New-York tribune., 1912-03-24
HELPS TO A SHORT LIFE

checked bv regulation Of diet, systematic
evcrcise. cold bathing, and the avoidance Of
alcohol He can easily shorten hi~ existence,
however. bv necessarily trying diet tads,
nostr,ns. cures, etc, on the advice OF freaks,
nciobbors. and well meaning but grossly x,
nor9nt friends. 4 fuSSv fat man IS icdTlul
nuisance. The best thing ne can 90 Is -
stick to regular medical advice; Dut ne VIII
have TO follow the doctors lnStucuoliS
closely. Faith cure never cured case u
obesity 1t takes patience and ,., work not
faith. to get nd Of adiposc tissue. nc scales
tell the story. The fat IS on the stomach
not in the mind. -.--a..
We are commonly supposed to possess
only five senses: but this limit has long since
been extended TO include the muscular seiise
and the sensations Of heat and cold, as diS-
tingljsbcd from ml~c touch. FOR example,
your sense Of touch may be unlmPalred' DuV
vC,, NAV not be able 10 distinguish tcillpeId-
frres In the broad meaning Of the term
probably the sense Of proportion Is lhc mos
Valuable protection that we have. i&Sk u,
.of This sense IS a decided life shOrtcner. ne
woman was it a wOman;) who threw Ihe
babv out Of a burning house, but carried a
feather pillow down stairs, IS classic eHdiil-
ple Of the lack Of this sense, -.
Rut hard headed business men DO equaiIy
foolish things every day Of Their lives. Inc
man who throws away his valuable nervous
resources in order 10 take care OF some Trivial
features of his business which could be more
efficiently handled by the office boy Is an
instance Attacking the most serious ana
ncrnlcxing problems Of life when the BRAN IS
faogcd out bv a hard days work IS another
I;feo shortening habit. The rested BRAIN VIII
10 IN trice what the tired brain may never
do efficiently. Insensate rage over trlfeS IS
anotber source OF life waste. Some small IT.
r;tation over trihe may signalize the be
GINNING Of a day Of record breaking veXa-
fS;on and exasperation. 1t IS life saving
habit 10 begin the day well, even II 1t does
caIl for little manly self control or sweet,
womanly reasonableness. r.,
4 more amiable expression OF the absence
Of this sense OF proportion IS extreme ana
foolish self sacrifice, humorng ana catering
~ come cantankerous, selfish invalid. Mer-
cv and sympathy have their proper limits,
and there IS no merit in nurturlng the aDun-
dant selfshness and egoism that characterize
On many chronic invalids The psychic IN
Auence Of such indulgence IS pernclous.
F;rrnness which may seem harsh 10 some IS
often the highest form OF mercy.
HIGH tension in the mind IS usually ac-
compsanied by actual physical tension OF the
muscular system, and may produce similar
condition in the circulatory apparatus, the
heart and blood vessels. This seems TO be
national vice. Watch the people passing
along a crowded thoroughfare some day, and
note note how few walk erect, yet easily, with
faces in repose, rejecting normal physical
and mental poise. Note the nervous, hur- ,
red movements, the strained facial muscles,
preparing the lines and markings Of the map
Of worry and unrest Many Of these people
hurry home in a state Of tension, TO eat the
meal that ends in american dyspepsia. !
wonder how much of this famous malady
would persist in the face OF ten-Ininute nap
our Health Departments to employ sand
wich men TO march up and down our thor
oughfares, with signs bearing the warning,
"Relaxl Relax! Relax!"r