The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-08-03
UNHEALTHY MINDS.
Horbidness, Accompanied by Worry, One
Of WomAn's Greatest Enemies.
The tendency of the times is TO

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 starvingo' 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
i and obligation. including church and
! charity work. constituting the gOads.
/ These are usually larger than the purse
and strength, therefore TO economist in
| the kitchen and lavish in the parlor
and outside is the result, and a state Of
nervousness and mOrbidness arrived
ar that Is undesirable. What shall we
wear?" Ought We 70 visi: her2" and
"Where shall we 90 when we diea" 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 il not TO be wondered az when we
remember how modern life has
widened their sphere of activity. quick
ened their sense of individual re-
| sponsibilitv. Some women become
morbid by thinking constantly of what
thew are expected to be. Never was
there such high demand upon woman
hood Is now. They say that they are
expected to come up TO lofty
standard and that society depends
upon them for its highest pleasures.
To be an ideal and yet 20 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 20 duty and impulsive aims.
are sure TO be most completely sacrI-
| feed.
Women are also led into morbiiness
by what they supposed themselves ex-
pected - 10. 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 &c
ton they have rendered immense ser
vice TO various enterprises. No one
would hinder them III good works. and
| especially IN those that belong by IA
ture I'd wOmauly sympathy, yes if
must D. confessed that philanthropy
has its temptations ID dissipation and
overwork a. we'll as the most superb
cial state of society. Women fall easily
into the excitement of these schemes,
and sometimes lose sight of the spiri,
of benevolence, in It's brOadest sense,
IN the work engaging their present AZ
teutiOn. Sharp trial and disappoint.
ment Oftentimes follow such labors.
The strongest men have 20 be on the
watch against the corroding influence
of philanthropic effort. Women il dis
appointed. III such endeavOrs are apt 20
grow more intense and less amiable
IL surprises 4 woman not 70 attain
her object, and failure strikes deeply
| into her heart and reveals itself in
injuries 10 her character. And when
the evil in the world il suddenly dis
closed To her IN al its hideOuSneSs il IL
| very likely 70 produce bitterness and
rebellion against the confused and
Earring economy of things under which
we are living.
The political question alone is suffi-
ciert 10 drive Us all-men. women and
chiliren-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 70
this the petty wr1ngliugS between
neigh 5Ors and in families during 3
campaign. and the concentrated agony
! of half our poprl alton on the morning
sfte- a. election. or worse still the sus-
pense Of weeks that follow when the
contest is close.
The mOrbidness that so often accom-
pauies worry and disappointment is
one of woman's greatest enemies. IL
soon becomes disease. fierce and
feverish consumption that destroys the
strength and beauty of her life. If she
has q work 20 do let her do it for love
OF the work. and not for the popularity
or fame or thanks that it may bring.
nor altogether from sense of duty. for
her highest duty is to herself and fam
ily. Let woman work by all means,
but let her work unconsciously and
self-forgetfuliy, 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 TO:
the sake of those with whom we come
IN contact, is healthy mind. -L0gISs