The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-10-11
WHY WE GIT SICK.
FROM li.rp"r, Nar1z'uo

H. ,S scrnc III na'urci i.liaw !ia. >ai!. sick
ness Is SIN. We Americans are treat sinners
HAT much Of the II heath of III. world. and
.: oUr PORTION at u oSrr,.ialy may Lr direct
Il traced to positive, ,l;<oI.,liru,r Of ,h. law,
OF nature can not tr qur>,ion".!: and that
'ais s,iso~'enrr Is cu,iaIl.. r,,,nire> no cas-
nlst ~ prove y. however. na.nr. >,If,i, lent
~ vindicatr> It's owr Justice hv the heaviest
penalties. there Is no occasion for Us 20 mock
III" criminal on his road to execution. Oar
"'!l"f't Is 10 prevent not To punish
lhr Americans should be- thu. hra'tli;cSt
people in the world but If WE cor,r ,rc them
with other nations in the ar.reratc. rhrv vii
hr probably tHirI - have no claim T, This sn
N'f"r'v ihis however. i not a t,ir com
rarl'on, a> 'he condition o: the masses with
n> more nearly apIroarl;.> that Of III. pros
prron> cla>>"~ than of the poor of f,rcirn
countries. Material ADVANTAGES ,'one. apar,
iro:l mora causes have gwen the Americans
a position tar III advance Of all other nations
ihv>I'al comfort is the rul,. with Us. while it
is but the exception elsewhere. fla potato
patch. as in ireland were the only barrier
hr'wrrn our peop'" and starvation, there
n'"hf hr som" excu>" tor our rountrvm"n not
he'n" healthier: for he want Of ,hv>iral COM
tort Is amonG the most powerful cause, of dis.
ease. With abundance of food ard Srch lib
eral rewards OF labor that the humllest A.
mcriran can supply himself with those com
i"rf> OF HE whih are only within the reach
OF the prosperous classes abroad. it is but fair
to compare HIM with the latter. In this com
rarlson he will be found very dcficient on the
score OF heath. Sickness is mostly choice.
and not necessity with us: and we now
propose to show why me get SICK, when We
mi.ht readily keep we'll
The American works too much and plav
too little, and would that it were only with
the usual effect of making .Jona,han a dull
boy. The result, however, is worse than this
Tor 1t tells very seriously arainst his health
ana Vi"0r. III modern civilization has its
blessings. 1t has 1t curses too and of these the
tn'tcd States have diSprorortionate share
There Is A large class of diseases which wore
unknown to our torefathcrS. but which are
ftarfu:ly wasting the health and happiness of
the present generation. If our ancestors made
the Journey OF life in slow coaches. thev had
the satisfaction of running less risks bv the
road. II is questionable whether. with great
G: speed and more frequent break downs. our
toaSted progress is worth all we value it at
A host OF diseases otthe heart. the brain. the
nerves and stomach. which exhaust the doe.
tors skill and fill his pockets. came in with
modern civilization. To these diseases the
Americans are tar more subject than any 9TH
er people. as might be naturally expected
from the fact of their being more generally
aud powerfully brought under the influence
OF the intense activity of modern life.
With brain in the deirium of excite.
ment. with nerves like trains of gunpowder
ready to nf'amc at every spark. and with a
heart IN tumut Of passionate pulsation
driving its hot blood. which, like a cnrren,
OF lava, burns and destroys as it flows. A.
merIcan life is but the aconv of a fever
There is no repose for us. We push on in
frenzIed excitement through the crowds. the
noise. the hot glare and dust of the HIGHWAYS
without turning for moment to refresh our.
selves in the quiet ard shade of the bv-paths
of life. We have but one object in our ran.
id Journey, and that is to get the start of on,
tellow-traveIers. Our POLITICAL equality. of
ferlng to all chance for the prizes of life
and thus encouraging every one to trv hi.
speed IN the race. is no doubt a spur TO RI.
characteristic hurry Of Americans. Our IN
st'tntions, however. are not responsible fo,
The rrlzc VIC choose to strive for There i: