The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-10-09
The Grange
Extracts from an Essay Read Before
Montgomery County Grange.


always in the enjoyment of high physic-
al health. But we, who are acquainted
with them, know that this is far from
the fact.
How many are bent and complaining
at forty, and really old men at fifty. from
nothing else than over and injudicious
work, utter disregard of proper protec-
ton against cold and wet, and from in
dulging in the fallacy that rest afterward
can atone for over exertion in the first
instance. But even suppose that q man
sleeps nine hours at night, rests two at
noon, and one after supper before going
to bed, and works twelve in the field,
also exercises reasonable care of himself
in inclement weather, thus keeping his
physique robust; what is he then but
healthy animal, just shade higher only
in the scale than his glossy horse or fat
contentsd COW, and with his duty to him
self and to his God only partly done. If
all he cares for is money making, and
an occasional holiday for thought and
sleep, then che is Joined to his idols"
and we may as well "let him alone;'
but if he realizes that the body, although
of fundamental importance, is only for
the support of the brain and for the
dwelling place of the spirit, that all that
is best in him, that all that rises him
above the rest of creation is his mental
and spiritual ascendancy, he will see
that the part of his duty yet undone is
that which will require his best and
highest effort. To make this practical,
there is no use to talk to man who has
labored for from twelve to sixteen hours
about mental improvement; he has spent
all his vital force and can do no more.
The writer of this essay remembers
an occasion which Illustrated this fact to
him. After long day in the harvest
field he attempted to listen to and I'M
derstand not very abstruse article, but
one which required attention, which was
read by a friend; he felt no inclination
to sleep, yet still could not clearly COM
prehend, the brain in the tired out body
could not, and would NOT. wolk-like
the overloaded camel, it simply laid
down. So, if we are to cultivate our
intellects we must have time to do it in.
Farmers, as class, retire too early at
night, and rise too early in the morning.
"Early to bed and early to rise" may
make a man "healthy and wealthy" but
will not make him "wise." Seven to
eight hours sleep is all any one requires.
If he takes this from eight or nine
O'Clock at night until four in the
morning, there is no reason why he
should not rise at four, but active occu.
patton from this early hour until night
fall will so incapacitate him for anything
buta repetition of the sleep of the night
before, in order that the body, and what
little soul he may have left, may be
kept together, that it will be useless to
attempt anything else. We should sys-
tematize our labors, remembering that
when we have worked physically or
mentally so that mere sloth is all we are
capable of in order to recuperate that
we have Orer-aoorked.
True rest from any employment which
is over-done is found in change of occu-
patton, aud in order to make this posi-
BILE We must not spend all of ourselves
before we attempt the change. Plow
three or four rows less corn in the eve
ming, let the mower be contented with
a few less journeys around the field, or
sow half acre less Of wheat, and come
in and change the clothing, for although
the coas may not make the man, it has
wonderful Unconscious influence. The
mere fact of the changing is restful, and