DEPRESSION’S CURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20058, 15 March 1935, Page 10

DEPRESSION’S CURE

LETTER TO A LONELY WOMAN Over 100 years ago depression, evidently, was as much a subject of discussion as it has been recently. And so Sydney Smith wrote a letter about its cure to a very lovely lady, upon whom a state bordering on intense ennui and mental exasperation had descended with untimely force. We wonder what our readers of today will think of Sydney Smith’s suggestions.

The depressed one is to eat—as good food as is suitable; to plunge under a shower bath of coldish water; to read amusing books; and to take short views of human life—not farther than dinner or tea! To be as busy as she can; To see as much as she can of friends who respect and like her, and acquaintances who amuse her. She is also to compare her own lot with other people’s, and to do good and endeavour to please everybody of every degree;

To be as much in the open air as possible without fatigue; To make her sitting-room gay and pleasant; To struggle little by little against idleness;

To do herself justice, nor to be too severe upon herself; To keep up good blazing fires in cold weather; To be firm and constant in her religious faith.