The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-18
JUST KEEP COOL.
Oatmeal Water Is What the Steam
ship Stoker Drinks.

The most aggravating thing on the
face of the earth is to be advised to
keep cool when to keep cool seems to be
out of the question and you are swelt-
ering. We haven't the slightest doubt
that crimes have been committed before
now under such great provocat ion-not
the slightest doubt. If crimes produced
by anger are ever justifiable they are
certainly of the character invoked by
the customary expression in hot wealth.
er, oh, Just keep COOL" When man,
half dead, has been told this for the
fortieth time patience ceases to be a
virtue and he is apt to throw things
II he has enough energy left.
There are just few common rules,
however, that a person can observe that
will at least bring him, if not absolute
comfort, relief from something worse.
We won't call them rules With the
thermometer soaring around the 100
mark no one wishes to burden himself
even with rules. Let us call them Sug
gestions We are talking now to the
city bound mantle man who cannot
go to where the breezes blow, but must
plod through his daily toll in spite of
thermometers and fiery suns ana tight
against old General Humidity, who is
the foe of all suffering mankind. The
other fellow can look after himself
Don't be tempted to pour alcoholic
liquid of any kind down your throat.
That is the first and best suggestion 1t
already burning altogether too fiercely.
Nor is it wise to eat heavy meals of
meats and hot soups. A man who be-
gins the day with fruit rolls or toast
and a broiled tomato. for instance, is
much better off than the one who calls
for steaks and greasy potatoes
The roasts which many business men
snatch in the middle of the day are not
necessary in this burning weather. If
you must have meat try small slice
of cold mutton or beef and a salad of
some green stuff. If the luncheon is
confined 10 the salad you will probably
feel better and keep cooler. Iced tea
moderately taken is not bad, but don't
make the mistake of drinking even iced
tea or lemonade in great quantities.
Great draughts of ice water do more
harm than good.
Down in the holds of the ocean mon
sters, where scores Of men are shoveling
coal into the mouths of the immense
furnaces, it is far hotter weather than
a landsman can find even under the di-
rect rays of the sun. 1t is so hot down
there that the stokers go naked to the
waist. Their thirst is intense, and they
alleviate it in simple way. They do
not seize upon buckets Of ice water and
drink for momentary relief. They know
better than that. They have had expert
ence with heat and they adopt the very
best method when they take a mOuthful
of cool water upon which is floating a
little oatmeal. They have found that
this drink is just what they need.
If you should adopt that system in
your office you would find your thirst
much better allayed than should you
drink quarts of ice water and make fire.
quent trips to the bar or the soda foun-
tain Take a leaf from the experience
of the stoker. That is all that we pro-
pose to say in this little sermon, which
is designedly made short. Eat only
light food, drink moderately of plain
beverages. never touching those of the
alcoholic variety, and you viii be in
condition to ward off the heat when
the immoderate eater and drinker will
succumb. And. above all, try to keep
your mind from the heat That is more
difficult to do, but if you are not etern-
ally talking about it and if you don't
permit yourself to worry over the up
ward tendency of the mercury in the
tube you will be surprised to find how
very much easier it is to deal with try
ing conditions.-Philadelp Inquirer.