Huntsville gazette., 1886-02-20
UNHEALTHY MINDS.

MOrbldness, Accompanied by worry, Ono
of Woman's Greatest Enemies.
The tendency of the times is to
mental overwork.
Among men political ambition and
the desire to accumulate property are
the stimulants. The question ''How
shall we keep from starving?" and
"Who is to be the next President?" are
ever before them. But women are the
principal sufferers from the effects of
this mental strain; social ambition
and obligation, including church and
charity work, constituting the goads.
These are usually larger than the purse
and strength, therefore to economise in
the kitchen and lavish in the parlor
and outside is the result, and state of
nervousness and morbidness arrived
at that is undesirable. ''What shall we
wear?" ssOught we to visit her?" and
''Where shall we 60 when we die?" are
the principal questions which engrOss
the minds of women, and in which are
involved many minor perplexities.
A thoroughly healthy mind has be-
come one of the rarest of possessions.
Among women it is seldom seen, but
this is not to be wondered at when we
remember how modern life has
widened their sphere of activity, quick
ened their sense of individual re-
sponsibility. Some women become
morbid by thinking constantly of what
they are expected to be. Never was
there such high demand upon woman
hood as now. They say that they are
expected to come up to a lofty
standard and that society depends
upon them for its highest pleasures.
To be an ideal and yet to be severely
real is the task set before them. The
result is that many women undertake
too much. The mind is overstrained
to meet unreasonable expectation, and
this modern tyranny of ideal women
works havoc among those who, most
sensitive to duty and impulsive aims,
are sure to be most completely sacri-
feed.
Women are also led into morbidness
by what they supposed themselves ex-
pected to do. Of late years the church,
benevolent institutions and practical
organizations for usefulness have laid
heavy duties upon them. Nor can it
be doubted that in these spheres of ac-
ton they have rendered immense SER
vice to various enterprises. No one
would hinder them in good works, and
especially in those that belong by ma
ture to womanly sympathy, yet it
must be confessed that philanthropy
has its temptations to dissipation and
overwork as well as the most superb
cial state of society. Women fall easily
into the excitement of these schemes,
and sometimes lose sight of the spirit
of benevolence, in its broadest sense,
in the work engaging their present at
tention. Sharp trial and disappoint-
ment oftentimes follow such labors.
The strongest men have to be on the
watch against the corroding influence
of philanthropic effort. Women if dis
appointed in such endeavors are apt to
grow more intense and less amiable.
1t surprises woman not to attain
her object, and failure strikes deeply
into her heart and reveals itself in
injuries to her character. And when
the evil in the world is suddenly dis
closed to her in all its hideousness it is
very likely to produce bitterness and
rebellion against the confused and
jarring economy of things under which
we are living.
The political question alone is suffi-
cient to drive us all--men, women and
children-to distraction. Think of the
thousands of our citizens whose exist
ence depends, nearly or remotely, on
the victory or failure of political par
ties, and who work all their life on the
slippery edges of precipices! Add to
this the petty wranglings between
neighbors and in families during a
campaign, and the concentrated agony
of half our population on the morning
after an election, or worse still the sus-
pense of weeks that follow when the
contest is close.
The morbidness that so often accom-
panies worry and disappointment is
one of woman's greatest enemies. 1t
soon becomes disease, fierce and
feverish consumption that destroys the
strength and beauty of her life. If she
las a work to do let her do it for love
IF the work, and not for the popularity
nr fame or thanks that it may bring,
Ilor altogether from sense of duty, for
ler highest duty is to herself and fam
lily. Let woman work by all means,
hut let her work unconsciously and
self-forgetfully, for not otherwise can
she have security against an evil that
does her fearful harm. Let us remem-
Der that the most desirable thing we
can possess, both for ourselves and for
the sake of those with whom we come
in contact, is healthy mind.-L0aise
Philips, in Chicago Current.