The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-11-14
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BREArHEl

Luduy llmSS udVG you Ildu OCCdSlOu 10
say to yourself, "What pity Mrs.
So-and-So had nobody to tell her that
she whistles most disagreeably when
she breathes "-or, "If only any
body dared to inform Mrs. Tries-to-
Please that, if she would keep her
hands still, she would make an infn-
itely better impression p
To one who has really made an
effort to learn how to use the breath,
and who sees how little this wonder
full healer and restorer is understood,
it is incomprehensible that many
people should regard information on
the subject as almost impertinent.
Everybody knows and will acknowl-
edge that breathing is a somewhat
important part of the human econo-
my but the implication that he does
not do it rightly is frequently resent
ed. Not long ago in little gather
ing of women who knew each other
we'll and exchanged condolences with
each other whenever they met, an
interesting tale was told concerning
this matter of breathing. 1t was so
illuminating to all of those present
that we pass it on for the benefit of
others. Then, if they can find sensi-
BILE hearers, who will not ''get mad"
at the implication that they, perhaps
do not know how to breathe, it can
be disseminated still more widely.
"a good many years ago." began
one of the most vivacious of our num-
Der, "a member of my family was i'll.
The young doctor who treated him
said much to him on the subject of
breathing. I was once in bad
way said the doctor, from incipient
tuberculosis, but was cured by out
door air in abundance, and plenty of
deep breathing. I was obliged to re-
main in the city but kept myself
outdoors at least eight hours every
day, and every time I crossed street
I took in a deep breath through my
nostrils, keeping my mouth closed.
I held the breath until I reached the
opposite curbstone when expelled it
slowly. I have been sound and well
now for many years-but I still keep
up my deep breathing and it is of the
greatest benefit to me-
eve were all so much impressed
by what the doctor said that we re-
solved to breathe more deeply, but it
is great bother to try to breathe
right, and the matter soon slipped
from our minds, though no doubt we
might have saved ourselves many
colds and other lung troubles if we
had been willing to regard the doc
tors homilies.
cat least ten years later attended
a lecture by a well-known literary
man, who, in the course of his talk,
informed us that he had not had a
cold for twenty years-though he had
once been a great sufferer from colds.
He had freed himself from this
scourge by breathing properly-a
thing which he ventured to say that
not dozen among the many hun
dreds before him knew how to do, or
would be willing to do if they knew
how. He went on to say that, if they
would each take fifty deep breaths,
exactly as the doctor had described
the process, they might be as free as
he himself had been from bronchitis,
grippe, pneumonia and consumption.
HE dwelt on the subject with so
much ea-nestness, I re-resolved to
attend to my breathing, for I had
had several annoying colds during the
preceding winter; but 1 was greatly
excited over family affairs during the
next few months, and again I forgot
all about my breathing.
"Several months later I was pres
ent at a brilliant dinner party. Among
my fellow-guests were distinguish
ed general and a young and hand
some prima donna who was afflicted
with dreadful cold. I was amused
10 have the general lean over toward
us before long, and utter the follow
ing little sermon to the wheeling
singer: I can't cure your cold, he
said, but can keep you from hav-
ing another one-if you will only be-
lieve what I say, and take the trou-
BILE to practice it. l feel pretty sure
that you will not believe me, and
equally sure that you will not, unless
you make a very special effort, re-
membering to act on my suggestions !;
but / admire your voice so much and
am anxious to preserve it that I am
going to be impudent enough to give
you some advice. If you will only
breathe properly you need never have
another cold.'
"The prima donna laughed incred-
ulously, but politely asked him how
she should breathe.
"Just draw in good full breath
pretty often,' he said, and hold it
until every tiny branchlet of your
lungs is expanded, and then breathe
it slowly out again. You see, half
the little air vessels in your lungs are
never used. Many of them become
weakened, or charged with bad air
and it is no wonder that we have all
sorts of diseases in consequence.
Every single one of them was made
to be used, and if they do not get
their share of air they are bound to
stir up trouble. Now I used to have
terrible colds, but have not had one
for fourteen years, and l confidently
expect never to have another
"'How often shall I draw in these
wonderful deep breaths?" inquired
the laughing prima donna.
"Oh, 1 haven't any rule re-
sponded the general gravely. I
ought to have, I suppose, but I am a
soldier and not doctor. 1 take one
whenever 1 think of it-pretty often,
l assure you-for I hate to be sick.
CT went home determined to look
after my breathing henceforward.
But was again beginning to grow