Buffon rose always with the sun, and he used often to tell by what means
he had accustomed himself to get out of bed so early. “In my youth,”
said he, “I was very fond of sleep; it robbed me of a great deal of my
time; but my poor Joseph (his domestic) was of great service in enabling
me to overcome it. I promised to give Joseph a crown every time that he
could make me get up at six. The next morning he did not fail to awake
and torment me, but he received only abuse. The day after he did the
same, with no better success, and I was obliged at noon to confess that
I had lost my time. I told him, that he did not know how to manage his
business; that he ought to think of my promise, and not to mind my
threats. The day following he employed force; I begged for indulgence, I
bid him begone, I stormed, but Joseph persisted. I was therefore obliged
to comply, and he was rewarded every day for the abuse which he suffered
at the moment when I awoke, by thanks accompanied with a crown, which he
received about an hour after. Yes, I am indebted to poor Joseph for ten
or a dozen of the volumes of my work.”
* * * * *