Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-08-10
ATHLETICS FOR THE EYES.
They May be Strengthened by Proper
Exercises.

That there should be special exer-
cises, athletics, if you will, for the
eyes, is perhaps a novel idea to many.
But it is said that one way to
strengthen the eyes is to turn them
alternately upward and downward as
far as possible twenty times in sue
cession. Do this slowly.
Next turn the eyes on the level from
right to left, repeating as before.
Turn them to the upper left corner, and
then to the lower right corner. Then
alternate the motion from the upper
right corner to the lower left corner
and repeat.
Conclude these exercises by rolling
the eyes around, first to the right, then
to the left, in the extreme limit of the
muscular extensions. Be very careful
when performing the exercises not to
strain the muscles.
The eyes should be bathed every
night before retiring to remove any
dust that might have gathered on the
lids during the day. Cold water should
be used although lukewarm water is
good occasionally.
Open the lids and let the water battle
the eyeballS. Wipe them with a soft
towel, taking care to rub toward the
nose. This motion has a tendency to
remove any foreign matter.
TO preserve the round shape of the
eyeballs occasionally rub them gently,
and always toward the nose. AS one
grows older the eyeballs have a ten
dency to become fiat. Gentle rubbing
or massage help to preserve their
shape.
If the lids are inflamed by cold or
study a little rose water is good for
bathing them. Cold weak tea, weak
salt water and warm milk are slso
good for occasional use. The milk
should be diluted with water.
Rathing with equal parts tof witch
hazel and water is very restful to the
ewes. Another plan is TO battle the eyes
with warm water in which are dis
solved pinch of powdered borax and
two or three drops of spirits of cam
phor.
A soft linen cloth, which is employed
for no other purpose, is better to use
when bathing the eyes than a sponge.
The eyes should never be used when
they are tired or weak from illness, nor
should they be exposed to strong
light a any time. The light should al
ways fall on the work or book from the
left shoulder.
The creams used for the complexion
are bad for the eyes and should never
be applied. On no account should the
eyes be touched with lotions or oint-
ments except under the supervision of
an oculist. The sensitiveness of these
organs is so great that they resent the
slightest mal-treatment.
To stimulate the brlliancy of the eyes
by the application of be]ladonna is
certain to do injury. The Eastern
custom of darkening the inside of the
eyelids and eyelashes with powdered
kohl is not unknown in this country.
Moore, in 'La3la Rookh' represents
the women of the harem in the per-
formance of the various operations of
their toilet, as mixing:
The Kehls jetty dye.
To give that long, dark language 10 tie
eye
Which makes the maids. whom kings are
proud to call ..,
From fair Circassia's wales so oeautifui.
No Eastern woman considers herself
completely dressed till she has tinged
her hair and the edges of her eyelids
with the powder of lead ore The
operation is performed by dipping into
the powder a small wooden bodkin of
the thickness of a quill, and then draw
ing il through the eyelids over the oail
of the eye. 80
This is what the prophet 1ereItiiah
means when he speaks OF rehoihs tle
eyes with painting. The orisllial "ords
regarding Jezebel painting hei iaee
are: She adjusted her eyes win 'iie
powder of the lead ore eo4d.
Another reason against the praclice
of painting the eyes, which shouio ap-
peal to every woman, is that lhe paint
in time makes the flesh aiooiiA 'iio
eyes wrinkled.