The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-01
Brain Work.

| Over-werk Of the brain, against which NJ
hear so many people cry, and which we
hear SO many ozy-looking men deplore ve
~ cemplacently in their own persons, is moi
by good deal SO dangerous as under work
of the brain, that rare and obscure calamity
from which nobody is supposed ever to suf:
fer. The Rev. OBesimus Howl drops bis
chin and elevatss his eyes, uPsets his digss-
ton with excess of tea and muffin, and sup.
ports. upon the doughty face he thus ac-
quires, reputation for the great strain up
on his brains caused by the outpouring of a
weekly puddle Of words. His friends labor
to prop up his brain with added piles ef
muffin. Paler becomes his face, and more
idiotie his expression, as he lives from New
Years day to New Years day rattling about
his empty head the few idsns of other men
he has contrived to borrow, and TRANQUILITY
claims all the sweets Of indulgence on ac-
count Of the strain put upon cit wits Doc
tor Porpice is wheeled about from house to
house in his bourgham, prescribes his cor
dials and his mild aperients; treats by help
Of what knowledge gathered from a past
generation may happen to have grown ints
his habit of practice, all the disease no sees
now and then turns to a book when he is
puzzled, but more commonly dozes after
dinner. Yet very gladly does the doctor
hear the talk abont immense strain on his
mind, largo practice, great responsibility,
and the wondering that one poor head can
carry all he knows. Ae seldom passes q
day without having taken care to confide to
week, i.deed, if his practice be large, he
may be forced lnto seRe effort to use his
brains, but that he docs really exercise them
AL I p1Sc l,,-
slevates his routine into crush OF brain
work. The author aud the merchant fiat
ter themselves, or account themselves fat
tered, by an application to ther labors also
Of the same np.irentary condoleuce--
The truth is, that hard work of the brain,
taken alone-apart from griefs and fears,
from forced or voluntary stinting Of the bo-
dy's need Of food or seeo, and the minds
need Of social intcrcodrse-does infnitely
more to prolong lie and strengthen reason
IN the workers than to cut or fray the thread
or either. Men break down under the grind
Of want, Under the strain Of continuous
denial to the body Of It's half Gozsn hours
a day Of sleep, its few necessary poukds Of
wholesome food, and its occasional exercise
of tongue and legs. If an author spends
his whole life in his study, his mind fails un.
der the pressure OF the solitary system. "
q great lawyer refuses himself month after
month the necessary fourth part Of the day
for sleep, be weares his brain ont, rot by
replstion ef study, but by privation of some
thing else. Under all ordinary circumstan-
ces no man who performs work for whick
he is competent is called upon to hsny him
self the first necessaries oflife, except dur
ing shor, periods Of encroachment which &C.
cur to men in every occupation, and which
seldom are Of long duration, and can almost
invariably be followed by period of ease
have bed and board assured to them, while
they can ea. sleep, stir, and be merry, vile
have sound minds, though they work their
brains all iay, and provide them fer the
other five or six hours with that light en-
ployment which is the chief toll of Doctor
Porpice or the Reverend Onesimus.-Dict-
ens' Household Words.