nearly
ten o'clock
The sequel , indeed , showed how important it was to his comfort ; for at length some poplars in a neighboring garden shot up to such a height as to obscure the tower , upon which Kant became very uneasy and restless , and at length found himself positively unable to pursue his evening meditations . Fortunately , the proprietor of the garden was a very considerate and obliging person , who had , besides , a high regard for Kant ; and , accordingly , upon a representation of the case being made to him , he gave orders that the poplars should be cropped . This was done , the old tower of Lobenicht was again unveiled , and Kant recovered his equanimity , and pursued his twilight meditations as before . After the candles were brought , Kant prosecuted his studies till nearly ten o'clock . A quarter of an hour before retiring for the night , he withdrew his mind as much as possible from every class of thoughts which demanded any exertion or energy of attention , on the principle , that by stimulating and exciting him too much , such thoughts would be apt to cause wakefulness ; and the slightest interference with his customary hour of falling asleep , was in the highest degree unpleasant to him . Happily , this was with him a very rare occurrence . He undressed himself without his servant 's assistance , but in such an order , and with such a Roman regard to decorum and the _ to prepon _ , that he was always ready at a moment 's warning to make his appearance without embarrassment to himself or to others .