The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26
OvERMUCH W0RK-A PROTEST.
BY PROFESSOR JAEGER.

great deal is said and written about the
overburdening OF school children. A great
deal might be written about the overbur-
dening OF grown-ups. While exerting our
selves to help the little ones-and 1t is our
solemn duty to do so-we must not forget
ourselves.
Look at our young men in factory and
office. The great majority of these boys
have more work to do than would be i'm
posed upon them If they were horses or
mules. AS it is, they are driven. driven,
driven. until they break down or become
crippled. This latter fact is not always
patent to the eye, it does not always APP
pear on the surface Immediately, but, new
ertheless, makes itself felt in the BOYS
physical economy. and, sooner or later.
his parents and friends will see II too.
Remember that these boys, and girls as
WELL more's the pity. work eight to ten
hours daily in closed rooms. II there is
more than one or two the air is usually
bad, often positively poisonous. At last
the closing hour arrives-will these white
slaves take good stroll I'm the open now?
Is the rest of the evening theirs, to spend
In Gods nature? Not bit of It, Here
We have an overambtious parent-or some
foolish ambition in the young cubs own
mind-that drives him to a night school to
learn some more. to sit in cramped quar-
tors for two or three hours, exercising his
mind and allowing his limbs to grow numb
What nonsense what criminal defiance to
all sanitary laws. And this is done by per-
sons who already sacrificed from five to
ten years of their young life to schooling
Most of these sinners against their own
welfare and that of the children that come
after them could not walk two hours on a
stretch TO save their lives. What they do
know Is smoking. drinking, loafing in a
way that does them no good.
Is II to be wondered at, then. that GER
tain diseases undermining public health
and the growth OF the nation find A larger
clientele all the time. despite the efforts of
the Board of Health and of the police ?
IL every second man or woman leads a
life directly opposed to the dictates of
nature. what can you expect?
The boys and girls have grown into men
and women. but have not escaped slavery
The overburdening process keeps on. For
merly the person who hired their services
spurred them on to never-ceasing effort:
now the whip Is in their own hands; they
must compete with their neighbor. must
outstrip him-hence. more steam, longer
hours. continuous grind. not a minute
for recreation.
Point out the business man or woman
who takes day or once and again who
Goes so with any degre OF regularity. All
Of US desire long life and freedom from
sickness. but what do we do to secure
these boons? An individual laying of two
days out OF every seven might hope to add
several years to his life; how many are do
Ing It? Far oftener that they allow work
TO encroach upon Sunday.
When / was young newspapers, maya
zines. pulpits and tribunes resounded with
promises Of what machinery would do for
the human race. We would have TO work
only half az long as in days gone by. every
other day would be a holiday. But far
from diminishing. machinery. steam and