as it does to little children. Are we wiser than they 4—I am, Sir, &c., A GRANDMOTHER.
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