Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-18
The Dyspeptic Tendency.

Its remarked by close observers that among
Americans OF the present day especially among
those liV5g in our business centres, there is q
tendency 10 some respects towards physicll de-
terlcraion; that as people We Gre beginning to
show The effects of our high pressure. manner
Of living and doing business. 1t is possible that
statements Ct this kiGd may be only the result
OF certain we'll know disposition to draw un.
favorable COMPARISONS between cur fancied short
c9mi2gs Of to dEy sud that alleged better state
OF things OF the past which elderly people and
croackars arc SO fond Of referring to as "those
good old times" We think, however. there is
at least g9rm Of truth in the matter which
IVtcs Our attention.
Nearly forty years ago Dickens mentioned
oar hurry and scurry Gs national caaracteris.
tic, aud though much that he recorded was *.
agcTra:cd 10 Tho verge OF misrepresentation,
sill, wo have uot ougroWn that unnecessary,
unnatural, lmpotuous haste, eagerness and pre-.
cplta.i0n witch furnished such rich material
for his PEG. l.. is noticeable that in our
lGrgcs. cities business mcn are fast adopt.
ing tho English custom Of light luucheons
at Dooa. the moro Important meal Of tho day
being reserved for a later hour. By this means
comparative leisure and freedom from clre are
obtained for tho rational epioymcnt of that
which under other circumstances too often has
the appearance Ct lockcr.on of competitive
trial OF speed and capscity. But We find that
10 those cities not exactly of metropolitan pro
PORTIONS (though We confess it is difficult to
name the population ncc ,ssery for mctrcpolis)
tho average American rushes from his break
last to his business, throws himself into the
general bustio and Whill of mcrohantile affairs,
and by noon succeeds in working himself up to
point Whero he believes himself capable of
the sraudcs6 undertakings, every nerve being
strained to the utmost, his brain 10 condition
not very lar removed from we'll defined taver,
lie this condition he rushcs homo to q hot,
hearty d!nner, which he dispatches with What
Joe Gargery would haro called" "a most ouoom.
mon bolt tinishing With wedge of the 10
oVitable pallid c:ustcd pic. All this timo his
thoughts arc On his unfinished busiDess. He
eats mcchaDicaly rushes back to his work, srd
keeps himself at meGtsl white hont, 80 to speak,
til evening. After few years Of this sort OF
living ho acquires pale, hagg.rd, nervous ap-
pcara1cc, is rsinfuy CONS ,ous Of digestive
lmpcriCotions, wonders why his children arc net
hcalthy--i1 fact, becomes o confirmed dispep-
tic, seeing everything ia It's g!oomeis. aspect,
losing lis energy a1d perhaps his bu:ocss. and
takes !circ oi Ills ct \ timo whoa hi; 1rioymcn!
Of 1t should be mus iul and conplatc.
Tia ~ hiis ono phuso of the subject Lotto
tbs daily slta ii the average business ulan enter
all tho cgtncata productive OF physical haru-
huT'y, excitement, lack cf proper food at the
prciicy tnc, little or no rtcrcation-in word,
c;mplcic ignoring Of tho fact that oven Ma
tuto txpscs sCmo asss!aroo from US. We give
hoa!!A 10; money till thero comes time WHOM
80 wop!i gisdly give money for health, aud
tca.iz,;oo lsto tho i0siguifcacc, OF what we
have .ained compared with what We
hcec saoliG,eh to gsin it. We may take 80 cx
,remG view CT the rjattcr, but 80 still think the
fault ~o haso mentioned vii! bo generally ro-
c1En;a,j, aGd, IL visW Of the present whifl, cur
rel1srks 10 considered opportuno