The Press., 1891-04-30
For The Press.) THE GOSPEL OF COMMON SENSE.
BY JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.

BY JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.
 In these days, when one-half of the | world seems to have gone ''daft" over pa- | tent medicines, mental cures," "faith ! cures," and everything that Is new and | which promises to eradicate disease without any effort on the part of the patient, or any giving up of long, cherished, injurious habits, there ought to arise an advocate of Common sense cure" to teach the people the trush of the old adage, that Ian ounce of preventative is worth pound of cure."
 All cases of sickness, except those caus- ed by accident, and sometimes even those, are the direct result of breaking some law of nature. Ignorantly or wilfully makes no difference, the law has been broken and the penalty must follow. How, then, can the popular idea of "faith cure" be anything but an insult to the Almighty say 1t with all reverence, but is 1t not SO? We have broken nature's law-God's law-and then expect Him to perform a miracle to save us from suffering the pen atty of that broken law. Methinks 1t would be honoring God more to teach the ignorant the laws of their being, and re- prove those who wilfully break these laws, than to lead them to expect miracles of healing while they live in constant dis obedience of the plainest laws of health.
 How many good christian people visit some weak, nervous invalid shut up in a close warm room, from which all light and air are excluded, and try to comfort her with the old quotation, "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."
 Nonsense! Do they suppose the Lord created free air and sunshine and then loves her any better for keeping herself weak and nervous by shutting them out? They might far more sensibly tell her that when she wants a strong vigo1 ous plant she does not shut it up in dark cellar but gives it abundance of light and air, and is it common sense to suppose that human plant can thrive under the opposite treatment?
 Nine times out of ten nervousness and headache are but nature's protest against deprivation of fresh air and sunshine. An hour out of doors will almost invaria- bly, cure either of these serious evils; and yet our ignorant sex dose with noxious medicines, frequently causing far greater troubles, when the true remedy lies close beside them, as free as Gods pure air and sunshine always are.
 The most of our women keep them selves shut too closely in the house; day after day they breathe the same air over and over, until health and temper both give way, and the other members of the family "catch sharp scolding," or the medicine chest and doctor make the trouble worse. -..
 Why cannot some plain, practical wo- man teach them that fresh air is neces- sary to health and amiability; that fre- quent change of employment about house, or an occasional half hour out doors during the day, would keep their muscles toned up and preserve the health and spirits. That in winter, instead of shiver- ing over stoves and registers on cold days, they would walk briskly in the open air for half an hour or more, it would bring & delightful glow and warmth to body and limbs, which all the artificial heat in the world could never afford. Every woman, no matter how situated, If able to leave her bed, ought to get at least one hour in the open air each day, walking if possi- ble. And in the winter season every liv- ing room should have strong draught of air through 1t for five minutes, at least, two or three times every day, even though the weather is below zero. Nervousness, headaches and "blues" would disappear as if by magic, and instead of an army of invalids, swelling the plethoric purses of specialists we should have active, vigorous women, comfort to themselves and &
 blessing to their families.
 Here is prescription older than you or I, but as good now as the day it was giv- en:
 'Take the open air, the more you take the better,
 Follow nature's laws to the very letter. Let the doctors go to the Bay of Biscay, Let alone the rum, the brandy and the whiskey.
 Freely exercise, keep the spirits cheerful, Let no dread of sickness ever make you fearful;
 Eat the simplest food, drink but pure cold water,
 Then you will be we'll, or at least you 'onghter.