The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-11-27
Vacant Minds.

MOSt OF us HttTlDulc our Va w
happiness, to a low condition OF the body and
want of physical exercise and pleasure, ig-
noring the fact that the mind has most I'M
portant influence upon the bodily system,
and Is often the cause Of much suffering
which might easily be avoided II we only
looked to the source of the evil and consld-
cred the meaus necessary for its prevention,
Few people attach sufficient Importance to
the care Of the mental faculties, when are
frequently either injured by an undue degree
of exerion or weakened by neglect and dis
use. The vast amount of "social pressure"
which bears upon the daily lite OF business
= men furnishes only too many instances oil the
abuse Of the mind by over-exertion Inc IT'S
ing man who is making mark IN HIS pro.
iesson, or amassing wealth IN mercantile
pursuits, finds ere long that his strength is
only human, and Just as he may be about 10
reach the summit of his ambition he breaks
down, and for the want of a little timely care
his brightest hopes are wrecked and he Is
condemned to drag out a weary and shattered
existence The instances of mental neglect
are not less sad, for many man, whose aoil-
tiles would have fitted HIM for the highest
spheres of usefulness, allows the demon sloth
to exert its fatal influence and incapitate him
for any active walk in life Restless and Dis
satisfied, he seeks relief and excitement in the
reckless indulgence Of his bodily appetltes,
and wantonly destroys the brilliant talents
which might have been turned to so good an
account The opposite sex also affords mum.
er0uS instances of misused and neglected
minds. The sphere of womans lite being
necessarily more limited than that of a man,
she has not 50 wide choice Of occupation OF
amusement This often causes women who
are naturally capable of considerable mental
eXerti0n 10 use their powers III an inordlnate
and unnatural degree. They choose some
peculiar occupation, into which they throw
all their energy with such force that they be-
come not only hard and masculine in manner,
but eccentric. Often they fall into the oppo-
site extreme. Not being possessed of suliic-
tent force of character 10 take up any really
intellectual pursuit, and being easily inHu-
enced by any unusual excitement, they rest
their hopes of happiness on such slight loun-
dations that when these fail them they have
no power to rally. The vacant mind broods
over trifles for sheer want of occupation; in
action produces. feeling of fatigue, which
induces desire for solitude; solitude soon
gives rise to melancholy and a general wear
mess OF existence makes the sufferer only too
glad to embrace any chance OF relief. Hence
arise ill-assorted marriages, melancholia, re-
IiglOus mania and c0Hventuai life.
If persons of both sexes would pay more
attention TO the care of the mind our lunatic
lsylums would be less fulthan they now are,
ana the health of the body would be much
better preserved, for, as Schiller truly says,
mental pleasure is invariably attended by an
NAL pleasure, mental pain by animal pain
1t is too much the custom for people to live
in one narrow groove of thought and action.
They consequently have no interest or SYM
Dathy for matters outside their little world,
and having only one support to lean on they
become utterly demoraized when it fails
hem. a change of occupation is as desira-
Die and beneficial for the mind as walking
exercise for the body. 1t should be the prac-
ice of every one to cultivate at least one form
Of mental occupation other than that which
forms the chief purpose of life; for wide
range of knowledge and ideas Is Of inestima-
Bile value, and may prove to be not only b
means OF recreation and pleasure in prosper
)us times, but a source OF profit and comfort
when accident or misfortune renders it i'm
possible for the ordinary pursuit to be fol-
lowed. He who has two oars IN his boat has
4 great advantage over the man who has but
one An enlargement of the held of thought
not only yields benefit to ourselves by tx
panding the mind and making it more tit to
bear the harassiDg cares and troubles OF the
world, but promotes liberal views, which
raise Us above the petty jealouSles and preju-
tlccs, soften the heart, and tend to make US
more kind and considerable to others. Though
no amount of study and application can make
a dull man clever, vet he may by the prac.
tice of selfcultivation become weil-informed
and studious Every attempt to gain knowl-
edge is productive of some good result, for,
if 1t does nothing else, it leads to spirit OF
inquiry, which is of itself beneficial.
The mental faculties should never be al
lowed to sink into lethargy, for nothing is |
more productive of irreparabe mischief than
q llstless inacton.-H0me Journal