KEEPING THE EYES YOUNG

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 259, 5 December 1914, Page 6

KEEPING THE EYES YOUNG

a EXERCISE THEM EVERY DAY. EYES MUtBOR THE SOUL. IWritten by Lillian Russell for the ' 'Chicago / Tribune."] We. hear so much about old eyes—r «<So-and-So has v old-looking eyes," or "So-and-So has bright, yeung-loofiing and some people are cruel enough to say that the bright, younglooking eyes are an indication of ignorance. That is not true. Rather is it an indication of intelligent consideration for the eyes. Tired, eunken eyes'.are signs of neglect, and of the people in this world neglect to care for their eyes. They j-ead in poorly-lightedjfrooms, they rub their eyes with soiled fingers, and rarely wash the eyes. I have had people ask me how to make jtheir eyes look fresh and young, and after telling them carefully what to do they would exclaim: "Oh, I wouldn't take the time to do that." Our eyes are the most necessary of all of our faculties, and ordinary common sense ought to teach us how to care for them. They should ,be exercised every day to give strength to the muscles. It takes but a few moments.' Xtook up to the ceiling, then look down at the tip of the nose with both eyes at the same time, repeating the exercise ten times. Look straight ahead, i then look with both eyes around to the Tight, from centre to right, ten times. Then from centre to left ten times. That is all. It is simple, but such eye exercise will give strength to the eye muscles, and improve the sight and brilliancy of the eyes. Cleanliness a Necessity. Cleanliness, also, is necessary to keep the eyes young. An eye-cup should be used night and morning. No medicine 5s neeessary, simple warm water is sufficient to wash out the dust and particles that collect inside the eyelid. Eeading under a poor light causes more eye troubles than any other thingpeople are careless enough to do, and persons who read themselves to sleep always awake with puffy eyes. It requires but a little time, thought,

and attention to keep the eyes young and bright. Years have nothing to do with-fading eyes. There are many old people who have never required glasses, and whose eyes are bright and beautiful. Strong lights are injurious to the eyesight, and dim lights are fatal. The old-fashioned candle light was the best ever, known for resting the eyes. Hundreds . of them would never cause a. glare. They were always soft and mild upon the optic nerves. To-day we have too much light, and generally all" in oiie part of a room. If rooms were evenly lighted all, round, the eye would never feel the glare, but when the light is all in one place, either one eye or the other suffers. When you read or sew, sit with your back toward the light, and so that the light falls over the left shoulder. If you are reading, hold your book or paper nearly on a level with your eyes, and at a distance of about twelve inches from your eyes. When you sew, hold the goods you are working on at least twelve inches from the eyes. Sewing on black goods by artificial light should be absolutely forbidden. Eeading in a recumbent position is a pernicious habit, and it is especially injurious when convalescing from- an illness or when tired, and reading in moving vehicles or trains is, injurious to all eyes. Staring to be Discouraged. Staring is a -disagreeable eye habit that should be discouraged in the be- ' ginning. It is extremely rude to stare at people whether they are strangers or acquaintances. If people wluThave the staring habit could see themselves as others see them they would be more more careful. It is extremely embarrassing to people when they find staring eyes fixed upon them. It makes them uncomfortable. The stare suggests that some article of wearing apparel is disordered, that the hair or hat is tumbling down, or that another more serious mishap is their lot. Even people who are fond of attracting special attention become fidgety under a stare. A person who is in the habit of staring at people in the street car, church, or other public place, will do the same over the dinner table, cards, or a cup of tea. Wherever they go they make

people uncomfortable. Any habit that adversely, affects others should be avoided. It is not only improper to stare at friends; but it is also impudent. You should always accord the stranger the same consideration that you would offer to a friend. The stranger of today may be the friend of to-morrow. There are also other reasons why such a practice should be avoided.. The stare mars the appearance of the whole face. The stern, set expression that accompanies it is the enemy of beauty. Notice the face of the.person who is staring, and all you will see is the stare. Even though the eyes are beautiful in colour and size, they lose every attraction by that steadfast gaze. The whole face" seems to resolve itSelf into a stare.S The mind behind it appears to wither until it becomes a blank. Unfortunately the person who ac- ' quires the habit of staring upon persons and material things soon begins to stare upon imaginary figures that are created by the mind and which do not actually • appear before the eye. This cultivates a blank expression that takes all life and beauty out of the face. It suggests absent-mindedness. There is nothing desirable that can be acquired through the stare. It is right to give every speaker the proper attention through the eye, but the attentive eye is not the staring eye. Attention will be "properly measured as long as the mind dwells upon the subject discussed. As soon as the mind wanders from that subject the eye naturally fails to exhibit interest, and staring is liable to begin. This is possibly the most disconcerting' form of staring.

The eye is a wonderful organ. It is also a weapon. It clearly mirrors what is at the back of it, if permitted to do so. It can also be made to mar or increase the beauty of the face. It can add to the comfort or discomfort of those upon whom it falls. See that the glance of wonder or surprise is not liable to become an impudent stare.