No rule can be observed with regard to the proportion of time that should be given to sleep. Much depends upon individual habit and disposition. The active mind and cheerful disposition that is never more happy than when busily employed, and finds its recreation in change of work, will generally sleep soundly and be refreshed by six or seven hours' sleep. Less than this cannot safely be devoted to sleep by any one who does a good day's work, either bodily or mental. There have been those who could abridge their hours of sleep to four, three, or even two hours out of the twenty-four, but they paid the penalty of such an infringement of nature's laws by shortening the number of their days, and embittering them by the impairment of health.

The daily wear and tear of life needs the restoration of sleep to ensure the healthy balance of nervous power, and that equanimity of mind so desirable in this world's strife and turmoil.

Shakspeare was alive to the value of sound, healthy sleep when he made Caesar say -

"Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights. Yond' Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much; such men are dangerous".

Infants and children require more sleep than grown-up persons. In fact the early days of infancy are passed in sleeping, to the infant's great gain. If otherwise its health soon suffers, and shows the want of " balmy sleep." Warmth, sleep, and food are all that are wanted in early infancy. For the first three or four years the mid-day "nap" contributes to the vigour and activity of the young child.

Throughout childhood up to youth from twelve to fourteen hours' sleep is not an undue allowance. At all events, if less time be accorded for sleep, " early to bed" is a golden maxim. The practice of allowing infants and young children to be awake and up until ten or eleven o'clock at night, amid the glare of lights, and perhaps the noise and excitement of festivity, is the most injudicious sort of kindness to which they can be exposed.