Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1888-03-07
For the Smyrna Times.
Pro Bono PublicO.
A WORD TO CONSERVATIVES.

louS stages OF consumption, have, at
last sat down, sad-eyed and sallowvis-
age, and with dispairing equanimity,
have torpidly and TRANQUILITY" made
up their minds to die!
The awakening words of cheer and
consolation which we found it in our
mind to speak on these occasions, we
now give in the TIMES in substance for
the benefit Ofthose "sad-eyed" and ''sal-
lOw-visaged" people who undoubtedly
sit everywhere with unstrung bodies,
and detected souls, endeaUOring to Kill
themselves Nth depression, before they
can be killed by consumption !"
The first thing to be said is, that,
consumption being in nearly, if not all
cases, capable of being retarded, or
strictly quite a durable disease, it is
morally wrong for any persons to allow
themselves to become Indifferent to
earthly life, and to accelerate the pro-
cesses of dissolution by yearning for the
life beyond the craze!
We admit resignation" is a very
good thing Ii e. in its place! When
one is going over the cataract of
Niagara, we think the virtue may be
commercially exercised, and that it
shows to great advantage. But when
one falls into simple pond, or running
stream, we think resignation contempt
able compared to vigorous swimming.
Life was given to us TOR living, not for
dying. Life" is the best of all our
possessions and we think it becomes
every person to take care of it to the
best of his, or her, ability, and not to
surrender it without struggle.
If any of us were Robinson Crusoe
without his man Friday-isolated-
companionless, uncOnnected-or not
remembered, the wish or the willing
ness to die would be decent. But this
IS world of relations and duties-a
world where we live not for ourselves
alone but for others, and our existence
is constant comfort, support, succor,
joy, or consolation to our friends and
dependents. Thus there is a secret and
subtle sel6shness in any abandonment
OF life or longing for happier scenes in
other spheres. This is one of the num-
erOus ways the devil has of folding his
tail to look like an unexceptionable
coat-skirt. Under the plea of piety,
or the cover of necessity, we propose to
escape life's discipline and duties, and
hoping for private good, and abandon
the blessed opportunity that permits
our lives to be private and public
Deatitudes to all around us.
Yet it must be allowed that an indif-
ference to life is, naturally, the accom-
paniment of that spiritual depression
induced by a feeble or aching body !;
and we know how hard it is for the
spirit to struggle with its ,Ueak strength
against ats stronger lUeakness.
But the effort should, nevertheless,
be made, The conviction that every
consumptive, or otherwise sick person
should be under, is that it is duty to
strive against the inclination to mac
tivity, and to resolutely employ every
means within reach to effect a condi-
ton of sound health.
1t is idle to hope anything from med
icine beyond temporary ameliOration
of distressing symptoms.
The fountain springs which feed the
disease, are undoubtedly an imperfect
digestion and sluggish state of the
blood, often induced by sedentary en-
Payments or habits, and the breathing
OF an impure atmosphere, or, at least
sustained by these. To obtain a keen
appetite for food, a perfect digestion
and assimilation, and an aroused cir
culation of the vital fluid, should be
the aims of every cOnsumptive person.
To compass these aims, out-of-door ex-
ercise is the main thing. Sydenham,
one of the lights of medicine, perhaps
the greatest author in ancient times, far
beyond HippOcrates the former who
wrote two hundred years ago, says the
remedy beyond all remedies" riding
on horseback, and this because, great
exercise is thus gained with little
fatigue. Persons who cannot afford a
horse can take long rides in Omnibuses
lin cities) carts, or any vehicle whose
motion shakes up the physical system.
Exercise of any kind that can be borne,
is good, since it assists the appetite,
stimulates the organic functions of the
body into activity. Frequent bathing,
or thorough washing with warm or
cold water, as the habit of body may
determine, in order to remove the ami
NAL deposits from the skin-pores, and
enable the body to breathe freely and
freely expel the gases which it gener-
ates, and the particles of effete or dead
matter which it seeks to throw offs
highly necessary. But above all one
should live in the open fresh air, and
walk in the sun, exercise actively and
frequently, and avoid close rooms
chewing and smoking of tobacco or
drinking rum, sedentary habits, and
gloomy meditations.
In this way appetite, digestion, as
similatiOn, and healthy action of all
the body functions may be gained and
robust health is certain to follow.
Once more we charge all consumptive
persons to remember that their great
est danger is in giVing up and sitting
still. Fun, frOlic, outdoor exercise
and frequent bathing, &C., will give
them a neaO lease of life Oh the best cORdi-
tiOns. C.D.G.
KirklOOOd, DEL, FEB. 2Srd, 1888.
1t has been stated that since the
sunaower has been cultivated on GER
Aofv, &c H.