The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-01
Ex-senator Ingalls, Discusses tho
Health Of Mon in mo Pub
lie Service.
uoks Smith Says thu Democrats
Should Stick to Tariff Rs
+ form in 1892.
4 Biz Railroad sehems e%sst'insd- George
II. Wendling Writes E~lsqusntly
About tho Jews.

Written for The HELENA INDEpENDnNr.
TI7HE LAMENTED AND UNTIMELY
MI death Of Senator Plumb in the msr-
9xSidian Of his years. his powers and
usefulness to Kansas and the country, has
again called attention to the aiways inter-
esting Subject Of this health Of public msn
~ Affected by the necessary conditions OF
congregational and official lifa. The fra
quency Of similar catastrophsa in the last
decade has appeared more startling because
the victims Of overwork ware men Of whom
longevity might have confidently bean pro-
dictsd. Manning. Window, Randall. Back,
Burnes and many others who have fallen
possessed extraordinary vigor, vitality and
endurance. by the horoscope they were
entitled to length Of days ana should have
died hereafter.
No doubt the demands upon-ths tins and
strength OF public men are excsssivs, and
n constituencies grow and interests multi
ply, must inevitably increase rather than
diminish. 1t concerns the people, there
fore, to consider whether they are imposing
burdens heavier than can bs botns, or
whether these alarming fatalities are
partly due to disregard Of obvious lava, to
irregular habits and causes that might DO
aHoidcd-in othsr words. whess premature
deaths ars murder Or suicide.
With o population OF 10, 1000, 900 and ao-
sezs 70 the capital by stage coach, steam
boat or private conveyance, the public SER
vice WAS leisurely, isolated and digniGcd.
But with 6 1000, 900, a railroad system maxi
ing the journey from the Pacific to Wash
ington = pastims. tslsgraphs to every ham
~ - ~ fMr I,r, nS1m $ySSa flatIr N.HAnn L4nI4 xNI, -.~.-
and special deliveries, the post Of m am
bilious and successful politician is no sine.
cure.
Stsnography and the typewriter have
lightened the toll Of official correspond
snec, but the labor at best il immense and
imperative. Not 70 reply promptly TO q
letter is tho objectionable sin, and many
that are private ard confidential must bs
answered in autograph. Applicants for
pension eften address eyesy member Of
their own delegation simultaneously about
thsir claims, and sometimes those of
othsr states az well. thus entalling
an enormous aggregate of needless work
upon the bureau, rs each must be sspa-
rxtely answered. Frequent errands at ths
department upon matters Of patronage,
favor and business are Indispensable.
Committees meet regularly. Bills must be
examined for report. public questions stud
led. preparation mado for debate, the daily
sessions attended, newspapers road, guests
entertained, social obligations discharged
and time found for recreation, food and
rest.
Add to this the necessity for constant
vigilance At homo, of long and Rrduous
campaigns for reelection, the control of
prina aries and conventions, wesks OF stump
speaking. hand shaking and seeing the
boys anGa94tis4afs tvident ftaAt xtTxF aSefalt hnnr
law will not apply to legislators and states
men. They roll the stons of pisyphus and
tu:n the whael Of Ixion, finding in snaless
toll unOeaaing fascination. .
But numerous and unending as these
functions are, with systskn, order, abSt1-
nsnce and prudent husbsuding OF hours.
thay can be performed without exhaustion.
Il is not '~'oysrwork'' alone that kills.
The temptations to irreeularity are
strong. The simplest axicms Of health are
occasionally disre2arded, and nature is Il
relentless creditor. Time which should be
given to xlesp iS somstimes lent to couyiv-
iality. Tbs PLEASURES of q luxurious table
and = voluptuOus conch ara Epsndthrifts Of
this nstves and brain. The human body is
an engine with a storage battery capable of
so many pulgaticns, and when its energy il
expended, whether by work or waste, that
is the end.
Death is not an accident. It is appointed
to every man to die, and whom his time
comes he goes. Tho maniac who fires a bull
let through his disordersd brain dies sub
iect to this aaine inexorable law as the
peaceful patriarch who painlessly Yields u
this ghogt Mt fourscors, his lifs going ont
like a candle that has burned to iGs socket.
The decreoa OF fate cannot be Questioned
or fathomed, but it often occurs that in the
Intellectual effort there il an irreconoilahle
description between the autopsy ana tho