Quit Your Worrying!

ly to the Occidental world. It is a modern disease, prevalent only among the so-called civilized peoples. There

th, our powers of enjoyment, our spontaneity, our mental vigor, our spirituality, and the exuberant radiance of our life-bodil

n the mud-flats of the commonplace. Ten thousand men and women can now read where ten alone read a few centuries ago. But what are the ten thousand reading? That which will elevate, improve, benefit? See the piles of sensational yellow novels,

even, to be cynical o

mental pabulum that

t we are making vast

and dignify

on, their hair, its color, glossiness, quantity, how it should be dressed, and a thousand and one things that clearly reveal the improper emphasis placed upon them. I do not wish to ignore the basic facts behind these anxious questionings. It is right and proper that women (and men also) should give due attention to their physical appearance. But when it becomes a mere matter of the outward show of cosmetics, powders, rouges, was

rance and compels its victim to a performance. Only a thorough awakening can shake such nightmares off, and comparatively few have any desire to be awakened. I have watched such victims and they arouse in me both laughter and sadness. One is sure her hair is not the proper color to match her complexion and eyes. It must be dyed. Then follows the worries as to what dye she shall use, and methods of application. Invariably the results produce worry, for they are never satisfactory, and now she is worried while dressing, while eating, and when she goes

ear, or some equally foolish and nonsensical thing. Some wish to be taller, others not so tall; quite an army seeks to be thinner and another of equal numbers desires to be stouter; some wish they were blondes, and others that they were brunettes. The r

e "out of fashion," "a back number," gives them "a conniption fit." An out-of-date hat, or shirt-waist, jacket, coat,

no! If the worry and effort accomplished anything, I would be the last to deprecate it, but observation and experience have taught me that the more you yield to these demons of

e any changes worth while. Fix upon the habits of dress, etc., that good sense tells you are reasonable and in accord with your age, your position and your purse, and then follow them regardless of the fashion or the prevailing style. You know as well as I that, unless you are a nea

at harsh and rough, it is pretty near the truth. If you spent one-tenth the amount of energy seeking to put something into your head that you s

, and, therefore, a source of distress, discontent, and worry. A careless or lazy plumber causes much worry, for, even though his victims may have learned the lesson I am endeavoring to inculcate throughout these pages, it is a self-evident proposition that they wil

. The teacher never nags the careful and earnest student; only the lazy and ca

e is a wise person who, as early as he discovers these vices

duty. Dickens, in his immortal Pickwick Papers, gives a forceful example of this type. Mr. Magnus has

the hostler, 'Coach is

ggage in?' in

right

e red

right

e strip

boot

brown-pap

the sea

leathern

e all i

get up?' sai

wick, I cannot consent to get up in this state of uncertainty. I am quit

is head, he felt a solemn presentiment, first, that the red bag was mislaid, and next, that the striped bag had been stolen, and then that the brown-paper parcel had become untied. At length when he had received ocular dem

conversation was filled up by Mr. Magnus's "loudly expressed anxiety respecting the s

or attention to detail that is required; and to superiors, it is a sure sign of incompetency. Experience demonstrates that such an one is incapable of properly directing any great enterprise. Men must be trusted if you would bring out their capacities. Their work should be specifically laid out before them; that is, that which is required of them; not, necessarily, in minute detail, but the general results that

one studies the worries referred to, he is compelled to see the great truth of the proverb, "More of our worries come from within than from without." In other words,