Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-19
MARCH 19, 1869

careful observation OF themselves ant
exact estimate of their work from day u
day, precisely how much they can do, and
to establish certain fixed bounds beyond
which they will not pass under the pres
sure of ofhowever great temptation. There
are multitude whose very life depends
upon the formation of such habits; and
larger multitudes the continuation OF
whose usefulness and happiness is directly
contigent thereupon. To the far larger
proportion of all workers il is matter OF
consequence that the impression and con-
viction be firmly set upon and fixed in
their minds that to get tired is, so far as
it goes, to get sick. Exhaustion is sick
ness-a sickness all Overland is to be
deprecated and avoided as zealously as
any other sickness.
As Of workers, so Of foverworkers, there
are two general classes-those Of the
hand and those of the head both Of which
grand divisions pass into each other by
quite insensible gradations, but which
may, without great impropriety. be re.
garded rs substantially defined one from
the other. The definition Is practically
important, since both the precautions and
the remedies adapted to each are sub
stantially different The hard worker
who has exerted himself too much has
comparatively little else to do than TO
rest. unless he has brought on positive
sickness, in which case he passes into the
hands of the doctor, and therefore out Of
ours. The exhaustion of mere physical
toll takes on recuperation with compare
tive readiness, unless it is so profound rs
to affect some of the great vital functions,
rs digestion, etc The healthy teamster, or
woodchopper, or stevedore, or stone cut
ter, or carpenter, can hardly get so tired
that days rest with the nights sleep on
both sides Of it, will not make him "feel
as good as new" He should remember
two things, however; first after a day Of
prodigious and excessive labor he will
never be rs good as new.
The crack such days work makes in
the constitution can no more be mended
than crack in glass globe can be
patched up good as new. Every time
such days toll is repeated the seam
opens longer cleft. He does not know
it-he cannot realize 1t; he has no nice
habit of analyzing sensations and marx
ing the toning.down of his vital processes.
But he will find that nature will keep the
tally. and make a deeper and deeper
scratch each time into the crystal and
brittle receptacles Of his life. Sit down
by parcel Of decript, uscd-up workers
and listen This drayman brought on the
rheumatism that has warped him up like
a cedar shingle by "carting a double days
work Of flour from the ship Ceres" That
blacksmith never had well day latter
he stayed up all night and tired pair of
cart-whccls that were to 60 to Boston the
next day" This farmer melted himself
moving, the third day running. in the
sun This housewife never has "digested
a mouthful Of victuals in any comfort
since she woye her great parlor carpet in
nine days That one brought on bleed
ing at the lungs making forty-two
cheeses in the hottest summer ever
known No, they can't get over it
They never will. This is truth that
every worker is profoundly interested to
know and realize to the full, and shape
his practice and form his settled habits by
Secondly, the worker who has greatly
oyerdone at any sort of labor should re-
member that in precisely that sort OF
labor he will be for long time least in
condition 10 engage. The man who has
brought on an attack of sciatica rheuma-
tism by walking forty-seven miles day,
and has ''got over it" will be more likely
to bring it on, worse than before, by
twenty-five miles a day than by the equiv
alent of that amount of work at threshng
grain or planning boards or hewing logs.
The ship-carpenter who has wrenched
his back laying the keel vessel will find
for a great while that he cannot lay so
strong a hold as before upon the heavy
bulks of timber-that he can do las
much again" at walking or heavy ham
mering, or almost anything else than the
old work. This law holds almost uni
versally, and is of obvious practical i'm
portance TO be borne in mind.