The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04
CIVILIZED AND SAVAGE.
Not Necessary 60 Return 20 Primitive
Conditions.
Philadelphia Record.


Philadelphia Record.
DR.. Sarah Hackett Stevenson. Of Chicago.
is not the first TO urge that clothes are the
chief curse OF civilization. and that the al
legged physical deterioration OF the race
must grow ever more pronounced until the
artificial coverings shall be flung aside, all
the luxuries and conveniences OF everyday
life abandoned and g new career entered
upon in the forests where the savage once
roamed in physical perfection. This is q
repetition OF the cry OF Jean Jacques Rous-
seau. Take TO the woods again. he ex-
claimed. "Tear of the vicious ~trappings
OF a facilitating civilization. and restore
TO degenerate mankind the superb physique.
the absolute health of our forefathers. So
only can the race be saved from a feeble
ness and melancholy which must lead 10
universal suicide" IL is only q few months
since PROFESSOR Starr, OF the University OF
Chicago. affirmed that we must become
not merely imitators OF the red men. but
Indians in fact, In order TO be saved from
physical degeneration. By joining the In
dams in the forest he maintained that we
would gradually take on the attributes or
the aborigines and regenerate the race. To
show his confidence In his own theory ne
has been formally initiated as Q member
OF the Onondagas. In central New York,
and his summer costume viii hereafter
consist OF an eagles feather and blanket.
0Onc features Oh ClN24lLCQ ~ arc nv
wholesome. II does not insure a perfect
digestion, which is the basis OF good health,
TO use West Philadelphia city water. IL
is not healthful 10 breathe sewer gas In
houses the plumbing OF which has been
passed by an Inspector who receives
Christmas gifts from the plumber. There
favorable to the best physical health. How
ever, In spite OF other drawbacks and dis
advantages there Is every warrant TO az
firm that never has the standard OF health.
SfranOfh ond agility haen as hfQh as If Ia
to-day. Though an indoor life is vicious
in its influence. the men and women OF to-
day-and especially the women-are capa-
BILE OF a greater physical endurance than
has ever been known before. This first and
best proof of this is that at the age when
our grandsires and their danes took their
places in the chimney corner as capable
only OF a vegetable existence the men and
women OF to-day are at their best, and. as
DR.. Stevenson complains. the g~randmothers
are demanding the right to run for public
office instead of being content TO knit
stockings. A believer in the physical SUI
periority OF the savage brought out the
great grandson of a famous Indian sprinter
TO pit him against the white runners or the
colleges. Even after a systematic training
he was beaten by amateurs. His celebrated
ancestor had defeated every white runner
here and In England. but his record has
been surpassed long since.
Life in the open air Is necessary 10 the
best health, but there is no reason why
the modern conveniences should be aban-
doned. On every hand are proofs OF the
physical superiority Of the men and women
of to-day over the people OF any other
known period. The rules OF wholesome liv-
ing are better understood and are more
generally observed. 1t needs only for men
to refrain from business excuses, from dis
sipating their energies in the pursuit OF
wealth, in order that they may find life
well worth living. The too frequent sui
eide OF successful business men may be
traced TO their long and absolute absorp-
ton I'm the work of money-getting and the
discovery that it is proftless and unsatis-
factory. The realization of the fact that
wealth alone does not bring happiness
comes only after IL is too late to effect a
change. The delusion that there is no
more satisfying purpose than the accumu-
lation of money is the chief obstacle In
the way OF mans happiness.