en assumes, because he has been
able in the past to do pretty much anything that pleased him without
ill-effect, that he can continue to do the same through life. No greater
mistake could be made.

Anything that has a tendency to undermine the health, repeated
sufficiently often, will ultimately cause a complete breakdown. How often
do we see the strength and beauty of early manhood blighted and turned to
premature old age and death as a consequence of disregarding the warnings
that have just been given! How frequently do we observe young men
rejoicing in the emancipation from home and school and spurred on by the
fatal delusion that while others might suffer they will not, becoming in
the end the victim of that arch enemy of early manhood, consumption!
Every practicing doctor has seen this, not once, but hundreds of times,
and in the vast majority of instances he can say with truth that the
frightful result is a consequence of overwork--too often associated with
nocturnal dissipation. The man who works during the day, and devotes his
nights to alcohol and gay company when he should be sleeping, will
assuredly, sooner or later--and usually sooner--suffer the inevitable
consequences.

To those who live sedentary lives, active out-door exercise is very
essential, but inasmuch as this little volume is being written for those
who live a saner and more healthful existence, it is not deemed necessary
to discuss here this phase of the subject.

_Value of Sleep._--Closely connected with the subject just discussed is
sleep. Here also we have no rules, or laws, from which we can clearly
determine the amount required in individual cases. Overwise philosophers
have asserted that seven hours for a man, eight hours for a woman, and
nine hours for a fool, was the allotted time for sleep. As a matter of
fact, the necessity for repose varies greatly in different individuals,
some of them requiring less while others demand more. It is a safe rule
to follow that every man should sleep as long as he naturally desires,
for nature is a much better mentor than any man could be--however
learned. The majority of men require at least eight hours of sleep for
the day and night, and this should be secured if possible at such a time
as will permit it to be undisturbed; hence it is that man usually prefers
to sleep at night, and, all things considered, it is probably the time
best suited for his repose. We read many marvelous stories of certain
g