TO BANISH GLOOM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 21 June 1926, Page 7

TO BANISH GLOOM

FAMOUS PEOPLE ON WHAT TO DO Recently people celebrated in their individual walks of life were asked what methods they adopt to throw off those dismal moods, and the answers will be found not only interesting, but helpful. Miss Sybil Thornidike (the tragedy actress): The very first thing Ido when I get a had attack of the blueg is to throw] everything about the room—books, v papers cushions —I ill-treat them all!

Anything - breakable, of course, breaks. That is rather expensive, but it is a good tonic—bettor than any amount of medicine. Having let off steam in this way I begin to feel more like myself again. A good old smash soothes the nerves.

But if tiie cure is not completed, and I am still feeling blue and depressed, I go to the piano and play a few of my favourites. Then, if I do not think I have recovered sufficiently, I go out, for a long walk. And if lam .not smiling happily then. . - well, heaven help mo! Sir Harry Lauder (the famous Scotch comedian)l dinna allow mysel’ to get the blues. There's enough misery in Iho world without me addin’ tao it. Whenever I’m tempted tao feel that way, 1 just read s.omo o’ these jokes üboot Scotsmen being mean./ They mak’ me laugh all right! Look on the brioht side of life. That’s my advice. There’s muny a man and woman wi’ far mail’ cause to be unhappy than you yoursel’. Ye dinna! help) things by girniu’ ower them. WORK AND PLAY Mr. Gilbert Frankau (the lamous novelist) : Everybody lias his or her own remedy for curing the blues. I have two —work and play—and one or the other is always successful. If I have a bad attack 1 can invariably get, rid of it on the courts. And if I don’t feel like going out I work, which is just as good. The bluer I feel the harder I Work to forget it. . .That is why I am working now. Professor A. M. Low (the distinguished inventor): I think tho blues are duo ot lack of thought. But they age very easy to cure—when vou know how. What I do when I have got an attack is to sit down and recall to myself that, we don’t understand one single thing we see. I look at the electric light, and I remember I am only getting 2J,- per cent of the value of every shilling 1 spend on electrical energy. How can I cure that I ask myself. LOOK FOR THE REMEDY My ga/e travels to my fire, and I remember that ft is wasting 95 per cent of tho coal. Then I have my dinner, and I say to myself : You are only using 10 per cent of the energy in this food. Perhaps after dinner I look at mv wireless set, and I think that only 10 per cent of the people who listen-in enjoy tho programmes. 1 ask myself how I can remedy all flics things. Then, maybe, I glanco at mv finger-nails and reflect that I fivu still a savage.' If f am still blue I try to remember that in order (o make any progress 1 must cure my mind of Wondering when the next meal will be. I ask myself liow I can remedy all these things. Then, maybe, I glance aL my .finger-nails and. reflect that I am still a savage. If I am still blue I try to remember Unit in order to make any progress I must cure my mind of wondering when the next meal will be.

’ And if air this fails I-finally euro the blues by thinking, about someone else. TRY STARVATION! Lady Neish (the' well-known' society hostess): The blues is often'the result of mental indigestion. The modem cure for ordinary indigestion is a day of complete starvation —a very wise remedy, for most of us are overfed. To cure tho blues we might try starvation of a different kind. , Life has been too good to most of us. Wo have our five senses; we can hear the rush of the wind, we can see beautiful sunsets, we can smell the fragrance of flowers and the earth after vain, we can touch those we love, and we have our limbs and are able to run, dance, and play. ' Yet we are fed up. To cure the blues wo ought to try a little starvation. We should cut grousing out of our daily lives, and remember that, compared with -some others we, who have our health and strength, aro the lucky ones. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT i Mr Gordon’Selfridge, sen.: I don’t need to have a euro for the blues, for I never get into them.- I think it is a weakness, and that one’s will should be sunerior to one’s condition. But though I don’t need a cure,’ I can tell you-why lam seldom troubled by melanchocly and depression. I just don’t allow anything to worry me, except the illness of those I love. Jack Hobbs (the great cricketer): The best advice I can give to sufferers from the blues is not to get into them. Sometimes, of course, you can’t help it When that happens to mo I get out my scrap book and read all about my past performances.

It doesn’t always do tho trick, of course, but it certainly helps. Other times I just play cricket.