Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-07

cured by the gargling, or Is q fake and
Is cured" by sleep and the light of
day.
Probably in most cases there Is a
suspicion of an Ill, enough for the mag
nifying powers OF night to get in their
evil work.
These powers unvaryingly work so
i'll that 1t Is impossible to attribute
good to them. It Is seldom, indeed,
except in dreams, that night ever Sug-
No doubt this is where darkness got
its bad name. The powers and realms
of evil. according to the earliest leg
ends, select night as the time for their
nefariouS work.
Basic religious suggestions of all
races place reliance In good and evil
spirits, and Invariably connect the
latter with darkness and the fruits
thereof.
There has been some attempt by
psychologists to prove that children
are not naturally afraid of the dark,
but the movement has resulted in ne
cation, since in most cases suggestions
Of older persons serve quickly to i'm
plant dread In young minds.
Only by light and truth can man
progress. Darkness is necessary, in the
divine process, but light and truth must
appear at last, else the darkness has
no virtue.
Thus, in a consideration of the sud-
denness of little illnesses of the night,
and their miraculous cure by morning,
one Is brought to the whole question
of good and evil. But 1t is too large
q question to be discussed here. And
as far as We have been able to discover
1t has been discussed so much that no
one thinks about 1t much any more.
Far more practical is it to consider
what means may be taken by the aver
age human being to put the powers
of righteousness, truth and good will
working for him in the So-called small
hours of night, If and when he wakes
with sudden pains or illnesses.
Whether these are genuine or takers
the good which may be accomplished by
the cheerful, optimistic thinking will be
much the same, although results will
be evident only in the case of the
small pains magnif1ed out of all size.
Perhaps the best way to begin is to
assure ones self that the pain may not
be what 1t seems to be. It may not be,
you know. You know it from past ex-
perience, those great pains which turned
out to be nothing in the morning.
Even II the assurance is polite lie,
it will do no harm, especially if COM
bined with the proper physical means
to combat the ailment These should
not be neglected. If an eyelid hurts
and is sore to the touch, apply the good
old standard salve which has done yeo-
man service before.
Then to sleep. But, as you go, repeat
to yourself some helpful words. Every
one ought to have such words. With
one it will be a prayer, with others
simply words. We know one prominent
Washingtonian who for years has used
the words sunshine and happiness
in all such cases.
He repeats these three words (two
beautiful mental pictures, linked by the
innocuous "and'D until he gets tired
Of saying them, or until he falls asleep.
Let us say that this is not hocus-pocus,
In any sense, but simply conscious
and that good one.
It may be that one will find it easier
to make the mind blank by conscious
effort Just how it is done it is impos-
sible to explain. Some can, and some
can't Unwanted images will keep
jumping back, but by determined
effort 1--WE do not like the term will
power") they may be ousted.
Helpful words, no matter what they
are, will better serve most people, and
come nearer permitting the sleeper to
wake up in the morning with a clear
mind and body free from pain. Sleep,
the miracle worker, has been at It again.