Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-22

fOiu uuSt b1Ou dIt, auQ uubO uuSl
thou shalt return" Our bodies are
composed of many materials. 1t has
been said that all the metals-iron, gold,
silver, ETC., may be found in the blood;
that lime, chalk, clay, ETC., also metal
liferous bases, may be found in oul
bones; and that each individual man is
an epitome of the universe. In him
are rivers, lakes, oceans, mountains,
forests, and something of everything
existing. Man is at once plant, an
animal, man and spirit. If he lives
true to his constitution, he comes into
close relations with nature and with
God. In our artificial civilization many
live months, if not years, without set
ting foot on the ground They live in
dwellings warmed by artificial heat;
lighted by artificial light. They breathe
impure air; eat artificial food, cooked
in the most artificial manner. In fact,
when we consider the great mass of the
''best society,"" there is but little about
which is not artificial. They have arti-
fetal teeth, artificial complexions, arti-
fetal calves, bustles and breastworks !
They are powdered, perfumed, ,crimped,
cramped and squeezed into such un-
natural shapes that they may not be
classified by the naturalist. They are
nondescripts.
Now what is wanted for the healthful
perpetuation of the race, and for the
enjoyment of life, is that we should live
in harmony with the laws of our being.
We should keep close to nature; should
breathe the pure air of heaven; should
touch the earth-walk on it-work in it.
Hence, the necessity of the garden.
There is something ife-giving, as well
to the human as to the animal and the
plant, in putting our feet and our hands
ON mother earth. Is there anything in
the mud bath-the sand bath-or
bath in the earth? Yea, verify, in all
these.
There are Indians who dig trench,
from two to three feet deep, in the
clean, soft, dry earth, and wrap
blanket around the ague-and- fever pa
tient and bury him in the ground, with
tube through which to breathe, at his
nose. There he is left until he becomes
smoking hottie steam rising from
the ground like the smoke from coal
pit-when he is taken out, washed off,
and wrapped up in dry skins, and placed
away in a wigwam to sleep. He comes
out, it is said, free from the ague and
fever, or from rheumatism, skin dis
ease, or other infrmity-which the
earth-bath and our modern wet-sheet
pack is used to remove. When swine,
long confined in dry pens, on dry plank
floors, become constipated and "burn-
ing up" with fever and Inflammation,
are let out, they seek at once the
swamp, a mud-puddle, in which to
bathe and draw out the disease and
the devouring fever-heat. This is ma
ture.
Those who pillow, spade, hoe, plant,
are more likely to enjoy good health
than those who do not. True, all may
not work in gardens, or on farms, but
all may walk on the ground. Except
prisoners and lunatics, who are inhu-
manly deprived of this blessing) And
all may breathe pure fresh air. These
suggestions are made in the interest of
those who wish to live hygienically; and
We count a good garden one of the
means by which it may be attained.
Good taste demands that we
cultivate beautiful flowers. Good
husbandry demands, as a matter
of economy, that all who can shall have
a good garden. Good health also de-
mands it. 1t is one of the civilizing,
not to say Christianizing, institutions.
Then hoorah for garden, with peas,
beans, lettuce, beets, cucumbers,
squashes, melons, etc. Strawberries,
grapes, raspberries, cherries, plums,
peaches, pears, apples, etc. Whatever
else you have, or do not have by all
means have good garden.