permit me to be idle for a
moment. If I stood at a window day-dreaming, she would always urge me
to be up and doing. 'Work or play,' she would urge, 'but do not stand
idle.' Through this reiterated admonition, physical activity became a
life-long habit with me, and work almost a necessity of my being. If
I have been able to accomplish my full share of labors, this is the
reason. I am never idle, and I scarcely know the meaning of _ennui_."

This must not be interpreted as meaning, however, that Professor Haeckel
takes up a task and works at it all day long unceasingly. That is not
the German method of working, and in this regard Professor Haeckel is
a thorough German. "When I was a young man," he says, "I at one time,
thanks to the persuasions of some English friends, became a convert to
the English method of working, and even attempted to introduce it into
Germany. But I soon relinquished it, and lapsed back into our German
method, which I am convinced will produce better results for the average
worker. The essential of this method is the long midday rest, which
enables one late in the afternoon to begin what is virtually a new
day's-work, and carry it out with vigor and without undue fatigue.
Thus I, who am an early riser, begin work at five in summer and six in
winter, after the customary light breakfast of coffee and rolls. I do
not take a second breakfast at ten or eleven, as many Germans do, but
work continuously until one o'clock, when I have dinner. This, with
me, as with all Germans, is the hearty meal of the day. After dinner I
perhaps take a half-hour's nap; then read the newspaper, or chat with my
family for an hour, and perhaps go for a long walk. At about four, like
all Germans, I take my cup of coffee, but without cake or other food.
Then, at four, having had three full hours of brain-rest and diversion,
I am ready to go to work again, and can accomplish four hours more of
work without undue fatigue. At eight I have my rather light supper, and
after that I attempt no further work, giving the evening to reading,
conversation, or other recreation. I do not retire till rather late, as
I require only five or six hours' sleep."

Such is the method of labor division that enables not Professor Haeckel
only, but a host of other German brain-workers to accomplish enormous
labors, yet to thrive on the accomplishment and to carry the ruggedness
and health of youth far into the decades that are too often with our ow