New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-09-07
some Suggestions That May
Prove Of Great Value to tho
New Soldier.
HOW TO REST BY RELAXATION
Wonderful Currents, Curative, Restor-
Ing and ~ReplenlshIn0 Flow Into
tho Submissive Body During
Moments Of Relaxation.
~ AUGUSTUS THOMAS,
Of the vlulIanteA

~ AUGUSTUS THOMAS,
Of the vl0iIantea
New York.-This is a genuine letter.
q document" written by the distin-
guished dramatist to his son about to
60 to France. Mr.. Thomas when writ
ing had 40 thought Of Its publication.
He is an enthusiastic vigilante; others
of the organization happened to see
the letter and persuaded him to let 1t
be published.
My Dear Son:
was interested In the report Of the
boys In their hike under the full
packs, and their readiness to fall
asleep when chance came at the end
Ut the day. That "dog-tired" fatigue
Is the kind that brings the most COM
plete relaxation and the fullest re-
cuperation. We learn late In life
some of us-that the secret Of re-
cuperation, and therefore the secret Of
power, not only physical power, but
also power mental and spiritual, Is
the ability to relax.
You are probably going to France,
and If so will often have great need
Of the quickest replenishment Of your
expended strength. Perhaps you will
remember more definitely some sug-
gestions about relaxing II I give you
the basic reasons for them.
I used to muse yor when you were
a little fellow by "hypnotizing
quitos." You will recall that a
quito that would fly from my hand or
face when you tried to catch him
would sit still for me until I slowly
picked him up. The trick in that was
my waiting until l felt his sting, and
then taking a deep breath, and push
Ing on 1t" or tenslng up. That tension
automatically closed all the pores Of
the skin. and the mosquito who had
put his bill into one Of these pores
found 1t gripped and held there as a
bears foot might be held In a spring
trap.
That closing Of the pores under ten
sion Is one of natures means of pro-
lection. A nan suddenly plunged into
water instinctively inhales and auto
m~atically closes his pores. He does
the same thing II startled by danger or
attacked by any emotional shock. He
does 1t also when making any cOnsid-
cradle effort.
Strength From Without.
1t is only with age and some humil-
ity that we come to realize how much
Of our so-called strength ONE from
outside Of us, actually flows into us
and through us on what. II the phrase
won't frighten you. I might call the
"cosmic currents"
There Is a little scientific instru-
called the biometre that regis
tiers, and to some extent measures,
this strengthening current. l hope It
won't bore you If I tell you Of It
The biometre Is a small glass bell
or dome, inside Of which there is a
copper needle suspended by a silk
The bell rests on a board I'M
der which IL a coil Of copper wire.
The needle swings free, not quite
touching the supporting base. When a
man approaches the biometre with his
left hand the needle is drawn toward
him slightly but p%erceptibly. When he
approaches the bell with his right hand,
The needle swings away from him more
perceptibly than 1t swung toward him
the first experiment.
II two kilometres are used, one for
each hand, the needle In the left one
q drawn toward the man, and that In
he right one Is repealed. That would
,eem to indicate that a current was
into us and through us from
eft to right.
Furthermore It IL possible to pro-
luce this interesting phenomenon: II
he man tries to affect the current by
tensed effort, the right needle moves
from him than before. but the
eft one ceases to be attracted and
langs plumb. This would seem to In
llcate that his effort expended the
mercy which the right-hand needle
registered, and ut the same time the
fort closed the body to any intake
4 the supply.
It's worth thinking about.
To Relay 10 an Art
Sometime In the early nineties I saw
lid Mccoy knock out a fighter named
Stiff. Between the rounds Stiff
ook the usual rubbing and tanning by
is seconds. but Mccoy occasionally
a system of deep breathing
nd relaxation as he stood BY the
opes. I believe he was the first fight
r to spar with open palms, closing
Is fists only as he struck. l recall
ONE interviews In which he was quot
d as saying that he conserved his
BY that manner, being re-
lxed when sparring and tensing up
My for a blow. The fact was that
flowed into him In those mo-
tents Of relaxing as It flows into all
I rs. The big cats are instructive In
nat respect It's wonderful to watch
,eir complete relaxation In most atti-
,des. Children, too. have the quality. {
Great peace IL with us only when
are completely relaxed. and 'let 4
as II were.
To relax II somewhat, of an art. Il 1