The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-12
ArTEE WINDOW WHEN IT RAINS.
The Lesson of Gloomy Days-The Effect
the Weather on the Mind.
TGreenville News.

the Weather on the Mind.
EGreenville News.
Gloomy weather We have been hav-
ing: miserable, muggy, blue devils
kind of weather. Probably eight-tenths
of the hours of wretchedness lived
among civilized peoples have been on
days such as have made up most OF
the last three weeks sitting at windows
staring out at wastes Of mud and mist.
Most of US can readily recall such times.
Whether we have anything to be
especially unhappy for or not, de-
preston comes darEly on heart and
mind as the clouds close IN over the
beautiful blue sky and the shining sun.
We 60 to the windows with instinc-
tive longing to seek whatiight there is,
and dreary enough We find The pros
pect. In city, town and country the
view through the window is familiar
and lonesome. The drip, drip Of the
cold drops from the caves or the slow
gurgle of the water in the pipes and
the steady rustic Of the light rain as 1t
falls fill our ears with dismal monotony.
Everything looks damp, draggled and
unpleasant; the very air appears to be
smeared with mud; the hill tops that
usually relieve the sameness Of the
view-the hill tops behind which on
happier days We have seen the glorious
colorings of sunset fade in the softened
tints Of twilight or on which we have
watched the light and glow OF sunrise
follow the deepening Of the rose flush
ee--s..sssSsszEzasSeSr7za shrouGed from US.
plrlteo: weary, VTEsraVsa.,eisa.z
vading moisture. Above there is an
impenetcable mass Of dull gray with,
maybe an occasional exasperating de-
lusive gleam Of white to remind us
tauntilgly Of the sunshine and bright
ness hid from us; all around, whether
it be bare, far stretching fields and
deserted and winding red roads or streets
and pavements and our neighbors'
premises that We look upon, there is no
light or life Or beauty or brightness
and much Of gloom and monotony and
disgust.
The only things in active operation
at such times are the blue devils.
They take full possession. Real sor-
rows become deeper and heavier and
more oppressive and hope and comfort
seem to go away to drown themselves.
Every mistake and particularly I'M
pleasant sin and disappointment Of our
lives stirs itself and comes out for an
airing or possible refreshing tear bath,
for those demons We create for our
selves and shut away as we go along
never quite die and lie eagerly in am
bush waiting until bad weather or
loneliness or some other propitious cir
cumstance calls them forth to do their
evil work.
It is bad habit, sitting by the win
dow and feeling unhappy, staring
blankly out while the dreary rain falls
"a bad habit and a growing one.
There is a certain luxury in it, for it is
a yielding of the mind and spirit to de- |
pressing outside influences. The some !
thing--the mysterious, INDICATED, un-
defined something within us that is
Us, that goes away when we die, that |
we call soul or mind or spirit or what
we willis so closely wrapped up in
the physical body that we can hardly |
know which Of the two is governing
the other. Many times the preacher is
sent for to minister to a mind diseased
when it is the doctor VINO is needed to
put the body in good working order.
The nerves are affected by the weather
as harp strings are. \ large part Of the
misery of bad weather is the result Of
ignoble and unnecessary surrender by
the animating spirit to the machine
that it should control. People become
low spirited and miserable because
heir nerves relax or their lungs need ;
'resh air or their blood moves sluggishly
4 default of exercise to put their (
learts to vigorous pumping.
The remedy for the blues that come {
With the rain, at home or abroad, at
he window or IL store or office or
hop, is motiOn-active, energetic mo-
ion and the deep breathing of fresh
ir. We think any doctor will affirm
be prescription rnd any heart doctor
iill add that if the exercise is directed :,
owarG doing something for somebody
.se-to do something 10 take thought
nd purpose away from self and the
fairs and miscrics of self awhile-it y
ill be all the better. The prescription b
4 very, very old one and has been "
1any times neglected. II is not less II
tficient, however, Tor all that. &
The most persistent rain must stop
)me time and leave the air clear and
ry; the darkest clouds must break fc
nd scatter and roll away presently T
1d the sun that has never ceased to g
line behind them will warm the c
nth and wake all things upon it to i,
fe and motion and draw forth bright tt
I'd beautiful and wholesome things S,
COVERT. The heaviest sorrows will IS
yhten and gladness will blossom in T
,e most desolate fields. Dark days /,
ID gloomy ones and times Of fear aud 4
'ubt and trouble may come again, al
1t there is always something some lii