Connecticut western news., 1916-12-07
HEALTHFUL HOBBIES.

The "cheapest is best" is not gen. orally considered good reasoning in the selection of this world s goods, yet, in the majority of cases, there is nothing in the entire materia medica that equals fresh air and outdoor exercise for the maintenance of good health-it is truly the cheapest and best.
 It is significant fact that, as rule, the we'll. to.do are much more sickly and delicate than the poorer class who have to "dig" for living. Also the children of the former. who in most cases are not allowed to become tough ened to the out. door inclemencies of all kinds of weather. are weddings com- pared with the little "tough nuts" of the latter class who 'get their bumps," " rain or shine, bare footed all summer and until the first snow drives them into their shoes.
 There are cases in our own town of women who have always led what might be considered o1t door liv es, by spending every possible minute that was not actually needed in the execu- tion of household duties, in outdoor activities, and, while they did not think when digging in their garden, working among their flowers or caring for their chickens, that they were "chasing hobbies,'' it was in reality just what they were doing. These out door interests many times called for hard work, but it was a pleasure and recreation to do it, and that is where the good health came in.
 These women are not invalids, and although getting along in years, are strong and robust, and can outdo ten told their younger sisters who are mak ing "hot.house plants" of themselves by spending their time in the house at fancy work, reading. or similar seden. tary occupations. One woman we have in mind living in Canaan and nearly seventy-fi years old, lifelong work. CT at out door hobbies, can now set a pace on a hike of several miles that few of the younger ladies can follow.
 The study of ornithology is hobby that has induced many to take this "cheapest and best" medicine, but too many make it far weather hobby and thereby lose much of the doings of wild-life which they would like to know as we'll as some of the good health they would like to possess Tougher yourself to the bad weather and you will enjoy the good weather better, not take cold so easily, and beat the doctor.
 Any branch of natural history, botany, forestry, entomology, zoology, biology, geology, or any ''ology" that will take enc ont into the open, the wild woods or the mountains, with an object in ething interesting to go for-will put more "pep" into your system than a whole apothecary shop, or any part of 1t.
 The mind is responsible for our phy. sicial condition, to great extent, and is also an important factor in the effects produced by the outdoor exercise we take. To take walk of two miles day for the sake of walking, is work, and while it is doubtless partially beneficial, the results are nothing con- pared with the same amount of travel in the interest of your pet hobby, upon which your mind is occupied. If you doubt it, try it, but work into it grad ually and not overdo at first
 Get an outdoor hobby-a "bug," as some call it-and chase it till the wings drop off, then, if you must have change, get another, although it is much more satisfactory to stick to one and do good job at it. Let the fresh air blow through you AS medicine it is not only the best but the cheapest.