Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-23
Some Vacation
Time Pointers
by GEORGE w. BRADEN
Physical Director Occidental College
RELAX A LITTLE


spent. The days or weeks when we
can get away from business, profess
sional or home cares, and hug up to
nature for a while should be a time
for "coaling up for the fires of the
coming year. The vacation time should
be to each individual what the water
tank Is to the locomotive. Let us see
to it that this year, If never before,
we complete the vacation days with
steam up How frequently the pleas
ure and profit of the outing at the sea-
side mountains or country is lost be-
cause of trying to crowd too much into
the time allotted. With enthusiasm
running over, the man who can be
away only a few days Will plan q noun
tain trip that should not be attempted
in double the time that is his. Yes, we
see it happen almost every day during
the summer. The man or woman VINO
has been confined in the office or shop
will "hit the trail" for a few days
mountain climbing. and set up pace
on the first day which would try the
hardened mountaineer, and spend the
next few days nursing blistered rect
and sore muscles. Do not stop your
ears to the "Call of the Wild,' but do
little shaping up at home so that the
muscles are i'm condition for the severe
work There is no exercise which taxes
the heart more than mountain CLIMB
ing, and no exercise which is better
for health building If taken in ra-
tional way. At a recent meeting of the
Southern California Society of Physi-
cal Directors a number of cases were
cited where individuals had injured
themselves permanently by trying to
make a record at mountain climbing.
We should emphasize the value of
getting near to nature. So many spend
the vacation in the turmoil of crowd
ed summer resort, where in the at
tempt to keep up with the crowd in
the round of gayety with dance,
promenade, dress, overeating and late
hours, the home coming finds faded
cheek and tagging step. A physician
tells me that she is obliged to spend
the summer at home In order to take
care of the large number who need her
services on account of vacations poor
ly spent We are living a hurried life
at the present time The newspaper
has taken the place of books with a
good many because 1t takes less time
The fact is, n good many of our ac-
quaintances read nothing but the head
lines of the newspaper. Let us not
condemn the newspaper for a condition
of which 1t is not the agent. The
modern speed agents, the telephone
telegraph rapid transportation and
labor-saving machines. have increased
the brain outlet, taxed the nervous
system and taken away a large portion
of the muscular effort which was
formerly necessary for a man to earn
his living.
We are apt to be nerVously high
strung. Things that excite and disturb
the tranquility of the emotions are
constantly brought to our notice. We
have more of divorce, murder. graft,
accident and civic disturbance brought
to our attention in n days time than
our forefathers would hear about in
year. We crave excitement. Amuse-
ment of the spectacular variety is
demanded, just as a deranged stomach
Graves unnatural stimulants. Millions
of dollars are spent every year in
amusement centers like Coney Island,
New York. and the White city of Chi
cago by those who should be seeking
rest and quiet, wholesome exercise and
pure air. Plan your vacation where
you can get fresh air, wholesome food
and plenty of rational exercise. Where
you can be unconventional. Relax for
once! 1t will do you good Let row.
ing, swimming sailing, tramping and
the many sports have a place in your
program of vacation activities. We no
longer earn our living by the sweat of
the brow. but by the fag of the brain.
LESS EXERCISE TODAY
Modern conveniences and the coming
of machinery have increased nerve out
let, but decreased muscular activity.
Diseases of the nerve centers are in
creasing rapidly. Our recreation and
amusement are changing to meet the
call of wrong mental condition. That
which thrills and startles is craved.
Now, in regard to the getting close
to nature" it is an old-time joke to
hear a group of erstwhile campers get
together and discuss with great en-
thusiasm the "high old time" they had
roughng it. A history of the trip made
by these enthusiasts would no doubt
show a constant outlet of kicks about
sore feet, poorly cooked food,
mosquitoes and hard luck" in general.
Personally, I love to be in the great
out-of-doors, where natures call is
easily heard. However, I can see no
special value in being uncomfortable.
l have known men in camp to insist
on sleeping on ground when a cot was
available. It's a good plan to shape
up a little at home If your vacation
calls for hardness of muscle. After
managing a good-siZed camp of boys
and young men for several years, |
hope I can offer some vacation-time
suggestions worth your attention.
ABOUT YOUR CLOTHES
1t is needless to say that the amount
and quality of clothes will depend
largely on where the vacation is
spent and how long we are to be away,
but there are a good many things we
sometimes overlook which are extreme
lv important to health and comfort.
First of all, we should see to it that
the shoes are comfortable. Wear the
new ones for a while at home. Don't
forget the walking shoe and bathing
slipper. The best for general use in
the mountains is to take comfortable
pair of shoes and have a heavy sole
and heel put on. The mountain boot
so frequently worn chafes the feet and
is stiff and firing. We have good
example here i'm the lightness of Indian
foot gear. The Indian moccasin is
tough but soft and flexible. Personally,
I have climbed a good many noun
tains wearing my elkskin gym shoe,
while others who sometimes accom-
panied me wearing mountain boots
complained of sore and blstered feet.
This was, of course, largely due to the
fact that the boots were new. An eX-
cellent plan is to have in your medicine
box roll of adhesive plaster, and as
soon as a shoe begins to chafe put
piece of plaster on the spot which is
being rubbed. The relief is instant.
In case no adhesive tape is available.
rub the sock or stocking with tallow or
vaseline l hardly need advise wear
ing garters loose enough to admit
free circulation of blood in the legs,
and especially if much walking is done.
The belt should also be loose and COM
Portable. Some of the costumes worn
by silly girls, with waist cinched in
until it is scarcely larger than the
normal neck girth, sas portrayed at