The Washington herald., 1907-12-24

The automatic ndividual-evidently one
Of those 'I-told-you-so" sort Of persons
who invented the phrase, "A green
Christmas makes full graveyard"
would probably delight to know that
since his time the world has discovered
to its sorrow-the Grip; a fen monster
that fingers in the lap of winter. Mr..
Grip is very much VITA us this season,
and if some of us have not obeyed the
injunction TO do your Christmas shop
ping early" it has been because we have
been curled up in bed, snufiing under
heavy blankets: dallying with calomel
and duinine. and have had to spend so
much money on doctors bills and drugs
that we have had the less to devote TO
the service Of Santa Claus.
Ugh. The Grip is "a monster Of so
hideous mien" that il would take the
poppy-inspired pen Of a de Quincy TO
do it justice; and even that pen would
probably have to be re-enforeed with the
melancholy of Poe and the horror of
Dante. First, you are hot, and then you
are cold; then you are cold inside and
hot outside, and then the temperatures
get all mixed UP until your knees get
weak, your head aches, you have neu-
ralgia OF the face and pain in the back.
1t hurts you when you breathe. and 1t
hurts you worse when you don't: you feel
bad when you lay in bed. and like a
crazy man when you get up. Kindly
people ask you what they can do for
you. and weakly you reply. Nothing"
when il the Grip had left you sufficient
courage you would instead beg them TO
get an ak and put you out Of your
misery
The Grip at any time is a hideous
nightmare. bat at the Christmas season
il is particularly baneful, for who. when
the shops are brilliant with holiday cheer.
when the faces Of the buyers-bent on
searching out happiness for others-are
bright and beautiful. when the very
spirit of love and cheerfulness and kind
ness is in the air, can bear TO be cooped
up in cheerless room, alone with his
aches and his temperature.
And the Grip is no respecter Of per-
sons. 1t is just as willing to take up
residence within the nerves of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury as it is within the
racking bones of the nmpid Office boy;
the minister of the gospel is no more
exempt than the ward politician, and
even physicians. with all their vaunted
skill. know that the command, Physician.
heal thyself.' is but a hollow mockery
so far as the Grip is concerned.
He is an insidious foe-the Grip-and he
has Washington pretty fairly by the
throat this Christmas season; so that if
your friend. rather saIlow and a bit
shaky about the lower limbs. says to you.
Berry Cribmas"' in a hoarse voice. try
and remember that he is merely trying
to pass the compliments Of the season,
and that he is brave enough TO have
a mind above disaster.
Most ills that this world knows become
appreciably less when bravely fronted;
and after all. Mr. Grip is a bit of a COW
ard. And when he finds that the Chris
mas season is a bad time for his at
tack, he is apt to flee. Surely. il will
take more than the Grip TO conquer the
Christmas spirit, Good cheer in spite OF
aches; thoughtfulness for Others. in spite
Of our own pains; brave endurance. and.
above all, no unreasonable grumbIing.
and-these things being in way as po-
tent as doctors stuff-lo. the Grip will
depart. taking with him all his tortures.
and earth and heaven shall smile for US
once more.