A Book for To-day.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 26, 1 August 1897, Page 2

A Book for To-day.

POWER THROUGH REPOSE. By Annie Payson Call. Among the many factors which make for the advancement and development of women perhaps none may be accounted greater than the desire for physical well-being Coincident with the struggle for female citizenship and educational advantages has been the realisation that these blessings can only be possessed in conjunction with a fair measure of bodily vigour. The fashionable woman no longer boastfully sighs over her physical frailty and helplessness; rather do we hear of her feats in the world of sport. And

the thoughtful, conscientious mother has come to recognise in bodily health one of the greatest blessings nature can bestow. No effort will she spare that her daughters may be less handicapped in the race of life than she herself has been. To this end she gives herself to the scientific study of food, dress, and exercise, endeavouring to overcome hereditary influences. But while devoting time to the cultivation of physical strength, it is equally important that we learn to rightly direct and conserve the force already possessed And this truth is really the theme of the book before me. In some sixteen short chapters the writer directs our attention to the power to be gained for both mind and body simply through repose. As much attention should be paid to the avoidance of strain, in all things, great and small, as to the de. velopment of muscular strength. The muscles are guided by means of the nerves, therefore out first object should be a training lor the better use of the nervous force. Our nerves are tired and worn out with misuse. Even when we seek 44 Nature's calm restorer ” many of us do not rest. 44 We hold ourselves on the bed instead of letting the bed hold us.” 44 Oar limbs are contracted, our fingers clinched, our teeth set, our face and throat muscles drawn one way or the other.” Clearly in such case we are not resting. “ There is no better way of learning to overcome these perversions in sleep than to study the sleep of a wholesome little child.” First “ let go of the muscles.” So with other foin sof rest. 44 Do you hold you'self on th\ chair or does the chair hold you * ” Much of the fatigue, too, caused by railway travelling or driving conies from this same strain—an unconscious effort to carry the train or carnage instead of allowing the same to carry as, or of resisting the motion instead of yielding to it. 44 The strain

which comes from an hour's nervous waiting when simply to let yourself alone and keep still would answer much better, is often equal to a day s labour.” After treating of the various ways in which we drift into nervous prostration, simply through a useless expenditure of force in matters physical, the writer calls attention to the misdirection of nervous energy in brain work. “ Most of us think with the throat contracted, . . . . the tongue held firmly, or the jaw muscles set. Each has his own favourite tension in the act of meditation .... The same superfluous tension may be observed in one engaged in silent reading. It is certainly clear that for pure, unadulterated thinking only the brain is needed, and if vital force is given to other parts of the body to nold them in unnatural contraction we not only expend it extravagantly but we rob the brain of its own.” So in listening attentively, only the ears and the brain are needed. Instead of being tired after listening to good music we should feel refreshed. 44 Yet so accustomed have we become to disobeying Nature’s laws that the general impression 3eems to be that music cannot be enjoyed without a strained attitude interna: and external. On the contrary, it is much more exquisitely enjoyed and appreciated in Nature’s way. If the nerves are free they will catch the rhythm of the music.” So, too, is it with die eyes. In a picture gallery, for instance, 44 we should not go out too far to meet the pictures, but be quiet and let the piclues co* - to u^. In ;he cnapters on 44 The brain in its direction of the body ” and “ 1 he direction of the body in locomotion ” the author dwells on the unnecessary force expended when talking, “either iuaimless motions oi the body r t in a certain rigidity of carriage, v/nicu te-ils as powerfully in the vwr and tear of the nervous system as superfluous motion.

Talking should be with the vocal apparatus only, and with such easy motions as may be needed to illustrate the words. “ In this change, so far from losing animation, a woman gains it, and gains true expressive power, for all unnecessary motion of the body in talking simply raises a dust, so to speak, and really blurs the true thought of the mind and feeling of the heart.” The throat, too, frequently suffers from this tension, the voice being forced from it rather than from its proper place—the stronger muscles of the diaphragm. When sewing, the pain in the back of the neck, and the weariness at the waist, etc., result from the fact that the neck and waist muscles have been unnecessarily brought into play. So, too, with writing, there is frequently the same useless tension in either jaw, throat, or tongue—sometimes in one, sometimes in all. Walking is commonly far more tiring than it should be, simply from the fact that we are constantly interfering with nature. 44 Women—partly owing to their dress—seem to hold themselves together as if fearing that having once given their muscles free play they would fall to pieces entirely. Rather than move easily forward, and for fear they might tumble to pieces, they shake their shoulders and hips from side to side, hold their arms perfectly rigid trom the shoulders down.” In the chapter on “ Nervous Strain in pain and sickness ” Mrs Call exhorts her readers not to brace themselves to bear pain by clinching the fists and tightening all the other muscles. “ Let go” is still her dictum. The reaction will be so much the less-drop the muscular tension and so the nervous strain. The chapter on 44 Nervous Strain in the Emotions” is worthy the careful attention of those who have charge of young girls. 44 Anyone who knows girls feels deeply the terrible harm

which comes to them in the weakening of their delicate nervous system through morbid emotional excitement. . . . 4 Look oat not in ; look up, not down; lend a hand,’ is the motto that must be followed to cure or prevent nervous prostration.” Then we are directed to Nature’s teaching the quiet power in all Nature, the absolute rest in season, and then the full action when the time for change rolls round. The chapters on 44 Training for Rest ” and “Training for Motion” will be found a helpful study. With one sentence from that on “Mind Training” I must content myself: 44 Quickness and keenness of sense are gained only in proportion to the power of quiet: ag the senses not in use and erasing piev'ous impressions upon the sense which is active at the time.” L.M.S.