The Portland daily press., 1875-05-14
Keep q Reserve.

Newark, NOLtlDgHaIDSniTe, Is TIC oAiy Lafoi-
er who has left on record any notice of peo-
pie that enjoyed exemption from disease and
pain. The Houyhnhnms, on arriving at old
age, noticed feeling of weakness for few
days, and then 'retired to their first mother"
or, as we should say, died. As for the hu-
man race, the older it grows and the wiser it
becomes, the better it learns how to suffer
and decay. The boasted increase Of the av-
erage length Of human life within the last
century is hardly subject for more reasona-
BILE congratulation than the lengthening out
of a cold, leaden day in spring, every ad-
ditional hour of which is an additional mis-
cry. Here, as everywhere else, Americans
claim preeminence, though bad one. The
frm-footed, sound-hearted Brton, and the
tough little Frenchman gaze with astonish-
ment at the race of lean, nervous, restless
phantoms that fit about the streets of Amer
can cities. The theory is now quite serious
ly put forward by certain class of sauans,
among whom, if we are not mistaken, is DR..
Holmes, that the European races can never
become thoroughly acclimated on this conti-
nent. Their complete extinction by the va
rous unfavorable influences of the climate is
regarded as merely natter of time. Accord
ly no liver is so rebellious as the American
liver; no mucous membrane is so unreasona-
bly, and absurdly sensitive no circulation so
capricious and unreliable. The American
challenges the world to show stomach SO
early disordered, head so soon dizzy, and
pulmonary organs so universally "weak" and
''affected." The theory grows worse and
worse. Those of us who are still young can
remember when paralysis, apopexy and
heart diseases were horrors generally reserved
to haunt the last years of the aged. But the
line OF paralysis and kindred diseases has
fallen lower each year, so that it now excites
DO surprise to hear that a person in early
manhood or womanhood has fallen within it.
Ifit be the climate or fate, all we can do is
to mutter sit is written" and try to utilize
chronic bronchitis and the national catarrh
by making them a means of moral discipline.
But something can be done by way of pre-
venting chronic invalidism even in the cor
roding, gnawing atmosphere of the Atlantic
States ofAmerica. Many people make their
first entrance into the gloomy realm of hope
less sickness by over exertion at some great
crisis of their lives. They lived, previous to
the catastrophe which left them helpless and
hopeless, fully up to their income OF vital
energy. They kept no strength in reserve,
not foreseeing the emergency that would re-
quire 1t. The time came when all their for
tunes were at stake or great danger assailed
them, or their friends fell sick or ambition
stirred them to reckless expenditure OF
physical capital. Immediately afterwards
they "broke down." And this "breaking
down. is bad business. The skilful medi-
cine man will undertake to restore the broken
spring, but alas! he can generally ouly
"mend' or "fix', it.
The only safe way is to keep a good reserve
of physical strength as a prudent fnancier
keeps reserve of capital. To say that this
reserve may be accumulated, while the cir
cumstances of our lives are such as to make
demand for only ordinary exertion, by tenn
perance, cheerfulness and exercise, is as trite
and unimpressive as to dwell on the beauties
of virtue and the Exceeding sinfulness of
SIM" Everybody is acquainted with such
admonitions; few heed them. But we
have specific suggestion to make by
reading which very many people have
already profted, to our certain knowledge.
One of the best practical means Of accumu-
lating the needful reserve of strength and
health, or in good measure recovering it
when lost, is what is known as the Health
Lift. The beauty of this beneficent contriv.
ance for strengthening the muscles, equaliz-
ing the circulation and so keeping the system
in safe working order, is not that it is new,
but that it is effective. 1t was introduced in
this city year or two ago and it is the sim
pie truth to say that without the aid of puff
ing, the exhibitions of extravagant certificates
OF cure, extensive advertising or any of the
usual means of securing public attention, it
has brought itself into notice by the simple
force of what..it has dcne in raising enfeebled
constitutions TO the condition of comparative
health, or, in some cases of complete sound
ness. So solicitous has Mr.. Gaubert, the
proprietor of the Health Lift, been to prevent
any undue estimation of the work he has ac-
complished by means of it, that to our person.
al knowledge he has repeatedly resisted the
publication of voluntary testimonials which
enthusiastic patients, in the first glow Of re-
turning health, have been anxious to insert in
the public prints. With characteristic mod
esty and good sense he has preferred to wait
till time enough had elapsed to show the per
manent nature of the improvements which
the use of the Health Lift ensures to those
who have used it with temporary beneit. We
may now safely say this,-that the Lift IS the
perfection of exercise, that it is safe, and may
be used without risk even by patients in a
very enfeebled condition; that its effects are
in almost all cases quickly appreciable. To a
person in good health but deficient in muscu-
lar strength it ensures more vigorous tone
and energy accumulated for emergencies,
while to the sick it holds out cheerful pros
pect of amendment if not of complete recov-
ery