Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-07
Too Intense Life.

From Harper's Bazaar.
Few Of N realize how far We are over-taxing
not only the brain, but all the physical powers,
In the mere fact Of keeping up our daily lives
with the exactions Of modern habits and de-
mands. In order to maintain these habits and
crafty these demands we exert ourselves 10
make money at Q rate quite beyond our natural
and normal powers; and then one day every
tning gives way and down we go, 30 many
wrecks ana ruins. This is perhaps inevitable.
from the fact Of our newness as country and
the unconsciously felt necessity Of being equal
WIN DINERS In the race where all have had a
iair start, and 90 OF leaving family provided
Tor. Future generations, when the social
umlw may have become more fixed, when il
may De round all but impossible to make more
money than the legitimate return for labor
gives, VIII In measure remedy this by making
the ceaseless struggle under which we labor
to-day unnecessary and fruitless then. Per-
maps We shall then settle into the condition Of
people in the older countries who accept their
fate, striving just to do their duty in IL and do
not wear out their forces in furious haste 70
reach that which is unattainable without such
waste; and thus there may in time come a
calmer and stronger race in consequence Of the
caimer modes OF life, if indeed the nervous ex-
penditure Of the present do not hinder the con-
tinuance Of any race at all
1t il said that to-day we as q people display
more OF the result Of worry and strain in our
health than is shown by any other nation. The
number Of our dyspeptics may be known by
the number OF our patent remedies for dyspep-
STA which pay for their vast advertising and
brings fortunes 10 their proprietors, while the
frequency OF apoplexy, of heartparalysis, Of
direct and indirect brain trouble, and of dis
ease Of the kidneys, all Of which are immediate
effects of excessive mental exertion, is some
thing really appalling.
The worst Of it is that no one realizes the
danger till the blow has fallen and the damage
is done, and we 60 on in our ruinous courses
often without warning or advisement People
hesitate to lift more weight than can be lifted
easily, because it will strain the muscles of the
back injuriously and do mischief; they hesitate
to run or walk greater distances than can be
comfortably accomplished, because it will tire
the muscles Of the legs and give pain; and SO
in relation to much other physical exertion;
they never seem to feel that as, according to
Bichat life b the totality of the functions so
all functions and all organs are to be regarded
with equal care and concern; and thus they
forget that to think, to plot and plan. and
strive and fret and worry, tires and weakens
both the brain and the heart, and puts addi-
tional work on the kidneys, doing damage that
Is more than permanent. inasmuch as il is fatal.
When it is remembered how the heart shakes
at any and every emotion of consequence, how
1t sinks with fears and palpitates with desires,
and stands still with loss and horror and de-
feat, it will be seen that lives of strong emo
AouS duu unceaslnR euOrtS ana aspirations
must have great deal to do with the condition
OF the heart. 1t is not steady and persistent
work that does this. That, with fit intervals of
rest, does injury to no one, but on the con-
trary, is healthy. and in way strengthening.
1t brings no trouble of heats and colds, of beat
ngs and boundings; no holding Of the breath,
nervous starts, no dizzy pauses Of expectation.
1t is not work, but it is worry, that does the
harm; worry, and strain, and shock, whether
sudden and vehement, or of long-continued
frequency, like a series of small repeated
blows, the first of which is unnoticeable, the
however, would stand great deal of
strain, and even Of shock, if it were
not for its auxiliary, the heart The heart has
by no means the vigor and elasticity and re-
source OF the other organ; sorrow and fear,
suspense, anxiety, all rush at once with their
burdens and blows to the heart; and great lows.
great successes and triumphs, act Just as strenu-
ously as shocks upon that delicate organ en-
feeble it, and prevent it from feeding the brain
till it is impoverished, or from relieving that
brain again Of its oyercharged load till Il be-
comes congested. 1t seems strange that from
tins overtax of the heart insomnia and insanity.
paralysis and apoplexy, and even mortal kidney
trouble, can be developed but such is the
alarming truth, while dyspepsia and Mysteries
and affairs of that sort, which, without being
exactly fatal, yet are enough to make life a
burden, are two frequently the consequence to
be more than spoken of. For when the hear,
once becomes enfeebled, every other organ Of
the body is in danger, although ''by means OF
strength some come to four-score" in spite oil
it.
1t follows, then, that a life where the in.
dividual feels himself subjected to heartbeat
ing excitements, to shock and strain and
struggle, or to the too intense thought which
burns the blood in the BRAIN is life at once Il
be abandoned And there Is no mistake abou
1t; for We do not abandon such q life as that
1t will in very short space Of time abandon Us