The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-02

70 avoid these haFrieanes of thought
70 get out Of the atmosphere which b.
: caused the storm, "a into the fresh al
r or attempt some new work. Do not wa
till the storm i raging before doin
somsthing. Start ae moment the fir:
} cloud appears. Tnare are many who:
emotional natures are so delieateI
poised that the slightest excitement III
/ sets than. Such ara unfortunate, an
, must suffer much. Their only cHre
, sef-diseipline, and tsle cultivation of
cheerful, happy. robsBt frame of mind
We can form the hal g of being happy
and happiness is e. key 70 menta
; health. -
| believe, also, thas for the best men
tai health every one needs some faithso
4 philosophy. The wosid is full Of pain
SORROW and trial. W. need somethin;
to cling to, something upon which w
can depend. Even a4alse faith or phi
! losophy is better thaA none. Ii thest
days of knowledge, old Faiths are shaker
or scattered to the winds, and new ones
are not always adapted TO our needs
But all can trust in the order Of natEre
and believe that everything SIS as q
whole, if not absolutely good, yetquite
as gooda we deserve, and something to
be very thankful for.
l am expected, of course, to say some-
thing concerning oyerWork. If We were
to keep our bodies always at their best.
there would be littla danger of. over
work; but we let cur Strength diminish
below q proper stansagd, and then a
| little work is too much for is. Then we
worry; and wOrryslet me tell yousis in
consistent with mental health. Some
people seem to have a wild passion to be.
doing something every moment OF their
lives.
Herbert Spencer, in his address at the
banquet given him when here, states his
opinion chat Americans over-work, and
suggests that we need revised ideal OF
life He would reverse the common be-
lief that life is for work, and substitute
"Work is for life" That is to say, we
work that we may live, and therefore we
should work no more than is necessary
in order to live well. His idea will bear
thinking about. Meanwhile, If the gos- |
pei of relaxation from labor when we
have done enough were followed, there |
would be little danger Of doing too
much.
There are many ways Of relaxation.
One is by changing our occupation |
There are some brain-workers who, when |
wearied of one kind of labor, take up |
another which calls into play faculties
which have not been exercised, and this /
is a method / heartily commend. But
all cannot do this. Each must choose
for himself, and choose as wisely as he
can. At least make this YOUR rule: to
relax the strain on your
brain as often as is necessary, and keep
within tae limit of your powers.
Music, the drama, evening games that
are light and call out pleasant conversa-
ton and repartee, varied physical ex-
ercises, change of scene, all or more may
be used in their turn. Above all things
take plenty of outdoor recreation.
Women live too much in the house.
breathe too much bad air, and hamper
their powers by it. If you get nervous
and fidgety, ten chances to one a few
hours out of doors will cure you. Ev-
ery brain-working woman ought to be
in the pure, fresh air and sunshine all
she can. Remember this, and to remem-
Der it write it down in your notebooks,
and on the tablet of your memories,
where it will remain as long as you live.
In order to maintain a high degree of
mental health, avoid every form of en-
slavement of the mind. What | mean
By this, is any bad habit, no matter
what it is, that becomes mastering
passion. To be healthy, the mind must
not be enslaved. could elaborate this,
put the mere hint must suffice.
And now, let me close this lecture
with word from that great master Of
language, Tyndail He once said to "a
,lass of medical students words equally
appropriate to you. Said he:
Now, let me utter enc practical
word Take care Of your heastll- There
have been men who, by wiseA attention.
20 this point, might have made great
written great poems, com
handed armies, ruled States. but who, by
lnwise neglect Of this point, have come
20 naught. Imagine Hercules as an
1arsman in a rotten boat. What can he
10 there, but by every stroke expedite ,
he ruin Of his craft? Take care, then,
If the timbers of your boat, and avoid I
Ill practices likely to introduce either
vet or dry rot among them. And this is
lot to be done by desultory, intermit-
ent effort, but by the formation of !
habits. The will has, no doubt, some
lines to be put forth in strength, in
order to strangle or crush some special
but the formation of right
habits is essential to your permanent Sc I
;urity. They diminish your chances of {
falling when assailed, and augment your
chances of recovery when overthrown."
And to this | would add that, in this '
world, full Of uncertainty and doubt,
full of trials and temptations, one
thought is clear as the MONDAY sun, {
and that is that the brightness, and /
beauty, aud usefulness of life, as well {
Is its gloom and disaster. depend, to a I
great extent, on the use and abuse OF I
hat marvellous organ, the human brain.
M. L. Holbrook.