The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-07-12
"LOnlineSS' -
By Gi1f11an Scott.
Loneliness is a mental condition.

Psychological and medical research
will probably in time recognize 1t as
a triple enemy; cause of disease, an
effect of disease, ard disease in it
self. A disease which is durable, but
will return for another cure; like some
folks annual visit to a we'll advertised
parish pump for the purpose of drink
ing water by the thousand gallons.
. have never tried these magnesia solu
! tons but from personal accounts OF
the Incredible ease with which glass
after glass can be consumed, 1 judge
It would be cheapest to have ones self
connected to meter, with the service
Pipe terminating at ones mouth: so
that, like Mrs. Camps teapot contain
ing gin, one could put it to ones lips
VIXEN SO dispoged."
Loneliness is a kind of recurring de-
cimal. Try how you may along ordi-
nary lines to get rid Of it, it insists
urtn returning. 1t is 4 hydra headed
monster which eats like a canker into
the brain and produces appalling re-
suits.
Some natures are more prone to it
than others; and usually the more
sensitive the nature and therefore the
more alive to mental anguish the more
Of loneliness that nature has to bear.
There IS an Did fashioned creed that
trouble anG sorrow and misery and the
rest Of The gang of Ioy-kllers are to
be expected and accepted with plous
resignation as part of the Divine in
tentiOn. Pions fiodIesticks. That may
be a convenient excuse for sitting
your hands meekly folded in your lap.
But the best remedy for most troubles,
including loneliness, is ACTION.
1t is impossible to be busy and lone
ly at the same time; unless the job is
merely q mechanical one. The brain
W IN n 10
midst of work, hasn't got the right
Kind of work. What IS needed is Work
which comreIs mental concentration,
SO that loneliness gets shut out.
It's no use swatting flies with the
DOORS ard windows wide open. The
sane remedy is to shut them out by
screening.
so loneliness must be shut out sys-
temauCally, noe only during the hours
of work but of play.
From rising to retiring the day
should be filled so full with work as
n duty and pleasure equally IS a duty
that there would be no time for lone
illness.
1t looks as if that settled the mat
ter, doesn't it?
Just get busy and there you are
O. X.
Oh dear, it sounds 50 easy; yet the
facts to he considered are so hard.
believe that loneliness IS one Of
earth's greatest Affections, and the
least recognized and understood.
| believe that the entire world Suf-
fers from loneliness, more or less; and
endures the effects without always
realizing the cause.
believe that education >riN lead to
organization for the systematic relIer
and prevention Of loneliness.
l believe that as humanity becomes
more and more humane, as it is rapid
ly doing, loneliness will be classed
with tuberculosis and similar SrOurgeS
OF mankind; to be fought scientifically
as disease inducing almost every
other kind If disease.
Loneliness is the chief cause of by
pOcho in which the imagination
plays havoc with all the vital organs:
and lInaSin;IrN sickness positively in
duces real sickness.
I want to see the entire world turn
doctor il tNis matter; each individual
looking around for evidences OF lone
illness in the other fellow.
l say again, with added emphasis,
that | believe there is an oVerwhelm-
ing amount of loneliness in the world,
hidden in the innermost depths of the
hearts of men and WomeA and chill
dren.
| have given ACTION as a remedy.
Yes: nothing finer where feasible.
but some of the disastrous effects OF
loneliness are the gradual growth Of
urc of hope. ana feeling OF L don't
care a d"
Here i where everyone can play the
doctor; ana in curing ones neighbOr
cure ones self.
The greatest remedy for the hope
less kind ri loneliness is kindness. Just
or kindness
That does NOT consist in writing
a check; neither for an individual nor
for an association; but in personal &C
ton; by a personal h;Indshake and a
few friendly words.
If we all went searching for loneli-
ness none Of us would be lonely.
I believe it is loneliness which fills
the saloons, the pool rooms, the gamb
ling bells and, to an extent, the re-
strcted district.
Loneliness demands excitement.
The lonely labo1er finds relief from
loneliness in beer and 'bacca; and, If
he can combine a game of dominoes
or checkers, he is cured of loneliness
for the time being. Under the slim
ulating influence of a glass of beer his
tongue becomes lOOsened. his face re
members how to smile, he is inclined
for conversation and feels friendly in
clined towards his fellow man.
Next comes the army of young men
assistants in warehouse, store and Of
flee. Lodged in cheap apartment
houses. they have no choice between
tn solitude of the bedroom and the
greater solitude of the crowded street
The picture show is worldwide
blessing to these whose wages won't
provide six evenings of generous en-
to say nothing of Sun
days, in return for six days monoto-
nous work.
The pool rooms and cheap gambling
houses cater for this class; and. after
Fleeing them, pass them on to the