The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-13
Sedentary Habits.

The alarming increase of late years in
the proportion of sudden deaths is begin
Mug TO attract the attention of statistic
ians. 1t is largely due, 10 doubt, to more
general mental activity without proper
tionate increase in bodily exercise. The
busy life of the age demands a constant
hurry and excitement. and taxes the
physical powers to the utmost to keep up
in the race for money getting. One OF
the disadvantages Introducing facilities of
transportation is the temptation to cut
short time and distance by the habitual
use of steam cars and horse cars seven in
the daily transit from the dwelling to the
office. A sedeutary occupation begets an
almost unconQuerable aversion to regular
exercise and the results of yielding 10 the
indisposition ia that the mental powers
kept at steady tension for years, will
some day suddenly relax aud leave their
abuser either lifeless or a helpless para
'lytic. To literary aud professional men
ia vigorous aud regular exercise especi-
ally needful. and the example of its effects
in hale old age will suggest themselves
to every one The exercise needed to
keep the mind 10 tone and the physical
force undated I'D to four score years and
ten, is not daily spin behind a fast stepp-
ing horse, but the long swinging gait
which puts the walker over a country
road at the rate of four or FIVE miles an
hour, and sends the blood pulsing with
invigoratinR life to every portion of the
system, Two honrs' exercise day, so
far from being a waste of time, is a pos
tive economy. supplying the nervous force
tor more and better work in ten hours
than the man Of street cars and carriges
can get out oil tweIve.-Neao London
Telegram.
Theatrical people have stock of queer
superstitions which are handed down like
the traditions of the stage, aud every one
of the superstitious has its story to recon-
mend it to credercs. English ballet danc-
ers refuse to perform in a scene the prev
aiding color of which is blue. Blue is bad
luck and some silver relief its foil For
an actor to trip going on the stage the first
niaht of a play is success. SotherD
tripped in DGudreary, and no actress will
receive a boauet at, the stsge-door on a
first night because it il bad omen
When the BLACK Crook" was first pro-
duced at Niblo's it was fortune or ruin to
the managers. Wheatley stood at the
doors when they were thrown open on the |
first night. A woman aud child were |
about to enter first. Wheatley caught |
the woman and held her back to let man |
through the iron gate The manager ex- |
planned, and afterwards conducted the |
woman to her seat Success came. |
on Sunday are evil omens. and |
are discountenanoed by many players. |
Leo and Lotus" was rehearsed at Nibo's
on Sunday, and death occurred in the
company during the run of the piece. Jim
Fisk enforced Sunday Tshearsals of "LaIla
Rockh" at the Grand opera house. and
introduced Sunday performances of the
piece. The croakers of the stage were
loud in their predictions of disaster.
Somebody connected with the theatre
would die sure. It was Fisk himself and
his happened alter the third Sunday per-
'ormauce. Many players carry taiismans
IF prosperity-small but carefully trcas-
lred. Brignoli. however. carries a stag's
head. horns and all, with him on his trav-
lis. 1t is inconvsnieut but necessary to
he tsnor's peace. Il