The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-09

Pericles Percy is a Government clerk.
From 8 In the morning until 4:30 in the
afternoon he passes at his desk-eXcept
for thirty minutes respite at noon.
But to go back and show just what
Islation the thirty minutes respite
bears to Pericles' well being.
Pericles is n family man. No matter
how early he rises-and he conscien-
tiOusly answers the call OF the asthmadc
little alarm clock-it seems he can never
find time 20 do more than dress. give
tho furnace o shake or two and couple
of shovels of coal before 1t Is time for
him to start to the office. That means
that what breakfast he has must be
assimilated on the jump. II he wishes
TO get TO office in time. Up to this
point, of course. IL is Pericles' fault that
he has not had sufficiept nourishment
on which TO begin work, but It does
not alter the fact that he should have
good lunch.
Yet when the clock drags fits hands
around to 1890. marking the beginning
of the noon lunch time, Pericles can
not start from his desk and take adj
vantage of the full time. He has to put
his work IN order. so that he will not
return to hopeless muddle. Five
minutes is lost attending to this. An
other five minutes. at least, is consumed
making his way into crowded elevator
ard around the corner to a Quick
Lunch.
Record For Mastication.
Allowing another five minutes for the
return trip, PeriCles finds that he has
not more than fifteen minutes. and
many times less. in which to get and
eat his lunch. Even though he con-
tent himself with a modest sandwich.
a cup of near-coffee and a wedge of
pie, he must establish record for
speedy mastication if he would get
back under the official tape in time.
And between leisurely ministering in
A proper manner to the needs OF his
stomach with the alternative OF facing
d scowling chief OF division, PericleS
never errs on the side of his much
abused stomach.
Yet along about $3.50 in the afternoon.
Pericles wonders vaguely why the pie
and coffee and sandwich seem to have
suddenly developed claws with which
hey are tearing at his vitals; and ne
cells that his stomach and his liver and
ew other important factors In his con- |
.titution have all conspired to make |
I'm the most wretched of men.
There are other clerks. too, in the !
com with Pericles who have time 10
at quite n substantial breakfast 1et
hey also suffer from the deadly thirty
minutes at noon; and that is why Dr.
William Gerry Morgan of this city Is 4
lrginC that steps be taken to extend (
he noon lunch period In the Govern
nent departments to an hours duration.
DIR. Morgan. as "a practictnS physician,
lolds ,hc opinion that II any man fol-
cws 2 few simple rules OF eating. IN
with regular sleep and
xercise. 20 per cent of the men and
women who are destined 10 suffer from
lis which lie In wait for them. in many
Instances with fatal effect. would es-
ape those maladieS.
His Producing Capacity.
And. aside from the humanitarian and
ygicnic side of the question, he calls
ttention to the enormous economic
aying !. healthy body accomplishes 10
he man who inhabits II. as well as IN
rhanccd producing capacity whlch IN
he anal analysis would react TO the
enctit of such Il mans employer
Dr.. Morgan pointed out something Oh
his before a recent meeting OF the
,ational Society Of the Keep WelIs'
nd laid especial stress upon the neces-
NV of eating regularly SUFFICIENT
mount Of nourishlng food.
According TO DR.. Morgan, SUFFICIENT
me for a leisurely lunch should be
,ven by all employers to their work