The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-12-01


possible condition. There is too
much to do in other lines to per-
NIT the attainment of perfection in
any one. What we want is that de-
gree of cultivation that will enable
us to live and work most intense
ly. We can not spend our whole
time oiling and cleaning the ma
chine. We want to find a practical
middle ground, somehow, where
we can get the largest returns
with the least sacrifice.
1t is certain that a man can not
think and act energetically unless
his nerves and muscles are in good
working order. Muscles that are
never used get flabby and soft;
they become incapable of obeying
the will promptly and effectively.
The effects on the nerves that con-
troll them are equally bad. They
lose their power of responding WV
idly They can not be relied upon
to do expert work.
The kind of exercise that hits
the mark is the kind man likes
for its own sake; and the kind a
man likes for its own sake has
something of the play spirit in it
the life and go of a good game.
The best forms of exercise will
call the big muscles of the body
into play-the muscles that do the
work This gives bulk effects. 1t
reaches the whole system. Play
ing scales on the piano, though ex-
hausting to oneself and others
does not belong to this class.
Exercise should not be too Sc
we're. Where the mind is already
tired the body can only lost by
few moments more Of violent eX-
ertion
Tennis is a game that nervous,
excitable, overworked people like
to play They ought to avoid it.
1t works them too hard and too
fast. Instead OF resting them it
wears them out.
There is no better outdoor eXer-
else for a city man than a game
of golf The alternate activity and
rest that it provides for, the deep
breathing caused by the necessary
hill climbing, the sociability of the
game-all these are admirable fea-
lures. Rowing. padding, bowling,
tramping-any form of recreation
that brings variety of physical
exertion and that appeals to a
mans interest and enthusiasm
belong in the class of al" eXer-
cises.
No man can be useful or efficient
in the world without proper food
and without giving attention to the
disposal of waste. Nearly all the
diseases and most of the pains that
people have are related, first or
last, to disturbances of nutrition.
If food be not chewed enough,
there's a bad time due. If it be
chewed too much, there's a waste,
Patience and energy are thrown
away. Food that is not we'll mixed
with saliva is hard to digest, for
saliva is an alkaline substance
and stimulates the flow of the acid
stomach juices. 1t is intended to
help them in the dispatch of their
work.
Many people get into the habit
of dosing themselves with a "di-
gestine" or some other kind Of
medicine in order to stimulate the
secretion of the gastric juice This
is dangerous habit. The natural
remedy for faulty digestion is of
ten simply to chew the food slower.
Eating dry cracker 90 minutes
before meals may be still more
efficacious. No water should be
taken with it and the cracker
should be thoroughly chewed The
saliva that gets into the stomach
by this means starts the gastric
Juices flowing, and by the time the
meal itself arrives, the stomach is
able to cope with it.
Nobody has escaped being in
formed by some earnest friend
that it is Injurious to take water
with meals. There is really a
sound reason at the basis of 1t, but
1t is carried too far. The trouble
with the majority of people Is that
they drink water simply to wash
down their food. This is a thor
oughly bad habit The moderate
use Of water or other liquids at
meals does not harm If one take
them not as wash but as a drink.
bTere are plenty of other causes
Tor indigestion besides slipshod
mastication. A faulty circulation
of blood through the abdomen is
one. This may be due to nterfer-
ence from within or without. Tight
clothes are the commonest form of
outside interference. Military
coats, stays, tight belts-anything
that really binds the body is sure
10 he harmful Intarnal iptareor