The Russellville Democrat., 1882-09-07
Farmers Habits.
Southern World

After all that said about the
healthfuiness of life in the country,
it cannot be denied that very con-
siderable proportion of our most
active farmers are very far from ro-
bust in form and vigorous in digest
ion. We are not sure that the act
i've working-men of our towns and
cities are in any.wise inferior in
physical stamina and healthy bodily
powers to their brethren on the
farms. The truth is, the habits Of
many farmers are not in accordance
with the laws Of health and physical
development; not In that they do
not work enough, or that they eat
too much or sleep too little, but that
work, and eating, and sleeping are
not properly adjusted to each other.
It is g common notion that ''early to
bed and early to rise, will make you
healthy, wealthy and wise;" but the
old proverb has been construed too
literally by many. 1t was probably
the idea of the author to condemn
the practice of late suppers and
night designations, and nine or ten
o'clock break fasts, but not to enjoln
the habit of rising "before day" and
working until dark.
The best authorities are agreed
that one should not go to work In
the morning before taking food into
the stomach, even il nothing more
than few mouthfuls of solid food
and a cup of hot coffee; and common
reason ought to teach us that there
is no good sense in the habit of ris-
ing from bed an hour or two before
day, breakfasting at daylight and
working until notwithstanding la
Dor an hour only or less, at noon.
BY such course a man may and
will accomplish more work in a Civ.
en- period of few years, and he may
possibly grow rich; but it will be at
the risk of health and premature old
age--if not early death. Tue laws
Of health may be violated with appar-
ent impunity for q time-longer or
shorter but the penalty must at
last be paid when it is too late to re.
trieve the error.
Not only should the fast be broken
and the system fortified with food
before the regular days labor is en-
tered upon, but sufficient time should
be consumed for the proper mastica-
ton of the food. The practice Of
hurriedly boiling meal, in five or
ten minutes, cannot be too strongly
condemned rs the potent cause Of
more dyspepsia or indigestion than
all other causes combined. A per-
feet set Of teeth cannot properly pre-.
pare for digestion in 3 hearty meal
in less than thirty minutes time, and
a longer period would be better than
shorter. The noon meal should
not be commenced until the body
has been refreshed by little rest;
and period of at least half hour
better IL one bour--of perfect rest
should intervene before commencing
the afternoons labor. A moderate,
ly hearty supper OF easily digestible
food should be taken about ozark"
or little later, and with clean, dry
sleeping garments, slumber will be
sound and refreshing.
What we have written is intended
to apply not alone to the man who
labors regularly with his own hands
day after day, but equally to him
who actively superintends, and also,
to the "brain- worker" The old
Masonic rule is to ''diyide the twenty
four hours of the day into three be.
RODS OF eight hours each, whereby
we have eight hours for refreshment
and sleep, eight hours for the service
OF God or worthy distressed broth
err and eight hours for our usual ay
ocations." Ten hours 10 considered
a good days labor, and 1t is 80 pro
vided by the laws OF most of the
States. This rule is generally adj
be 70 in cities and towns by those