The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-13
By THE oPTIMIsT.

when men gave little or no thought "a
their physical welfare and surroundings
Even people who fancied themselves
creatures OF culture and refinement lived
in a manner that nowadays we would
think the acme OF filth.
Think of what their lives must have
beeni The things that we consider as
necessities to-day were not even known
to our ancestors. They knew very little
about medicine and Of surgery and moth
ing at all about hygiene Even cleanli-
ness was foreign TO them.
We should be very thankful that we
live in a time when much attention is
paid to physical welfare. Diseases used
TO carry off whole communities with their
ravages on account of ignorance about
methods of fighting them. Horrible
plaques used 10 sweep over the various
countries and the terror-stricken people
had no way of avoiding them. They did
not know the value OF cleanliness.
1t has taken a good many centuries for
the world TO wake up TO the necessity
for preserving the public health. Small
pox was once a great scourge. but now
epidemic, because 1t cannot breed where
people take care of their bodies and their
surroundings. The United States has re-
Gently discovered that yellow fever can
be prevented. and the sanitary rule In
some of our recently acquired tropical
countries has been a revelation to the
people who had lived there for genera
tons and who looked upon disease as a
matter of course. as q sort of natural
adjunct TO life in the tropics.
These things show that health is con-
sideres 20 De of the utmost Importance,
not only TO the individual, but 10 a ma
ton. A nation or a colony Of sick people
cannot progress We first clean out the
pest-breeding holes and then proceed to
educate. There is no use going about it
the other way.
When you tell your boy to wash his
hands, he is apt 10 think it a persecution,
but when he Is old enough he realizes
that dirt is insanitary, unhealthy. Lots
of pain and suffering can be avoided by
a little cleanliness, and as a rule cleanli-
ness is health.
There are many among US even to-day
much regret and sympathy I refer to
those who are invalids I know that
among the members Of this club there
are invalids, those who cannot ever hope
20 be well again IN body. These dear ones
know that they have the sympathy and
the help OF their loyal comrades and
friends, VINO feel that their lack OF
health is more than made up for by their
cheerfulness and their disposition to be
Of use in the world.
Very often an invalid IS more cheerful
to have about the house than a perfectly
well person. The first is anxious to make
up for physical inflrmaties by showing a
clean bill of health mentally and NOR
ally. These good. brave. and lovable in
valids I do not number among the I'M
healthy. I ind that the soul within is
clean and healthy. They cannot help II
their bodies are misshapen or pain
Tacked. it is a regularity among invalids
that they constantly entertain the hope
that they shall be well and strong once
more. Their buoyant optimism would be
pathetic If it were not such beautiful
object lesson for the rest of US.
I overheard one OF the enthusiastic op-
timists say once that he thought Grip
pies and invahds were put here on earth
10 make the rest of US more thankful
that we were well and strong. The op-
timistic meaning of this remark 1 under
stood very well. but somehow I couldn't
help rejecting that it is pretty hard on
those who are thus afflicted TO make
them furnish US with a reason for ap-
preciating our own blessings
Still. it is true that the really thought
full or reflective man will offer up
prayer OF thankfulness mixed with Pity
when he oontempIates his fellow-man
who does not enjoy good bodily health.
1t not only makes him appreciate his
own physical health. but It makes him a
better man all around, I think. and
brings out Of him the milk Of human
kindness and that great abiding quality
of the soul-compassion
Generally speaking, physical health has
an enormous influence on the mind.
Those who are physically weak are often
mentally strong. OF course. there are
exceptions 10 this rule, and it is some
times a fact that pain and suffering often
everything else unless the individual can |
rise above the physical into the mental |
stratum of existence. Robert Louis Ste |
venson was a man who suffered great
bodily pain, but he wrote beautiful |
things that will live forever. His great |
mind rose superior to his unhealthy /
body.
So I come 10 the thought that opti- /
misn is the great asset of those who are |
not physically healthy. That optimism /
helps many Of them to regain their health. /
and II It does not, If they are beyond |
that recovery. still the habit Of optimism |
makes them, as Robert Louis Stevenson
was, of great benefit to their fellows.
Right living IS a great help to health.
The man who keeps his body clean is
very apt TO keep his mind clean. The
clean mind Is the great mind You can
not ind room for sweet and wholesome
thoughts when you allow the cobwebs OF
bad qualities to accumulate.
Clean out your minds; have a general
for the sake OF health
Envy, greed, jealousy, and the Crouch"
are unclean things and all should be
swept away. Sunshine and health are
the first things with which the optimist's
mind should be furnished. He is then
ready TO invite in all those pleasant and
lasting characteristics. those things we
talk about every Sunday.
Let US be very careful about our health,
Of both mind and body AS optimists we
can afford to be examples of the benefits /