The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-03-25
An Average Of Six Hours a Day
Is Sufficient for Produc-
tive Work.
DEVELOPMENT IS STUNTED
FROM FATIGUING LABOR
Let Eighteen Hours Be Devoted
Daily to Study, Sleep
and Recreation.

DR.. Woods Hutchinson, one of the
best known physician writer's Of to-
day. in an article in March Outing
says:
'"There are very few occupations OF
CIVILIZED life, and particularly of city
life, however mild and confining on
the one hand. Or strenuous and out
of-door on the other, which do not re-
Quire, as a corrective, a considerable
added amount Of light, rhythmic,
pleasurable exercise, play, in fact, for
the maintenance of health and ef-
ficiency:
Condemns Long Hours.
"Shortening the hours of work is,
Of course, difficult, and for the ma
jority practically beyond our control,
under the present senseless and waste
full method of conducting our busi-
ness and industries without the slight
est reference, not merely to the COM
fort and reasonable enjoyment but to
the health and efficiency of those
engaged in them. There are few
things we do as stupidity and unin-
telligently as work, and some day it
"AAA ueIV A. upOiI us tI4dL Luc UcSt way
to get the lrgest out put Of the zest
quality of work is to feed and re-
create and rest and condition the
workers so as to develop both their
bodies and minds to the highest
possible pitch of clearness, efficiency
and power.
Counter Exercise Needed.
The overexerc1sed class of workers
needs more exercise for two main
reasons: first. and most important,
because the time devoted to light
and rhythmic exercise in the open
air shortens the time devoted to
grinding, straining, overtaxing labor
at their trade; second, because, as
is the. perpetual, lament Of all phy-
sical instructors, trainers, and gymn-
asium experts, very, very few gainful
occupations, however vigorous the
! muscular effort they necessitate.
develop men symmetrically and
wholesomely.
One will overstrain, for instance,
! the muscles of the arms and back
and do little or nothing for the legs,
abdomen and front of the chest. An
other will develop to the point of alb
! normal hypertrophy one arm, or one
! limb. or one side of the body Others
! Involve an intolerable monotony of
| slight, rapid movements of hand or
| foot. or even finger, or thumb, hun
| dreds of times in a minute and thou
sands of times in the day, without
| the slightest strain upon or interest
| for, SO per cent of the muscles and
! OF the mind. The more laborious,
cramping and fatiguing these occupa-
tions. the more they demand good,
| wholesome, romping play as an anti
dote.
Problem of the Hour.
The greatest problem which is fac
! ing the modern statesman, the
! thoughtful humanitarian, is whether
! the great and important work of the
world shall be performed by the mass
OF tOilers, healtl.fully, cheerfully
happily, or whether it shall be car
ried out, as too much of it is, as a
! grinding, lth-destroying, intoler-
able, monotonous task, stunting de-
velepment, strangling hope and mur-
dering joy.
| All the valuable, productive work
now done could be accomplished
without working anyone more than
an average of six hours a day, leav-
ing the balance Of our waking hours
for healthful recreation and intellf-
| gent development of our highest and
happiest powers.
| 1t is not play that impels to drink
! and dissipation, but work! Two
! thirds of our vices are pitiful and dis
| torted efforts to get, by obligue and
| unWholesome means, that opportun-
! ity for joy and emotional expression
which is denied to us where we ought
! most to be able to secure it in our
! life work.