The Portland daily press., 1886-07-16
HEALTHY AND HAPPY AT 70.
Relations of Sleep and the Devil to
Bodily Development.
Story of Laborious Life Told by
Hale and Hearty Reformer.
Elizabeth Cady stanton in Herald Of Health.

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Hale and Hearty Reformer.
Elizabeth Cady stanton in Herald of Health.
My parents, both living to the age of eigh-
ty-six, had wonderful constitutions. l have
no remembrance of seeing either of them
confined to the house with any prolonged
illness, hence l had good start in the
world. Being naturally very playful and a
great romp among children, l was much in
the open air. The spacious academy, with
innumerable windows and doors, was neceS-
sarily well ventilated, and to keep outside
that temple of knowledge was my chief
study. always hated the sound Of that old
bell, presented by Queen Anne, calling us
from play to the serious work OF acquiring
the rudiments of learning. However, L
maintained respectable position near the
head in my classes, for l utilized all rainy
days and seasons of penance in study, that
might play, when set free in the sunshine.
My companions often asked me. when do
you learn your lessons?" when can
find nothing more pleasant to do" would
have been my answer had l then known
how to put the fact into words.
The only drawback to complete health and
happiness when child was fear of the devil,
especially at night. He was an ever-present
reality, whom was told could not see be-
cause he always kept himself behind me, and
however quickly might turn, never could
catch even a glimpse of his shadow. People
who teach children such superstltions little
dream of the positive injury they are doing
to their mental and physical condition. These
fears were intensified in my case, under the
preaching of the Rev. Charles Finney, which
in a measure marred my happiness and Grip
pied my development until l arrived at the
age of seventeen years. then read "Combe's
Moral Philosophy" and his CONSTITUTION Oh
Man." and discussed the broad principles
laid down in those volumes with gentleman
of liberal thought, and soon threw OFF all the
old theological superstitions that had so long
shadowed my life. then struck the name
of Millions giant from my list OF aequaln-
tances, and with long walks and rides on
horseback / finally recovered the normal
physical and moral tone of my being. Health
and happiness are impossible~where one Is
hedged about with undue RESTRAINTS, ana
fears of the underlined and unknown.
Another, knowing my genius for sleep,
saws, 'fYou cannot be in health and sleep as
you do on the slightest prOvocation." This,
too, is an ancestral tendency MY grand
father made Sunday day of rest. After
feeding his cattle and taking bird s-eye
view of his farm, he slept until dinner, and
after frugal repast, again until tea, and as
soon as the sun went down he retired and
slept all night. My father, conforming rath-
er more to the demands of progressive civ
ilization, solaced himself with few short
maps, both at church and at home. He has
been known, in our old Scotch Presbyterian
church, to sleep standing all through the
long prayer, and on few occasions TO MAIN
tain the perpendicular after all the congrega-
were seated, much to his own modification
and the amusement of his children. Yet as
a Judge and lawyer he was always awake
to the interests of his clients and the sophls-
tries of the advocates in his court. lie was
the oldest judge that ever sat on a bench IN
this country, resigning at the age OF eighty
four. When as a child l was disappointed in
any anticipated pleasure, punished, or suf-
fered injustice, hurried to my room and
went to sleep,
In the palmy days of Theodore Parkers
popularity, | attended his ministrations reg
ularly. As it involved a long walk, and
reached his place of worship very tired,
made it a rule to sleep through ailthe pre-
liminary services that might be wide awake
at the right moment. Just so in going to
ball, party or dinner, felt short nap was
an important factor in my toilet, as nothing
could make me so attractive as the color and
look of repose that follows sleep. No rouge
or stimulus equal to it, Ii from no higher
motive than vanity, | say to all girls in So
ciety, sleep. Cosmetics, laces and flowers
cannot conceal weary, Jaded look, nor q
chronic condition of dissatisfaction. have
emphasized this point because most people
seem to think that sleep is disreputable, that
there is great virtue in being forever ON the
watch tower This is one doctrine in the
gospel of health that | have preached to ner-
vous men and women in all my travels from
Maine to Texas
Occasionally you will meet erotchety man
or woman who has some theory about early
rising, and not satisfied to get up themselves
to see the sun rise, they will ,waken whole
household, pulling young children out OF
their nests, making them cross all day. Tho
insane asylums are full of people whose
sweet morning slumbers have. been rudely
broken by some Ignorant theorist
My habits of life have always been COM
paratively quiet and regqlar-long walks
and Journeys on horseback in my young
days. active work in the house and garden
in later years and now short strolls on the
blue hills of Jersey, drives, ,an1 moderate pae-
ing on the piazza. Although L enjoy society,
l love to be alone. TO read and T1lnk @ ana
write are my greatest pleasures. love chill
dren and quiet orderly home.
We usually breakfast at eight in summer
and half-past in winter; Immediately after
is my best time for work. Some days, when
deeply interested in what l am writing, L
work all day without the slightest feeling OF
WEAKNESS; at other times am soon weary,
and accomplish little. l have but few fixed
habits. like to change the furniture in my
house about in every possible way, and the
curronI OIL llly LnOuSubS W NdIlOuO ouOJCCbo.
have been weary beyond description OF
arguing the question OF suffrage for forty
wears, and sympathize with Poe's Raven, sit
ting on the door-post with his sad refrain
GeVersed), ''Evermore!" "Eyermore! A
legislator at Albany told me twenty years
ago that if we could raise million of dollars
for our representatives. we need make no
more arguments. But repiied Setting
aside the honor of your proposition, would
rather make the arguments than beg Tor the
ctil stand knnQEiOO at the
constitutional doors in the several States
with patience and persistence that to the
Indifferent observer passes all understand
ing.
| am moderate eater, enjoying simple
food. / neither smoke, nor dip, nor chew,
nor drink anything stronger than tea and
coffee, and at aldinner party an occasional
glass of wine. have always worn my cloth
ing loosely, resting on my shoulders, maze
of the lightest material, with the
boots, broad soles, and low heels, con-
sequently my feet have kept up with the
weight they were required to carry. Not
nerve or muscle, from head to loot, suffers
any pressure from clothing. My teeth ore
all sound, my hair luxuriant, my hearing
perfect, and my eyes still able to read the
fine print of the New York Sun with specta-
cles l have brought up seven children,
kept house half a century, and worked In all
the reforms.
For eight months of the usual Lyceum sea-
son | lectured steadily for twelve years.
Those only who have been the victims of
Lyceum bureau can appreciate the hardshlps
of that life, travelling night and day, early
and late, hurrying from point 10 point, I'M
comfortable beds, unpalatable food, and con-
slant anxiety in filling appointments, none
of which ever lost when it was possible to
fill them. And now, in the sunset of life, L
am still busy with pen and tongue, as deeply
interested as ever in all questions OF the hour,
feeling with Longfellow that
cage is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky.is filled with stars, invisible by day.