The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-03
FEW OF US HEED
DOCTORS WARNING
Nature Is Not Always Willing to Wait
for Naturalization Of Our
Business Plans.
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

By FRANCES sHAFFER.
Four years ago a man in Kansas City,
finding himself in a state OF physical de-
cline, asked his physician IL there was
any way of recovery. The physician
looked him all over and told him that his
only hope lay in abandoning his ordinary
vocation and method of living. and
tramping, day after day and month after
month. resting at night under the stars.
He went home and talked 1t over with
his wife, and they decided to follow the
line OF his only hope, she to go with him,
mile upon mile, in the earnest pursuit Of
health.
Set Aside Everything.
They set aside home, business, usual
pursuits, comforts, and all and became
voluntary nomads, tramping long
stretches at a time, experiencing many
hardships. encountering all sorts of in
conveniences, and meeting plenty of ad-
ventures on the way. They came to be
known as the Walking Wolffs," for not
once did they falter in the quest, ssnd not
once were they i'll as they covered the
road. The last jaunt of about 5000 miles
was begun some time ago. and when
November's leaves were falling the
thickest and when the earth was all
ready for its sleep OF a year. they tramped
back into town again, with a record OF
about 1900 miles, all told.
But the mere matter of mileage was
nothing: II was the marvellous gain that
counted. For when the physicalswreck of
four years ago eXultantly returned from
the long tramp. he bore the coveted
stamp of health. And the Walking
VOLTS felt repaid for all that it cost.
Some days the sun had beat down upon
them without any mercy. at other times
sharp winds whipped the rain and the
sleet into their faces, and many a time
they covered tie road when the road was
all mud-but they are well. And so long
as they live they will have at their COM
mand what Oliver Wendell Holmes called
brown and homely growth of happy
"reminiscences to enliven the dull and the
tired spots along their life road.
But the best of all is that their one
hope was turned into wonderful reality.
Very Hard to Obey.
And, reading the story of the Walk
ing Wolffs,' the thought comes to mind
that not many of Us are ready to heed
physicians warning when il involves
sacrifice, hardships and a radical change
in the mode Of living. We say We can
not do that-anything else is better. And
sometimes it really seems that there is
no way of realizing the hope held out.
long, long rest, with nothing at all
to veN the mind or try the weakest point
in our physical armor-isn't 1t easy for
a physician to urge that. and isn't II hard
to obey? Generally much more ~ in
volved than the will to comply. II that
were all. most of us gladly would slip
away. II the hope Of a whole armor
again meant four full years, kissed by
no ind hn nd
with some of us. it would
be a genuine treat to obey, in spite Of
the hardships encounter4.
But, alas for the hope! 1t Is only the
few who. at word. can close the door
on their workshops and all their busy af-
fairs and run away where health is to
be gathered.
But there is always a next-best or a |
often that there is no best |
at all
Amazing Fact
1t is amazing, and more than that, to |
note the number OF men and women |
who, one by one, are dropping out long
before they ought to drop out. nervous |
when II seems they should not be ner- |
vous, physically unsound when 1t looks |
as IL nature planned them to remain |
sound many years longer. and mentally /
disturbed when they should be at peace |
of the wear and tear OF life.
Thoughtful. experienced physicians and !
others all over the world are saying, as
as may be. that there should |
not be so much wear and tear, so much
cushing about, and so pitifully little care
0f the human machinery. They warn
that the very strain OF the pounding
noises on city streets, from the dawn of
me day almost to the dawn of the next.
affects the nerves, even
reaches the minds Of all who must hear
hem; and that they grow tired and worn
without realizing it.
But when these practical folk who all
he while are dealing with men and
women in their breakdowns. solemnly de-
,lare that life is made needlessly siren
Ious and crowded and that II is Impor-
ant. first of all, to safeguard bodies,
minds. nerves-who pauses to heed them?
Who, until break comes, and there is
ust one hope left?
When Single Hope Is Left.
Most of us know what stands be-
ween US and the perfect health We
ong for Sometimes II Is nothing but
est. rest for the eyes, the nerves, the
Whole body; and we say, wait while,
nd we shall yield to the call
But we have abundant proof on every
ide that nature is not always willing
o wait. and that while folk are delaying
or business to prosper, for plans to ma
erialize and for time to be quite ripe for
change, something happens to make ac-
ion imperative, II, indeed, there Is still
line for action.
And then-well, when there is single
ope left, many sacrifices will be made,
many hardships endured. many plans set
side for its sake.
But It is dangerous, and may prove
cry costly, to wait, IL we cannot fol-
DIV the course we are advised to follow,
here's the next-best or the nearest we
an reach.
For health is worth pretty much.