The Washington times., 1894-04-29
HunfEnlilu'S ldea

RlOlIL AIll1IN - 1OOO
1t Is no wonder we seem 20 be nation OF
''rushers'' to outsiders, who are accustomed
to the conservative ways Of the old countries.
We do rush and fret and fume and wo:fy
from dawn to the setting of sun, ever 'nsn,
woman, and child of US! More's the pity for
these last, who in consequence will not live
out half their days If they keep on at the
rapid rate begun with.
You see we begin wrong. We all want to
either be the President of the United States
res, and we are dead sure to miss the goal IS
to lose everything!
At least that is the way the most of US look
at life-until we are about ready to step down
and out and off into eternity!
Ambition is not to be despised as q hand
maiden, but as mistress she needs watch
ingl
Otherwise, she will drive ones chariot at
racing, breakneck, bacchanalian speed all the
days and years of ones life, which must be
shorti
Will she-"Halt?"
Never! day and night while you are sleep
ing on her nerve, feeding ON excitement, wind
ing up her victims to the highest expectation,
until one day-snapl
Something in you "has given away"
You now realize you cannot keep up that
race forever. 1t isn't in you, mentally or
physically, and the doctor says nervous pros
tration." "You must rest, go crazy, or die!"
We have all seen these cases, II they are
not our very own, although many Of us are
"hustling" on the same lines with more or
less of the strain felt in our quivering and
tense nerves.
Better stop before the strings Of your harp
break with twang.
The worst of it is, our young people catch
the disease, and run at high pressure in the
schoolroom.
The "grading" is always on what the ablest
pupils can do. Hence. the average scholar
is kept at high pressure of endeavor all the
time to keep up with those who master all
things easily. No wonder that now or then
delicate boy or an ambitious girl drops out
the ranks before they get half through the
high schools. They have to or break down
entirely. The most conscientious pupils suffer
most. because they dig away and make no
sign until they have to give up, or, possibly,
The system of teaching, however good, is
still defective-that is, not elastic enough to
take into consideration the varied capabilities
of pupils.
Men let business drive them "for board and
clothes only" as one said to me day or SO
ago who deity manages big corporation.
II try not to let it interfere with my nights
rest" said he. ''but confess sometimes the
cares of the day so affect me I've often no
appetite. and my head throbs and aches from
nervous strain as though it would split, and
all for board and clothes, while the COM
munity whom we are trying to serve are all
the time abusing US like pickpockets when
everything is not TO the public's mind.
''The public never considers the point OF
view from that of the corporation side, nor
what improvements cost US. said he with
weary sigh.
OF course he was street railroad man. and
if he doesn't stop soon he will be beyond the
power of considering his aching head or
minding what the public has to say OF the
management.
Nervous prostration or "apoplexy' stops
many a gallant race for another notch Of
success.
And womans life is no better Off II she
goes in for society, its constant demands are
as ruinous on her vital forces as business or
dissipation is among men.
"Sanitariums'' RESTS for Invalids"
receive their best patronage from women who
have nervous prostration," women OF
leisure"
Even young girls with nothing to do but
spend money, be gay, look pretty and pose to
please have died of nervous prostration."
Then there are the busy mothers, numbered
wit md ypnrriad fp mi a la b0fh
ends of limited income meet. These are
whipped along from day to day, and they fret
more or less, until day comes when they
'break down" and having neither money
nor friends to send them to a rest cure they
keep up possibly can, dragged and tagged
out until one day the doctor comes and a
few days after the undertaken. Another home
broken up because of too much worry.
Others worry and fret because all things
.'do not go right" These are they who have
spasms OF envying people not half SO COM
Portable and happily situated as themselves.
They can't get away or have new clothes,
much less new houses or new furniture. They
Just have to make old things do" and to
keep up the everlasting grind, grind, at mills
which turn out but little grist.
They can't let go, nor can they go on. so
they fret and keep up the everlasting discon-
tent WHICH We Ill KNOW eau WORK Two ways.
One way is awfully depressing, while the
other application of it is wholesome, sweet,
uplifting, and will help one over the hard
places.
Yes. everybody knows that discomfort has
virtuous side.
If one accepted everything without protest
as it comes along there would be no improve
ment. Hope. the great iEspirer to better
things. would have to take a back seat, and
that would be calamity.
Look at the faces one meets in the streets
and in public conveyances. How few Of
them reflect happy heart. 1t is no uncom-
mon thing to see men or women who are
talking it over to themselves-who are not
crazy-simply preoccupied. who drop an oc-
casional word that lets you into the secret
places of a heart bearing its own burden.
Everyone has to bear his own burden in a