The Washington herald., 1917-08-18

Are the eyes of today different from
the orbs of yesteryear? 1t would seem
so from the observations of a cele-
brated American artist illustrator;
and who Is better qualified to say?
He observes that I'VE seldom see the
big, calf eyes that used to look at us
out Of weak faces. Eyes are deeper
set and look smaller. but they reflect
more intelligence. They do not stare
you out of ccuntenance, but move
from object to object, indicating an
active mind. l am glad the big pop
eyes are going out of fashion. 1
abominate them (who wouldn't0
They looked like heavy blue imitation
china and meant as little
Did the woman with a calf-like stare
and a baby face exist only yesterday? :?
She seems TO have altered so much
within the last decade or two as to
have passed altogether out of our rec
objection.
The eyes are the most expressive of
all our features, because the most
muscular; and the above distasteful
little word-picture is significant Of
many things, not the least of which
is that the eyes are a true index of
the being whom they reflect; and this
is in itself a good reason for treat
ing them with the utmost considera-
ton; but a graver and more important
one, is that the eyes are the organs
OF vision, and as such are perhaps
more ruthlessly dealt with than any
other portion of the body.
In a previous paper, the subject
headaches resulting from eye strain
was entered into and attention was
drawn to the persistent use and abuse
to which We subject these truly mar
velous organs, and the lamentable
fact that in the rush and hurry of
our present-day civilization, the eyes
are undergoing very serious changes;
although our knowledge concering
them and optics generally acquired
through much laboratory investiga-
ton during the past quarter of a CEN
tury, is greater than the sum total
then was then known upon this fas-
cinating and important subject (Which
includes light, color, and sighO, still,
despite this, we abuse our eyes far
more than our grandparents did.
The world is so much smaller today
and our thirst for world news is cor
respondingly greater, so that we read
with avidity and utilize what spare
moments many of US have between
tasks that demand our time, and read
in all kinds of lights, in faulty posi-
tions, and from miserable prints. This
combination is ruinous to the strong
est eye, because it Is a three-fold
strain and most of US are guilty OF
the charge; and in addition to this
must be added the fact that we read
ION the rum" as it were; few Of us
read leisurely these days.
There is so much that we want to
imbibe, we drink it in through the
eyes with lightning speed; conse-
quently, plus the three-fold strain
mentioned, the entire nervous sys-
TEN, notably the brain, is held at
a tension which is extremely exhaust
ing; and as the eye is a direct part of
the brain (as a famous oculist puts
it, that part of the brain which
comes out to see'D, the continual
hardship to which the eyes are sub
jected can readily be comprehended.
We read more, therefore, and at a
greater speed, and in the awful. glare
of electric lights, etc, etc. No arti-
fetal light has yet been devised that
compares with the softness of day.
light, and, of course, never will; but
too much emphasis cannot be laid
upon the care that should be given the
matter of lighting, regardless of the
use rooms are put to, but especially
when used for work.
Answers to Queries.
Gladys-I am indeed pleased that
you come so long a distance to con-
suit me on an exercise to reduce the
ankles. Now, If they are merely
fieshy, it will be an easy matter to
work them down to a trim slender
ness; If, however. there is a bony en-
largement you will scarcely be able
to do much unless you are still very
young. Now dancing is the best JOY
full exercise for cultivating beautiful
ankles. Not haphazard tripping around
but those physical culture movements
of the feet, pointing the toes" ETC..
which form the basis of graceful
dancinA The hest xirnnlA sxorrise