Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-15
Sunday Morning Talk
BLUE MONDAYS.

Just how Monday got its deep dyed
hue no one ever really understood
till recently, when the Russell Sage
Foundation set one of its scientists to
work on the problem. DR.. Thorndyxe
essayed to discover the reason why
manufacturers, merchants and en-
ployers of labor in many lines report
ed Monday to be day Of glooms.
grouches, irritations and general
slackening of zest and efficiency.
Monday, as a time of depression,
would seem to be no modern phe-
nonenon, as a glance at the past
shows The various adjectives used in
connection with the day since the
time of our forefathers of six CEN
turtles past reveal it's ancient reputa-
ton. At various periods it has been
''black" Monday, bloody Monday
and saint" Monday, this latter in
facetious reference to the fact that
day in carousal chose to spend the
day following in idleness. In his au-
photography, Benjamin Franklin states
that he gained the goodwill of his
master in his apprentice days by never
making a saint" Monday. 1t will be
gathered, therefore, that Monday has
inherited no particularly savory repu-
tation.
The scientific investigator fnds, in
brief, that the average blue" Monday
victim is not in as good physical shape
for work on that day as when he fin
be tired for lack of exercise, or be-
cause he has taken too much exer-
else. He may be suffering from in
digestion because She has eaten and
drunk not wisely but too well. He
may have a headache because he has
smoked excessively, or pored too long
over the fine print Of newspapers.
PhysiologicalIy he has been set back
instead of ahead by the day OF rest.
The same general conditions obtain
IN the case Of women who have their
own peculiar forms of self indulgence.
In a word. Monday Is blue" be-
cause Sunday has been i'll spent. The
hours OF Sunday have been mistaken
ly used to rob men of physical
strength, to sap them of courage, to
lower their general morale The color
OF one day goes over, deepened and
intensified into the next.
If one has been allowing a "bius"
tinge to spread over his Mondays and
to shroud them in gloom, II Is time he
set about redeeming this inexcusabie
waste. What good thing Is likely to
be accomplished In week, upon the
first working day OF which we enter
with tagging step and siackened cour-
age? Somehow we must get g. rosy
tinge into Monday and make it what
1t ought to be, time Of gfadness
and OF cheer.
Let single prescription now suf-
nee. Observation has led me to be-
| lieve that most Of those who go to
work on Monday with the brightest
smiles and the most willing spirits
| have spent some parts OF Sundays in
| divine worship. II this be judged an
old-fashioned and prosy conclusion,
am perfectly willing to abide by the
verdict. believe that an hour spent
| quietly in church on the day Of ali
| the week the best 10 the best possible
preparation for the days following. He
who lifts up his heart In conscious,
| alteration OF the Father OF all In that
made Is most likely to go to his stated
| Monday task with steadied nerves,
awakened hopes. and vision that can
| discern splendor in the most common
place duties of the day.
! THE PARaoN.