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IIaqenio Noksexsk,
peace and prosperity reigns; where barba
rism ami the shedding of blood is known
only through the dim vistas of departed
ugo where angels might love to dwell,
and upon which heaven looks with an
approving smile, bidding the inhabitants
of this our own beloved country to stand
forth as a model and an example before
the world. J. O. S.
UYQBNIQ NONSENSE.
It is a custom for many persons to lay
down arbitrary rules winch aio equally
applicable, as they evidently assert, to all
persons. Especially is this observable in
the conduct of many would-be hygenie
reformers. They prescribe certain rules,
relating to diet, sleep, and other functions
of the body, and if we would place in
these the credence which is claimed for
them, wo would not fail to be convinced
that however much they may contradict
what instinct and common sense tell us is
right and proper on the subjects of which
Ihcy treat, wo must now sludiouxly obey
them or sull'er the direst penalties for
their infraction. If we look at their rules
relating to diet, we lliicl that there are but
lew articles in the whole vegetable king
dom that have not been denounced as in
jurious; but as to what should and should
not be eaten, the doctors alas! for the
imperfection of human knowledge dis
agree. One prescribes Graham bread, telling
us thai that made from bolted Hour is in
digestible and innutritions; another as
sens that graham bread is composed
largely of hulls, and that said hulls im
itato the coats of the alimentary canal,
aud so arc highly injurious.
Take pork as another instance. It is
declared to be as unlit for us as it was for
the Jews, the source of an untold amount
of ill health; in short, that it stands to
reason that it must be unwholesome gen
erally. Now, while we will not state
whether we hold the commodity in high
esteem or not, we have known many peo
ple', and old people at that, who arc stur
dy advocates as well as consumers of it :
who say that they have suffered no ill ru
suits from its use, and whom ayo hav
found no reason to disbelieve.
Lot us consider one more instance: that
of sleep. Wo are told that we should all
rise early, and in support of this proposi
tion various sayings are quoted; such as,
" Early to bed and early .to rise makes a
man healthy and wealthy and wise,"
" The early bird catches the worm," etc.
But these, like many other proverbs, must
bo taken with some limitation. No doubt
the theory is correct so far as most people
are concerned, but that docs not make it a
safe rule for all to follow, by any means.
Some persons rise early, are then bright
and active, but by sundown grow dull and
sleepy, and soon after retire. TJiey be
lieve that it is boat for them to rise early,
and so it is. Hut otliers.unfortunatcly for
the theory, are differently coiiMitutcd.
They are often aroused before d -a break
by loud-mouthed yells from the ' :arly
birds," but, being told by instinct lli.it it
is not yet time for lliom to get up, slum
her a while longer. Such ones rise late,
and although they arc less clear-headed
and active in the forenoon than later in
the day, yet when the late risers begin to
doze, they are as bright and active as are
the former ones when they bustle about at
daybreak. They do not feel the need 01
retiring us early as the former class, yet
they require as much sleep, and late rising
is for them perfectly proper.
The philosophy of the whole matter is
this: there exists a great diversity in the
natural condition, habits and customs ot
different persons, and therefore a like di
versity in their requirements. This fact
is recognized in the adage, " What is one
man's meat is another man's poison." It
is, doubtless, a wise provision of the Cre
ato.i that this diversity exists; and for one
to claim that all people should be gov
erned be hygenic rules of his own make
up, shows not only a profound ignorance
of what he professes to treat, but great
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