New-York tribune., 1909-04-29
THE GOSPEL OF REST.
Woods Hutchinson Believes Too Much Exer-
else Is Enfeebling

The gospel of laziness is preached with enthusi-
by Woods Hutchinson. NJ. D, in an article
called Exercise That Rests in the May Cos
mopotan." Most people, he says. take life too
strenuously When they DO rest they feel they
apologize for It Even the rich dare be
idle, but driven by public opinion a per
petual round Of busy foolishness, make them
selves believe they are doing something" The
gospel of rest is postponed future life" with
the feeling that it would be almost immoral 10
practise ii here.
Now, rest, DR.. Hutchinson points out is not
period of stagnation bur time of intense activity
During sleep. especially build up capital TO
be spent recklessly during waking hours"
The tired desk worker who turns to active exer-
cise-a hard bout at tennis. a long, brisk walks
NOT always building well as he thinks IF the
exercise be tco violent for the enfeebled muscles
of the brain worker. or too long continued.
then muscular exercise will often simply pile fresh
waste poisons upon already smoulderfng fire
and Increase ones exhaustion instead Of relieving
II. Many a fatigued and exhausted business man
or overworked teacher or hcusemother would be
much benefited by hours rest or seep in
well ventilated room-if possible. in the open
air-than by brisk two-mile walk The best
possible short vacation is often sleep late take
ones breakfast in bed and loaf industriousIy all
afternoon"
Long sitting in badly ventilated room, will
clog the tissues of the body with poisonous waste
matter, and OF course, Will overeatinC and
hasty mastication. Most people Of intelligence
realize this but few understand how overexer-
ton poisons and, therefore, fatigues the body.
This evil can be avoided by change Of occupation.
We quickly become tired doing the same thing
and again. The particular group OF
muscles and tie brain and nerve cells which di-
rect their action become swamped with their own
fatigue poisons That is often what ais children
whose teachers and parents complain Of their
restlessness; and IL is why the periods of study
exercise and play should be in all schools short
and constantly alternated. In reply TO the obiec-
ton that this method makes school work too
much like play, Dr. Hutchinson says: Precisely
that is its chief virtue for when play we are
initiating nature and following her great method
of development. All exercise, to do US good, must
be play
Pleasure is natures stamp of approval" he
adds Followed blindy. 1t may lead to dangerous
extremes, but within limits it is the safest Of
guides. Two hours of outdoor life are the least
a sedentary worker should attempt to do with,
says DR.. Hutchinson. II one feels Ike running
shouting, playing, by all means one should run
shout play. IF. however, one has worked and
oversrained ones self until there is no play spirit
left then villa is needed in the way Of recreation
yes, Of ply steal culture-is not exercise but
rest"
Gymnasium ork DR.. Hutchinson does not much
approve. Evidently for the tired man or woman
he places idleness first, spontaneous play in the
open air second and gymnasium WORK last of all.
To people just starting their vacations Dr.
Hutchinson says:
BE shameessly lazy as you like for the first
TWO to five days Be sure to get all the nerve
poisons and lung poisons and germ-laden dust of
the city out Of your lungs and system before you
begin to take any real exercise. Time so wasted
viii often you from coming back TO town
with the feeling that your vacation has not done
you much good"