Morning journal and courier., 1886-04-05

of attention to all the little miseries of life to which the parishioners, especially the poorer ones, are subject.
 All this is very. wearing to a conscien- tious minister, and is quite certain in the long run to make itself felt, both mentally and physically. At the same time it ap- pears that the parochial visiting is one of
 those duties that ought really to be insepar-
 ably connected with the office of the min istry. There might, however, be some way of lessening it's righteousness, while at the same time making it more what it ought to
 be-a source of relaxation both for the cler- gyman and his congregation.
 3. Extensive knowledge of the daily life of clergymen has convinced me that the great majority of them are underfed They probably eat enough, such as it is, but they are peculiarity prone to indulge in all kinds of sloppy articles of diet, ''brain food" meals of various species, and the several varieties of patent food recommended by their in
 ''brain workers" Besides they appear to prefer vegetable to an animal diet, and thus fill their stomachs with watery mix lures possessing comparatively small nutri tive power. All this is often in consequence of their having somehow or other acquired the notion that animal food is heating and in digestible. Sometimes, am afraid, 1t is the result of their not possessing the pecuniary means of purchasing the beef the mutton, the chicken, or turkey that are immeas urably superior for all workers, whether with their brain or their muscles, to the turnips, the tomatoes, the cabbage, and such like, that fill their stomaehs without providing sufficient pabulum to supply the waste that life entails upon us all.
 3. Relative to the third point-the mere mention of it will doubtless be sufficient to secure for it recognition as one of the chief factors in breaking down the health of clergymen. AS & rule they sin against the laws of their being both as regards the mind and body. The first is not only kept too much at work, but is restricted to work that often lies within very narrow bounds; and hence it is doubly tasked in an injurious way. In large cities there is more rest, and there is more variety of mental action; but in the country, or in towns of small size, the mental life of clergyman is restricted in its scope, though drawn out long enough within the confined limits within which it acts AS to recreation he rarely, if ever, get an hour during which his mind is engaged with something of an amusing, even if light and trihing, character, potent to divert him from the serious affairs of life, and hence the strongest brain tonic that could be given. His parishioners are on the lookout for the travelling theater, circus, or band of negro minstrels, and they get part, at least, of the diversion and recreation they require; but the clergyman, tuated by what 1 be ieve is mistaken view of his duty to him self, as well as to others, remains at home not by any means as cheerful as it ought to be-or has prayer meeting or some other religious service that serves to keep him ill the rut. All this is wrong. I am sure that the all powerful and all knowing being who placed us here is more honored by our taking care of our minds than by our offering him prayers and unmusical hymns.
 The like principles are applicable to the of the muscular part of the body, though in a somewhat different way. The body of the clergyman is seldom directly overworked, on the contrary, it does not get work enough. It would be good thing if the church and Sunday school were at least three miles from the clergymans residence. As rule, it seems to be the object to get his house near as possible to the place in which he is to hold forth. and hence to cause him to walk as little possible. There is no form of physical exercise that is as good as walking; no amount of muscu lar contortions with dumb bells or Indian clubs or rubber cords can take the place of it. The mere fact that the one is done in the open air, while the others are generally inside in close rooms, is sufficient to give it pre-eninence.
 One word more. The healthiest clergy men in this country are the Roman Catholic, and the reason is that, although they work hard, they live well, generously in fact, and know how to recreate the mind and ba5y