Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
THE VALUE OF REST
It is the Most Wonderful of
ALI IBeauti6ers.
KEEPS WOMEN YOUNG
RELAxES STRAINED NERVES AND
PRESERVES GOOD LOOKS.
Idle Moments Should Be Given to Be
Taxation Of Mind and
Body.
KEEPS WOMEN YOUNG

| Copyright, 1902, by the s. S. Mcclure Co..
Written for The Evening Star by Katherine Morton
Miss Knickerbocker Is wise. She knows
| that all the cosmetics. all the massage. all
| the beauty baths and physical culture IN
| the world cannot do for tagged cheeks,
| hollow eyes and fatigued, blanched face
what rest Will do. She does not go to a
| rest cure, because there is something sug-
gestive of invalidism in such a course, and
| the very thought makes one a trifle blue;
| she first takes her rest cure as she goes
| along
That is, she rests when she reads, when
| she sews, when she makes her toilet; in
deed she has intermittent attacks Of rest
ing at any and all times.
| 1T Is the easiest thing in the world-the
resting habit" she declares. land 1 used to
| think it one of the impossbilities.
| When find that l have half hour or
| so to devote to the latest new novel, before
opening the book. 1 spend five minutes in
| seml-reclining pose In an easy chair, close
| my eyes, relax every muscle and invite the
| SOUL"
And pray, what is that?-to invite the
| soul?" queries friend who is listening to
| this private lecture rest.
oh! l am sure l don't exactly know" re-
plies the oracle of wisdom. Il read once
that that is the proper thing to do If one
really wanted to rest; 1t sounds obscure and
learned. l fancy it is building air castles.
don't you? Or planning new ball gown?
That Is hardly the most restful thing In
the world"
mo; perhaps not, but 1 think I will go
right on doing it all the same, for resting.
just resting, is rather stupid business I'M
less you have something nice to think
about. There comes a time, however, when
the brain must have absolute repose."
"Of course, what with planning for gowns
and teas, and attending receptions and din
or,6 aIt he r;J fSy,oy npaf-
brain does get tagged. Then l suppose you
have some brand-new recipe for this state
Of affairs"
Yes; then place my hands back Of my
head in this way, slightly sway my head
from side to side, and think of nothing.
How very, very tiresome.
Yes, l think it Is. But have been told
that 1t is restful, so / take it for granted
that 1t is. But will confide in you that 1
should get very, very weary II I kept up
this thinking about nothing any length OF
time"
This has a slightly frivolous ring and,
instead Of calling Miss Knickerbocker wise.
one is at first inclined to call her super
fcial and to say that she s not really in
earnest; she Is playing at rest
Getting Near the Truth.
This is really rather near the truth. She
is playing at rest-or she Is not going In for
the rest cure too seriously, and it Is just
this attitude, of mind which is saving
grace in itself.
She Is going to get all the good she can
out of the rest cure, without making the
process a burden and snare and a delu-
sion.
In relaxing mind and muscle she spends at
least fifteen minutes every day and some
times half an hour in all. Five or ten with
eyes closed; five minutes again in an easy
pose.
Nearly always, when reading or sewing.
she puts her feet up on a stool. Nothing so
CfS a Jrear h9 n "a nl tha fea
That day she considers the most gained
for her complexion and appearance when
she has found time to slip off her dress,
corsetS and shoes, and get into a lounging
robe and slippers and lie down. Here posi-
ton is important One rests more easily
when lying on the right side than on the
left or on the back. Never throw the arms
over the head
To rest a tired back the very best thing
is to lie fiat on the floor.
When a long and hard day of social
serious duty Is before and behind one this
is fine way Of resting the muscles and
stimulating the respiration.
The method of procedure Is to have a
warm blanket or drugget spread smoothly
on the floor. Then get into loose garments
and place yourself at full length on this
hard bed, lying as limp and as Indifferent as
a rag doll.
Any woman who is fortunate enough to
command the service Of a maid, or who can
call in an attendant at stated times, can
secure the cooperation of one of her own
family, should have her body gently rolled
and kneaded, each limb taking its share Of
rubbing and twisting and lifting, the head
the body's fifth limb-receiving much the
same treatment that is given the arms and
legs but it should be handled with special
gentleneSS.
Ones own duty consists in first assuring
herself that her breathing is full and free
and then in surrendering herself to mir
vanalike indifference to all things.
A very beautiful and charming woman
her hearty and charm OrpSaryed nv this
means-for some years past has INDUCED
herself for three or four times weekly in
this deliciously restful rest.
The result is that at nearly thirty years
Of age. she retains youth and vigor.
This is her prescription:
Abundant Experience.
st cultivate the accomplishment of rest
ing and mapping. 1 shut my eyes and go
to sleep whenever there is lull in my
work In either rest or play, don't put
ter That's what ages women-puttering.
When 1 see woman breaking down with
nervous prostration. 1 wonder when wo-
men will learn to stop puttering.
81 wouldn't sew button onto one Of my
shoes for all the kingdoms of the earth.
A woman can't be a shoe member, a glove
member. q dressmaker, a housekeeper and
a domestic economizer all in one. The min
ute she tries to do 1t she breaks down and
then some one writes a brilliant article on
WHY American Women Break Down.
sleep is great thing for women. Half
the women l know don't sleep enough, don't
rest enough"
whole train Of evils follow in the wake
of fatigue. The first thing that woman
does when she is tired Is to worry and
no mental attitude is more disastrous to
personal appearance, personal happiness
and personal achievement than worry, and
its twin brother, dependency.
1t Is true that person may worry for
MANY months without any visible Ill eff
fects but it Is only a question Of time
when the dominating idea-the cause of the
worry which is often fatigue-will master
first will. then brain and finally body.
Viewed in its sane and proper light,
there is no experience in life which fully
warrants surrender to the demon worry.
To degree. worry Is the affiiction of small
minds.
Ponder upon this. We maids and matrons,
and IL an appeal to your compilations and
their preservation in q state Of pristine
freshness does not move you, think Of the
fgnominy Of being voted a person of linn
tied brain power. as one certainly is who
worries over Johns coffee, for example. II
for once It is muddy. 1t Is a pity; but it Is
not as dreadful a calamity as II John had
failed in business. Then, why exciaim:
.sOh. dear.' and clasp ones hands nervous
" ana allow a deep frown to como between
i