South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-10-06
0YerWOrk.

1T is favorable sign of the times that
we are beginning TO pay more attention to
the relationship existing between the body
and the brsiu- 1t is another sign. hardly
as favorable, that in spite Of the attention
that we give to the subject, and the in
creased knowledge of ourselves which
that attention gives, we are continually
adding to the amount Of the hurry-and-
drive element which We mix with our
daily life.
Cruelty to animals is deser7edly before
the public for merited reprobation. The
mal who abuses his mule, his OK, his
horse, or his dog, can hardly hope long to
continue in such practices without being
punished as well as censured. The engine
driver who rattles his train along at such
a rate of speed as to injure either the roll
ling stock or the roadway is apt to lose his
situation. The keeper of the Oldest second
hand stationary ingine, who runs it under
too great pressure of steam meets the in
dignation of its proprietor, if he racks and
strains it by his injudicious efforts to get
from 1t more power than it is capable of
yielding.
Although we know all this so well that
1t needs no proof; although we well un-
derstand that certain amount of brain
POUCA Cd1 DAOaQCC uO uOIC ludu q
ponding amount of physical result, yet we
drive the human engine to its utmost ca
pacity. Not even satisfied with this, we
crowd on steam, shut down the safety
valve, and push on as Mississippi steam
boats push when they race. As steam
boat men of that region, who love
to race, consider the explosion of
their boats as matter of Sec
ondary importance, so are our over
worked man of business races on, deter
mined to accomplish what he has planned,
even at the risk of wrecking his whole
mental and physical Organization. We
may not with impunity, as concerns our
reia alton with society, abuse horse, mule
or engine, but we may tamper with the
noblest organism ever constructed, and
ruin body and mind without even suffering
the penalty of losing our life insur-
ance. In the continual attempt to get, as
it were, thirty horse power from twenty
flve horsepower engine, we drive the
machine to wreck, ruin, paralysis, and sud.
den death or premature old age.
The over-taxed brain and over-wrought
body worry and weary each other out of
all comfort and prosperity. Whatever
business or profession a man may follow,
he hss no right to overdo his abilities any
more than to cut his throat or explode his
brains.
The habit of over-work should Justly be
classed by insurance men among the per-
nicious habits whose tendency is to cut
short q mans existence. 1t is slow sui
eide, and not always as slow as would ap-
pear. Especially when considered in con-
nection with the habit of taking sedative
drugs, habit which too frequently accom-
panies it, or of securing sleep, otherwise
difficult or impossible to obtain, by the
use of stimulating drinks, over-work leads
to irretrievable ruin Of mind, body and es-
tate
The man who industriously does fair
amount of work, who eats well, sleeps
comfortably and regularly, and cheerfullY
possesses his soul in patience, is much
better risk for an insurance company than
be who worksShurriedly and beyond his
eats without digestion, sleeps
without refreshment, and Dervously frets
himself into continual worriment and
anxious care.
Is prevention better than cures In the
matter of over-work prevention is prac-
.icable, while cure is impossible We may
luench the fire under the boiler of the
strained old engine, and take the whole
apart for Reconstruction. Even
after reconstruction it will hardly be as
good as when new. But the fire must keep
burning in the case of the human engine.
We must do our repairs while it is in busy
notion. Let the fire go ou-, and it can
never be rekindled. Let the nerves be
shattered, the brain exhausted, the sys-
.em unstrung, and the man is hopeless
wreck. Let him be wise in time, and pre-
serve his powers for possible old age
Exchange