Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-10


redmen Of the northern lake region
bent the bow and smeared their faces
with keal-braided their flowing locks
with feathers of the porcupine and
wild eagle, that they might appear
more wild, If possible, than before.
And as they painted the cheeks and
braided the hair, the squaw-women
sharpened the flint arrow heads and
shaped new bows, that their lords
might do battle to the death with
other redmen.
And here at Battle Creek, way up
in Michigan. great battle one day
did occur, and when it was over, and
the sun kissed the range to the far
west, the tom-tOms were muffled and
the squaw-women wrapped their heads
IN vari-colored blankets and wept, for
with the going down of the sun, many
braves passed to the proverbial happy
hunting grounds.
But that was many, many moons
ago, as the Indians measure time, and
a new era has long since dawned.
True, it is Battle Creek" to-day. just
as it was decades ago, but, instead of
the cry of the savage, is heard the
hum Of industry; the throb of life;
the greeting of men and women Of
the Anglo Saxon race-the shouts Of
happy boys and girls, who know Of
Battle Creeks former history only
by tradition. And here on the site
Of the famous battle between the red
men stands now one Of the fairest
cities of the great Northwest; city
sought out among thousands, for in it
dwell, month after month, as the
years come and go, men and women
who find within the charmed circle
that which they have long sought else
where-health.
When one speaks of health. the
mind naturally wings itself to Battle
Creek, for up there health is to be
found as at few other places on earth.
Forty years ago there began in Bat
tie Creek return to nature move
ment, with purposes and pricinples in
many respects similar to those which
led to the famous Brook Farm Exper-
fment" twenty years before and to the
Grahamite movement of that period.
This movement, while religious, was
ayowedly non-sectarian, and was in
broad sense philanthropic, altruistic
and reformatory. The immediate re-
suits were the establishment of a
monthly Journal now known as Good
Health and shortly afterwards the
erection of health institution called
"The Health Reform Institute" The
chief features of the institute at this
early period were diet reform, dress
reform and the use of water as cura-
tive agent.
In 1875 the present management
took charge of the institution and with
the consent and cooperation of the
Board Of Directors (the institution
having been incorporated ten years
before). thorough reorganization was
effected. Broader plans were intro
duced. the methods Of treatment were
placed upon substantial and thor
oughly scientific foundation, and the
name was changed to the Battle Creek
Sanitarium. Since this time the
growth of the institution has been con-
slant and rapid.
From year to year accommoda.
tions for patients and facilities for
treatments were enlarged to meet
the increasing patronage until Feb
ruary, 1902, when great fire swept
away the two principal build
ings of the establishment. The cree.
ton of new building was speedily
begun. and the following year, May 81,
1908. the present fireproof main build
ing. erected at a cost of more than,
100000, was dedicated. The cost of
the entire establishment, including
equipment, twenty dormitories, cot
tages and other buildings has amount
ed to more than $1,200,000.
The Battle Creek Sanitarium as 1t
stands to-day is recognized the world
over as the most complete and thor
oughly equipped establishment of its
sort and the headquarters for physio-
logic therapeutics or natural methods.
Connected with the Sanitarium is
Training School for Nurses, in which
from two to three hundred nurses are
constantly under training.
These principles and methods have
penetrated to the remotest parts of
the civilized world, and scores of men
and women who have been trained in
these methods are devoting their lives
to medical missionary work in heather
lands.
The Battle Creek Sanitarium may be
regarded as an epitome Of the return
to-nature" idea in practical operation.
Its success in the restoration of sick
people to health brings to it annually
many thousands Of men and women,
many of whom have been pronounced
incurable. but who, nevertheless, with
rare exceptions, return few months
later to their homes prepared to enter
again upon the battle of life.
There are many sanitariums in the
world, but few, if any, that are con-
Quoted on the same plane as that at |
Battle Creek. This haven of rest and |
tt. T.