The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-31
Work and PLAY.

we copy from the Times of that city, has an
applicability to almost all parts Of this coun-
try It has in it 4 sober sound sense that is
deserving Of consideration:
1t is beginning to be felt among US that
even the American power of labor has its
limits. The truth is gradually being real
ised, that the human constitution is not made
Of steel and oak fibre. There is a salutary
though tardy impression gaining ground, that
sixteen hours labor out of the twenty-four
and hot brain through the night are not
quite the conditions Of health even in our
unequalled country. People who were stub
born to fine sentiments with regarn to cult
vating every faculty of om nature, or who
shrugged their shoulders at the philosophy
of amusement" are staggered by some rath-
er palpable facts. The American face is not
quite the type Of health Somehow the
rudy and plump faces in crowd are al
ways foreign. The native born citizen of this
glorious Republic is not model of happi-
ness, even physically.
One hears everywhere of the horrible
phantom, Dyspepsia, which is clutching at
the ckeerfliness and activity of so manv-
Nervous diseases seem to be the rule with
the better classes, and through all classes a
silent restilence RACES, which every household
feel, but Of which the public speaks not
Consumption.
Our women, even more than the men,
show the national weakness. A vigorous,
completely healthy woman of middle life.
such as you see in foreign lands, is an excep-
tion here. There is an unhappiness not ex-
pressed. yet general, spreading through all
our better classes. Men are 6lases, or restless,
or ''blue." The nature of man, not healthily
and fully developed, seems asserting its rights.
Still the old whirlpool Of work rushes on,
as though the human frame and human
mind were a kind Of perennial machine,
with the sole object of grinding out labor
The merchant hurries to his werehouse, plans
and schemes risks and tempts, is pushed and
worried hither and thither; gorges his meals
and carries on his unwearied plans for the
evening through the feverish night. The
writer or the editor has the same whirl of
life. Men with every possible idea or inven-
ton, which they would lay before him; men
faom the distant ends of the world to talk
to business to watch; important and dis
tant interests to gdard, and the thoughts
which press hard on his brain, to give while
subject and strength are fresh-night be
comes day in such work. The lawyer, the
mechanic, the teacher the clergyman, all
feel something of this endlessly active life
which beats through New York The City
is world-centre now. One lives ii a day
here what one would not in years in village.
Life is fast. The laggard or the "fogy" is
dropped behind under the current. There is
no rest And yet, in our own yerracular;
it does not pay"
We are not happy people. The inces-
SAINT round Of straining does not give all
which the body and mind demand. Excite
n1ent, and venture, and sleepless effort, are
pleasant but there seem to be human nerves
of stomach and brain, which require some
thing beside. Man cannot live by work
alone. And when it is all gained, when the
man stands in the centre Of wide influence
successful in plans, in wealth and in power
what is it all worth, if his brain reels with its
incessant tasking If his nerves fails and Tho
fulless and yigor of manhood are spent in d
yerting the impending disease One pulsa
4ion Of his young health would be more thar
all his gains.
we rejoice to see that the public are be
coming somewhat awakened to llthis. Bu
would have them more 50. Venus come
back to the old child's rhyme, and be salts
fed that all work and no play" is as bae
for us as it was for our friend Of the nursery
We have gone 50 far that sensible pcopl'
must now mako It a duty to play We wan
manly, open air sports and amusements 70
the muscles, to meet this incessant action 9
fhe brain. The world has passed by any an
eient notions Of the sin Of boat-racing an
sparring and reIigiously disposed, dyspep
tic gentlemen, are not indisposed even to ten
pin bowling now, in watering places. Le
rs rescue the whole Of them from the hand
of rowdies and ssfast men, Let us be boy
again, as We cannot be healthy men. Their
IS no real time lost in q good excursion, q
your headache, friend merchant, and you
BRONCHITIS and dyspepsia friend clergyman