Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-09-30
PLAY.

One of the most important. as II Is
one of the hardest. lessons for the
busy man to learn is to play. All
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy" More men have been killed by
the negative Influence of lack of play
than by the positive effect of exces-
sive work OF all things. the busy
man should give up the senseless and
wearing habit of revolving in his mind
10 the evening. and during his spare
time, the matters which have occu-
pied him during the day. certain
brand of tobacco used to be adver-
1 tised with the epigrammatic advice,
If smoking such and such tobacco in
terferes with your business. quit your
1 business" OF course. the admOnitiOn
is ahsurlly nverdrawn. but It has a
grain of sound philosophy in it, too
which is. that it is just as important
that business should not be allowed
to interfere with play as that play
should not be allowed to interfere
with business.
Play is a form of rest if properly
induged If Improperly INDUCED it
becomes labor. poisonous exertion.
drudgery. doing harm rather than
good It is as bad for the body or
any Of its members 10 be oyerstralned
in play as in work, and in the excite
ment or rivalry of play the line of
demarkatiOn between benefit and in
jury is very often Overeaped. The
basic definition Of play is, 40 engage
in some exercise for the sake of
amusement" Here the word would
seem to mean what it does not mean,
for amusement" IS that which amuses
or ploasurahlv engages the mind So
play" has come to mean many differ
ent things. from music to gambling.
Whenever. however. in any amuse.
mem you are interested chiefly in
some advantage to be won. yOn have
passed from the amusement of play
to the amusement of work. In play
ing it is not necessary that it he pur-
poseful. One should let himself Ego"
now and then and just frolic. All
that is necessary to learn about play
is to understand that all play is good
If INDUCED in moderation anG at rea-
sonable times Work. play. rest.
should balance. Rowing, running,
golf, tennis, all sports that will take
us where there is good air and sun
shine. and force US to exert our bodies
to the point of taking deep breaths
are beneficial. Indoors. light reading
when the mind is weary, card playing |
and other frivolous amusements are |
sometimes good. The all-impOrtant |
requisite is to maintain a playfulness
of spirit which is quite independent /
of external aids.
You can learn even to have fun
with yourself letting your magma
ton play all kinds of pranks. Play is
recreation. refreshing and tightening
the monOtony of life. Change Of
work is not recreation enough for the
intense worker of today. The mind
and will must be emptied of all Sc
and purpose. and relaxation
should he sought in romp and frolc.
The place and inspiration Of a
mans play should be. par excellence,
his home although sometimes it is
better to get utterly away from your
family and all familiar things and peo-
pie. to play alone or with new-made
friends or comparative strangers.
Home. however, should represent TO
a man the highest type of play-the
and relaxing of his facul-
lies in frank and loving sociability.
and ii is this element in his life,
-ypified by his home. and for the
most part afforded by his home. that
urge upon my readers and patients
o deliberately cultivate thus adding
many years to their physical life and
Intold blessings to their minds and
learts. LEARN HOW TO LIVE.
The deepest-rOOted cause of disease
: that overworking of the brain and
of the nervous system.
which are the necessary consequences
# their intense activity. Hence.
nervous prostration, nervous .dyspep-
ia. consumption. Bright's disease. and
other maladies In a
word. the American often works him
elf TO death.
Play is the great harmonizer Of the
Iuman faculties over-strained and
made inharmonious by labor. 1t is the
gency that keeps alive and in healthy
ctivity the faculties and sympathies
which work fails to use or helps
o repress. 1t is the conservator Of
loral. mental. and physical health.