Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1908-02-26
THE PACE THAT KILLS.

European observers uf nur national
characteristics are particularly impress
sed with what they term the mad rush
for wealth, whirh seems ,r have per
vadod all classes uf Aemrican society.
This j. beyond question the most no
ticeablc feature Of our national life.
and one that causes one half the IN
sanity and suicides Of III" country.
Doubtless this continued striving. this
never.ceasing ambition 10 make more
money is greatly increased IN later
wears because If the keen competition
which exists in all branches Of industry
and which offers serious problem 20
the student of economics.
As competition WAKES stronger men
are spurrcd 20 greater degree Of activi-
", and just what all this NAV result in
! il hard 20 foretcll. /, j. evident that
the breaking point viii be reached
some day. but meantime life 20 those
engaged in commercial pursuits Is be.
| coming more and more feVerish
struggle. The days are growing alto.
gether too short for many man OF
! business, aud he often imagines that
unless he devOtcs at least a part Of toe
night TO financial affairs poverty may
overtake him in his old age OF be- may,
in consequence Of allowing himself rea-
sonable rest and recreation. find him.
self outdone by his competitors, or,
what j. worse. bankrupt.
I, may be that he cannot remain AZ
home even long enough 70 become
thoroughly acquainted with his child.
rem, and 20 spend more than eleven
minutes Mt the dinner table ne would
consider ruinous 10 his business inter.
ests. The daily paper he hurriedly
scans in the crowded street ear. and,
though his physician has warned him
Of the danger 10 his cyesight by at.
age. he feels that this il bis only OPP
portunity TO eaten n glimpse of what Is
going on in the world His III. ~ one
Wild rush Nor can he move fast
enough to satisfy his ambition. Hi.
energy is unbounded and he j. con.
tinually IL "A state Of nervous excite
ment lest he be beaten in the race. lie
fears he may lose here or there, and
that his latest investment NAV not
bring satisfactory results. The desire
for gain burns within like flame
which consumes nis physical being IN
awsres. until that hour when he suffer.
collapse of the nervous system. H.
stops 20 look at himself in the glass
Though. perhaps. in the prime II lif'
the lines Of care show in his face and
there il an Undesirable irmness and
coldncss Of expression that he had
never noticed before. lie looks aged
and broken and MS hand tremble'
strangely. The voices Of the stock ex
change are ringing in his ears and h.
manages 10 pull himself together foi
another day Of battle with opposing
financial forces. But sooner ~ laiei
the wearing days and sleepless nights
break him down completely aud he j,
left physical wreck because " fol
lowing the pace that kills.
And what has his ceaseless devotion
to business awaited himl Notnin.
save the fact that he may have ac
cumulated a little more money than II
he had been content TO spend NOR
time in the open air playing golf
tramping over the meadows or eampin.
on, beside some purling trout stream
The summer vacation is absolutel,
necessary to the health Of every MAI
engaged in active business life. mo-
should he restrict ais outing to the ho
months If the year, provided NATURE
sounds her timely warning.
A nation of shattered nerves is no
pleasant thing to contemplate, ye
this must be the inevitable result il
the American pace increases as at pres
ent.
Less worry over material things
more repose and closer association witt
/. nature are essential 10 the health an,
happiness of any people. This shout,
be shouted from the nousetops at thi
, period Of our national existence.
, Allison, Of Iowa. There are some vet
, Grams in Congress, but the average ser
vice there il hrief.