Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-16
Running for a Train.

\ III tue COuE sc vi SOLue ThIucE Ll-ua-
tured comments on the manners Of
Americans, Oscar Wilde recently OBJ
served that the citizens Of the great
Republic "are always running to catch
train" Like most foreign generali-
cations on the customs of q country,
the statement is broader than the facts
warrant; but the sarcasm conveys q
hint which many of our people may
well ponder with profit.
Mr.. Wilde, looking at the subject
frnm the aesthetic" point of view, sees
in this headlong American habit simply
a proof of the lack of that digni6ed re-
pose of manner which he regards as
mark of true gentility. So far, it is
only question of taste, as to which
opinions may fairly differ. But there
is also practical side to it, Running"
for train" is more than undigni6ed-
it is attended with risk to health and
life which few suspect. On this point
the Medical and Surgical Reporter
makes some important statements which
we commend to those who travel daily
on the cars.
These daily travellers form numer.
GUS growing class. We have not the
statistics at hand but the number who
ride on the steam-csrs every day counts
far up among the thousands, and the
great travelling public all oyer the land,
forms a populous State constantly on
the move. And it may be safely said
that majority at least of the diurnal
travellers are accustomed to delay in
starting for the train until they are
obliged to hurry, even to the point of
running, to catch it.
But, according to the authority re-
ferred to, this dangerous business.
The combined haste and anxiety exert
a most pernicious influence upon the
action ofthe heart. Even if the heart
is perfectly sound, running when not
practiced as regular exercise, is not
beneficial to the delicate cords and
valves of that sensitive organ. In
case it Is Weak by disease, such violent
movement must prove very injurious.
AS matter of fact, it is aways peril |
Gus, and sometimes Immediately fatal |
The writer of the article says he has
known of several instances, within his |
own experience where men who had |
supposed themselves sound have run
for trains, and getting on board have |
fallen exhausted into seats from which |
they never arose. But it not at once |
the cause of death. the constant wear
and tear upon the heart, when run.
ming for the train" is common prsc-
tice, induces a disordered condition
which will ultimately give serious
trouble. Better miss q train" the |
Reporter wisely says, ethan run the
risk of running into the jaws of death
for this strain on the heart cannot |
prove beneficial to one that is sound,
while it is likely to prove disastrous to |
one that is weak.
The habit has its ridiculous as we'll |
as its serious side One can scarcely |
pass q railway station without seeing |
some ore running as if his life depend
ed on his speed, and dashing furiously |
up the stairway to 'catch a train"
when another one will come along in
q short time. An ordinary train |
hardly ever leaves q station but the
spectacle may be witnessed of q belat-
ed passenger hurrying toward the
moving cars, out of wind and ready to
drop with unwsnted exertion, and get
ting on at the peril of his life-and all
to save perhaps twenty or thirty min
utes' time in reaching the city.
This is very foolish, and our daily |
travellers would do well to think it over
with proper seriousness. The impulse
is a strong one to hurry when one is
late; but the gain is so small compared
with the risk incurred, that wise men,
when they know the peril, will try to
avoid it, either by starting earlier or
philosophically waiting for the next
train.