Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-09-01
The se!ashnegs Of Invalisism.

One ofthe distinguishing characters
tics Of Christian civilization is the ten
derness and consideration accorded as
their right to invalids. Our sympathy
for those who are i'll in body extends
beyond the circle of our friends and
relations, and we give generously Of
our substance for the establishment and
maintenance of hospitals and dispen-
saries, where the poor can have the
benefit Of skilful medical treatment,
All this is very creditable to our hu-
mainly; but are we not likely to
overdo this matter of benevolence to
sick people? Does not our sympathy
for them betray us into ignoring what
is justly the due to people in health ?
1t goes without saying that illness is
usually preyentable, being largely the
result Of acts of wilfulness and reck-
lessness committed in spite Of plead
ings and warnings, and entailing anx-
iety, fatigue and expense on innocent
people We are commanded to live
life Of holiness, and compelled to
acquire more or less Of the knowledge
of the schools; but is it ever represent
ed to us as an imperative duty to cul-
tivate health as much of duty as
striving to be virtuous or intelligent ?
1t seems strange that as yet no one Of
the many teachers Of righteousness has
started a crusade in favor of health on
purely moral grounds and preached
to us on the selfshness Of invalidism.
Nothing is truer than that mo man
liveth to himself" Many Of US doubt
less live for ourselves-the more's the
pity-but the consequences of our acts
reach farther than the circle Of our
personal experiences The champagne
supper which entailed onus weary days
Of pain and weakness, costs others
quite as heavily in the sufferings which
result from disturbed rest, anxiety, and
perhaps the sacrifice of some long
looked-for and much-counted- on pleas
urea trip to Europe, for example
the time and means for which being
used to WOO the transgressor back to
health. What right have we to de
mand ofeven our nearest relatives that
they shall help pay the penalty Of our
misdoings and be troubled by our com
plainings? Illness in house means
discomfort of one sort and another to
each member of that household, and
yetwe crafty our whims, born Of
vanity or worse, quite regardless of the
comfort of others, and when illness
follows, we exact as our Just due all
manner of service from family and
friends. 1t is quite as disgraceful tx
deliberately put oneself in the way Of
becoming i'll as it is to utter an untruth
In both cases the rights of others are
disregarded At present every en-.
enlargement is afforded people to be.
come invalids and to perpetuate il
health in their descendants If only
1.-THE of the effort, time and wealth
now directed to cure disease were ex.
pended in compelling people to be well
many a crowded hospital of to-day
would be emptied Of patients, and sue.
cessful practice would be less frequent.
ly heard of in connection with The
medical profession. 1t is to be hoped
that public sentiment will eventually
come to regard illness as something
rather discreditable, and that peopl,
will be trained to cultivate physica
perfection with as much earnestnes
and thoroughness as is now expended
in acquiring intellectual robustness 0.
moral strength.