The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-05-25
LEST WE FORGET.

alieusbie right to do ss we please,
Thousands Of men forget that by this
contempt OF their obligations to soci.
ely they may be overtsken by disease
and poverty as the result Of their
wastetul and ill.ccnsidered conduct.
aud ultimately become burdens upon
the very social organization whose
rules aud regulations they have so
lightly considered.
Accordingly, those who indulge in
dissipation that destroys mind and
body. while vehemently asserting that
thev are free to do as they please. are
lacklng not only in common honesty
aud patriotism. but are asking society
to pay the bills They are consuming
aud destroying resources which men
have brought together for the common
good Of humanity. and which men have
struggled to create since the begin
ming OF time.
No man has the right to impair
TO the slightest degree the efficiency Of
human life. He has no right to disre-
gard the laws of health, for to the e1-
tent that he does so. he becomes a pau
per and a burden upon society. He
has no right in serving his own selfish
purposes to use his property in way
that will result in injury to public
health. He has no right to shirk his
duty in contributing to public revenues
intended for the bettsrment OF social
conditions from which both himself
and his neighbor mutually are to de-
rive benefit,
What should be the outcome Of all
this high endeavor for the conserva-
tion Of human life? Concede the
changes that would greatly lengthen
tue span of human life, insure compar-
ative freedom from disease, snd give
TO each individual reasonable opportu-
nifty to exert to full capacity his con-
structive and productive energies Is
it the expectation and desire Of society
that the physically and mentally i'm
proved man of wealth shall use his sd-
ditional powers merely for the purpose
OF growing richer? That the farmer
shall merely plant more acres and cut
wider swath with his scy the!
That the philosopher shall devote
himself more constantly to the con-
temptation OF the abstract? II human
happiness is to be increased, shall it be
merely the physical and sensual?
Somewhere nc bic ideal OF hums n
destiny must be linked with this great
movement OF the conservation of
human life, to make it worth fighting
for. There must be the right motives
and inspirations for human hapginess
Disease is commonly associated with
poverty and vice, which cause most
human unhsppiness, Metchinkoff
asserts that health and morality are
correlative, if not interchangeable,
than which a truer and more discern
ing statement was never made.
Should we not expect the ideals OF a
stronger and happier people to express
finer conception OF the duties of
individuals towards each other?
Dreaming of a nobler existence for
humanity 10 worth while. especially
il there is work to make the dream
come true. With all its SURPRISING
charm, Greek civilization failed to the
extent that it was lacking in the ele
ments Of compassion. There was
plenty OF retribution aud vengeance,
but not much human sympathy, espec-
tally for the poor and weak.
Not until about two thousand years
ago, In the multitude Of beliefs that
ethical appeal that deeply and per-
manently touched the hearts OF men.
Jesus Christ reconstructed the foun-
dations of society when he taught
men TO believe that each was the 9TH
ers keeper, and that men should do
unto others as they would have Others
do unto them.
In this great movement for the con-
servation of human life it should be
possible to invigorate the spiritual no
less than the mental and physical ele-
ments Of human society. Disease and
uncleanliness are synonymous. Filth
ana disease are born in the same bed
Clean bodies, clean minds, clean
souls.
At no other time in history has the
opportunity been greater, nor science
more willing, to serve humanity.
From Okla. Board of Health,