There is plenty of Time for the performance of all offensively noisy operations, between 10 in the Morning and 10 at Night—during which the industrious Housemaid may indulge her Arms in their full swing—and while she polishes her black-leaded grate to the lustre which is so lovely in the eyes of “the Tidy,” the Tat-Too her brush strikes up against its sides may be performed without distressing the irritable ears of her Nervous Neighbours—to whom undisturbed Repose is the most Vital Nourishment.
Little Sweep Soot Ho is another dreadful disturber.—The shrill screaming of these poor boys, “making night hideous,” (indeed at any time) at five or six o’clock in cold dark weather, is a most barbarous custom, and frequently disturbs a whole street before they rouse the drowsy sluggard who sent for him—his Row dy Dow when he reaches the top of the Chimney, and his progress down again, awaken the soundest sleepers, who often wish, that, instead of the Chimney,—he was smiting the skull of the Barbarian who set the poor Child to work at such an unseasonable hour.
The Editor’s feelings are tremblingly alive on this subject.
“Finis coronat opus.”
However soundly he has slept during the early part of the night—if the finishing Nap in the morning is interrupted from continuing to its natural termination—his whole System is shook by it, and all that sleep has before done for him, is undone in an instant;—he gets up distracted and languid, and the only part of his head that is of any use to him, is the hole between his Nose and Chin.
The firm Health of those who live in the Country, arises not merely from breathing a purer Air,—but from quiet and regular habits, especially the enjoyment of plenty of undisturbed Repose,—this enables them to take Exercise, which gives them an Appetite, and by taking their food at less distant and more equally divided intervals—they receive a more regular supply of that salutary nourishment, which is necessary to restore the wear of the system, and support it in an uniform state of excitement,—equally exempt from the languor of inanition, and the fever of repletion.
Thus, the Animal Functions are performed with a perfection and regularity, the tranquillity of which, in the incessantly irregular habits of a Town-life, is continually interrupted,—some ridiculous Anxiety or other consumes the Animal Spirits, and the important process of Restoration is imperfectly performed.
Dyspeptic and Nervous disorders, and an inferior degree of both extensive and intensive Life[31] are the inevitable consequence, and are the lowest price for (what are called) the Pleasures of Fashionable Society.
Dr. Cadogan has told us (very truly) that Chronic diseases, (and we may add, most of those equivocal Disorders, which are continually teasing people, but are too insignificant to induce them to institute a medical process to remove them,) are caused by Indolence—Intemperance—and Vexation.
It is the fashion to refer all these Disorders to Debility—but Debility is no more than the effect of Indolence, Intemperance, and Vexation—the two first are under our own immediate control—and Temperance, Industry, and Activity, are the best remedies to prevent, or remove the Debility which reduces our means of resisting the third.