The Washington herald., 1911-11-19
SOME PLAIN TRUTHS
ABOUT HOW TOLIVE
Sensible Ideas Expressed So that Anybody Can
Understand and Profit by the knowledge.

From the Nation4l FuoQ oAA&h1lno-
A foe to health is nerve tension TO
remedy which relaxing gymnastics can be
given. BY learning how to relax the
muscles, to '1et CO." recuperation of
nerve strength follows:
Hurry means tension. Hurry is in the
mind first, and does its most mischief
there.
One may walk fast for pleasure, and
not feel tired; yet II there be hurry In
the mind, to have to reach a certain
place at a certain time, fatigue follows.
A thought consumes more nerve force
than a blow. We incapacitate ourselves
for the demands on US in the future
when we give way to thoughts Of con-
tinued anxiety, anger, suspicion, fear. or
despondency. Those of fear and despon-
dency are especially to be avoided.
Irritable moods are largely due to
overstrung nerves. Relaxing exercises
conserve nerve force by Withdrawing II
from the extremeties, and outstanding II
at the centers.
Nervousness Is not always manifested
by the body. When unexpressed 1t Is OF
a more serious and wearing form. Con-
tinued repressed nervousness and secret
worry are dangerous, on the principle OF
tends to extreme prostration.
Exaggerated Sense of Duty.
Many people wear themselves out need
lessly; their conscience Is a tyrant. An
exaggerated sense of duty leads many
9 person to anxious, ceaseless activity.
TO be constantly doing something, over
punctual, never idle a second Of time,
scorn to rest, such are In unconscious
nerve tension. They say they have no
time to rest, they have 50 much to do,
not thinking that they are rapidly unfit
ting themselves for probably what would
have been their best and greatest work
in after years.
AS there are conscious and unconscious
thoughts, there are conscious and Un-
conscious nerve tensions. Women, shop
ping. do not know the very tight grip
they give their parcels until on reaching
home their hands fall relaxed in their
laps, and they say they are so tired.
Self-control OF nerve force is the great
lesson OF health. and, therefore, OF life
itself. To understand how to relax is to
understand how to strengthen nerves.
ton, as are also all high thoughts, as
those Of hope, beauty, trust, or love. Re.
taxation is found in diversion. An occa-
sional outing or holiday is necessary.
Too many OF us go through life never
making any effort to be our own mas
ters. We give way to caprices, whims,
feelings, follies, far more than Is good
for our health. Hysteria gives a good
example of the loss Of self-control. Any
uncontrolled passion gives an equally
good example.
Men and women often say they can't
govern themselves; that Is simply admit
ting they have defects of character
which are their masters. They ought to
make an effort and see II they are not
mistaken.
Do Not Try to DO Too Much.
Don't attempt to acquire all the ac-
complishments. attend all the receptions,
theaters. and lectures. and sell tickets
for all the benehts-unless you wish to
be nervous. weak. old, and wrinkled be-
fore your time.
Don't exhaust all your reserve force
over petty cases. Each time that a wo-
man loses control over her nerves she
moves a fraction of an inch farther on
the path that leads to premature old age.
Exercise Is essential to the preserva-
tion of health, while inactivity is a po-
tent cause OF degeneration. The vigor
and equality of the circulation. the fUnc-
tions Of the skin, are all promoted by
muscular activity, which thus keeps up a
proper balance and relation between the
important organs of the body.
Exercise is an especially important
part of the conduct of life in old age,
but-and this is a very important point
discretion is absolutely necessary. An
old man should discover by experience
how much exercise he can take without
exhausting his powers. and should be
careful never to exceed the limit.
Where a woman gets nervous prostra-
tion from so-called nervous oyerwork,
the chances are six to ten that the eX-
cess of work was a demand of some sort
OF social function. and was thus, by the
highest ethics, unnecessary.
The Tyranny of Dress.
Less dress parade in our lives is neces-
sary. Reduce the everlasting dressing Of
our bodies, houses. tables. and equipages.
It will become a bugbear to the tired
out brains. and II tires the brain.
1t is what makes women say they feel
like going crazy when they think of
packing their trunks for a trip to
resort, and II makes some OF
them really crazy.
Such parade is a silly demand that our
conceit and envy make upon US, to the
worry of our tired brains.
1t Is merely a truism to say that people
who are carrying mind and body loads
that are too heavy should have them
lightened. II the load is apparently
necessary and free from the vice Of bad
emotions. the rest is as truly necessary.
Rest and change shift the bearings;
take on the pressure frcm parts and
powers that are tired, and put into exer-
else faculties that have been dormant,
so that the man as a whole is brought
up, his brain and body are refreshed,
and mental wreck is fought OF.
cannot write or talk too much of re-
pose. in this busy, hustling world, where
people are keyed to such high nerve ten
sion. More mental quiet is an uncon-
scious demand Of the race to-day.
Danger of Mental Unrest.
On every side we meet with this men,
tai unrest, this struggle with burdens OF
some variety or other, until from the
expenditure Of nerve force a large num-
tired, class; after which follows the NOR
bid and finally the insane.
The marvellous power Of the nervous
system to wreck or build 10 startling.
Where the mind force that rules the
body Is scattered and disorderly. the con-
sequent lack OF repose II almost sure 20
result in disease.
This mental unrest In most subtle. and
therefore a sure health destroyer: u may
quietly work for years. yet u viii accom-
nlish. with no apparent effect. IN time
some form of bodily disorder.
The majority are not trained 10 men
Ial quiet: even the children are not re-
,eiving such discipline
Every healthy child Il hrimful Of active
ne. hut u Il not restless only under
irtiheiai conditions. n repose y power,
hen We cahno' TOO ssrly train the child