The Omaha Sunday Bee 1
ViAGA
TIM.'
iFAGE
Importance of Play and Relaxation in Producing Health and Geniuses
The Need of Recreation and
Amusement in Our Busy Amer
ican Life Demonstrated by
Science from the Frolics of
Animals, the Garden of Eden
Ideal, the Games of Ancient
Greece, the Beer Gardens of
Germany and the Lives of
Huxley and Darwin.
Prom a Lecture
By Harlow Brooks, M.D.,
Profeuor of Clinical Medicine in the New York
University.
Given In the Series of Medical Leoturea by
the Medical Society of the Borough of the
Dronx, Feb. 17, 1014.
AMONG the primitive Instincts of all ani
mal life aro those of solf-preservation,
of tho desire for food and the perpetu
ation of species.
Olalmlng a very close relationship to these
essential and Insistent vital motives is tho de
sire to play. Wo And this Instinct manifested
ta practically every grade of animal life from
the Insect up to mankind. The playfulness of
the kitten, the games of birds and even those
of reptiles axe matters of the most common
place and cert&In sctaatlflo observation. Tho
frolics of puppies, of ce-lts, of young calves and
all manner of our wild friends, but most boau
tlful of all the pranks of our own babies, are
so commonplace and so much a part and par
cel of Hfo in its happier aspects that I nood
but to recall them to you to induce you to ac
cept with me that play is Indeed an essential
and primitive part of all animal Hfo.
It Is also readily shown that in most in
stances tho plays of youth under natural con
ditions and in all grades of the soalo of evo
lution aro largoly preparatory for the sterner
obligations of adult life. The higher we as
cend in the ladder of mental and nervous do
velopments the more marked and evident does
this Instinct of ptay become and the greater its
necessity. Tou are then, I hope, prepared to
accept with me the 'axiom that play and re
laxation are a part of life itself, and since we
find no such general instinct in aature, with
out a deep and important purpose, we must
assume that in some way play Is a necessary
part of life and that as life becomes more com
plicated the necessity for It becomes the
greater.
Man's recognition of this fact gees back as
far as history, and the very earliest of "history
tells us that Adam and Eve were given one
evorlastlng holiday, and had it not been for
that very unfortunate vegetarian fad of our
first militant ancestor, it is quite probable
that we all should bo this vory day Joyfully
gamboling about some beautiful park. Instead
of considering the wherewithal shall we be
clothed and tho office for to-morrow and the
rent day of next montr,
All the groat nations of history have recog
nized the need for relaxation and recreation.
Wo see this demonstrated even by tho stern
Spartans in tholr games and by their feast
days. It is also evidenced by tho art of ancient
Greece and it is manlfestad to-day by our public
parks, concerts, art collections, athletic games
and zoological gardens. Practically every
Government, be it more or be it less paternal
In type, hao arranged for the play and relaxa
tion of Its people. The fiestas of the Latin
people, tho boor gardens and glorious muslo
of those serious-minded scientists, the Ger
mans, are but evidences of this impelling In
stinct and the necessity of Its normal gratifi
cation for the public welfare, Even our own
Government has taken cognizance of this In
structive demand, and we see it recognised In
the establishment of national playgrounds,
such as tho Yellowstono and Glacier National
Parks. Hardly now a State or a city of any
pretense but what has its Yoseralte, its Pros
pect Park, or lta Bronx Zoo.
Napoleon's greatness was no more mani
fested by his great military operations than In
his constructive establishment of art collec
tions and his encouragement of architecture
and of the numerous similar Institutions o!
France. Perhaps wo should havo oven for
gotten Great Caesar's conquests had ho not
amused himself by the writing of them down.
This is a form of amusement, however, which
I am afraid somo of you in common with my
sell may have looked upon as anything but
an Innocent occupation when we were first
attempting to describe that crucial bridge.
80 great a statesman as Patrick Henry even
gava the object of life as "the pursuit of happi
ness." -
National, State and Municipal Governments,
despotic or popular, have thus since the time of
history made the subject of play and relaxa
tion a serious study and a public care. We
hear of city opera, of State theatres, and pub
lic playgrounds. Many, If not most of these,
are designed not so much to educate as -to
amuse and to relax, and their establishment is
a recognition of that instinctive craving within
us for play and diversion, an Instinct which
then demands thoughtful attention.
In our convalescent wards at the hospitals
we have found the necessity of the visiting
quartette, of the phonograph, the books, games
and of the pictures designed to entertain and
divert. All these subjects have under such
circumstances become matters of grave study
and careful supervision. We have our pro
fessional play Instructors. Just as certain of
he birds, the partridge family for example,
have also theirs. The story-tellers of the
Romans, of tho Norsemen or those of our own
Americans, the Apackqa or tho Cpmanches.
are replaced by the trained story-tellers of our
city libraries and public schools.
But although every one must recognize these
general facts as I have stated them, how Infre
quently It Is that we hear of any person care
fully and studiously arranging for his play and
relaxation. This Is the point to which I wish
to especially call your attention this evening,
for I am convinced that there is great need
for the individual to carefully Instruct himself
in these mutters. A great medical scientist
and teacher (Dr. V. C. Vaughn) was accus
tomed to tell his students that perhaps quite
as much of success In life depended on the
fejcctlon of a hobby or form of relaxation, as in
the choice of a profession.
il
ft -IT ;
mm-', fy.
L, Beroud's Painting of the Expulsion from tho
Garden of Eden, a Story Which Embodies Man's Sub.
Conscious Conviction of the Vital Value of Relaxation
and Amusement, Says Science.
At loast n cortaln part of life should be spent
In preparation for old ago. Wo storo up monoy,
flno books, art treasures and ovon rriunaa mm
farno for our period of Bonilty. It 1b equally,
or more, important to storo up diversion and
relaxation for that poriod when tho fires of am
bition burn low and when thtf new and unac
customed fall to attract. Do any of you, know
a "more miserable extstenco than that of a onco
busy man In his old ago, when work Is no
longer possible, and when no diverting pas
times or pursuits have been cultivated to make
old age the reward and swootness that It should
bo? A happy old age, as a happy adult Hfo,
must be a busy ono, and when youth and the
summer of life havo been so spent, so tutored,
so educated as to make old ago still a busy and
ocoupiod period, it becomes as Joyful as youth
itself.
Perhaps we can most vividly bring out the
necessity to tho individual of serious consider
ation of this subjoct by first mentioning somo
Of the disadvantages of those who are not so
equipped. Professor Bryant, in a recent num
ber of Popular Sclonco, has advanced the very
probable theory that tho world-wldo inclination
to the uso of alcohol Is primarily founded on a
medtfll condition created artificially by this
drug which stimulates and perhaps roplacos
to a certain degree the normal Instinct of re
laxation and play. Psychologists tell us that
crlmo itself Is In largo part founded on a per
verted play Instinct, and is frequently but an
evidence of abnormal desire for relaxation, for
change.
Habitual criminals are Uiobo who have In
most Instances few possibilities In tho way of
natural and lnnocont play, and criminals ore
now largely treated, as Oliver Wendel Holraos
predicted, by education along theBo linos. The
fact is well recognized, I bellevo. by allBtudents
of sociology. The sinister and stern, mental
typo of thoso who view everything except
work as a vanity and doluslon is obvious to us
all. Play we will and play wo must, even
- though our play and relaxation may take on
such abnormal bents as those of drunkenness
or as tho designing of punlshmont for others,
Or even Impel one singularly doflclont In hu
manity and In sense of proportion to the Join
ing ct antl-vlvlsoction movements
All of us are familiar with persons who have
made financial or perhaps professional suc
cesses and yet whose life Is most unhappy, be
causo no diversions or outside Interests have
been cultivated. -Not Infrequently such per-
sons, though actually successful, dorlvo very
little true Joy and satisfaction from life. A
philosopher has truly said that peace, play
and real Joy cannot be purchased. Tho truost
of Joys He within the Individual himself, and
unlets the traits have been developed and
nurtured a life, no matter how materially suc
cessful, bocomos an unhappy one.
Pray do not understand me to bo an advo
cate of the Hfo of pure pleasure I entirely
agree with that old philosopher who said that
"work Is the greatest play of all," but variety
THE! ,lder' Martina were reading
In the library when they were
startled by the sound of angry
voices from the little den acroaa the
hall.
. "Fred, I believe the boya are quar
reling," exclaimed Mm. Martin, laying
down her magazine and haitlly rising
from her chair,
"Well, dear, what If they are?1 said
Martin. "It lan't our affair. Sit down.
Lucy, and let them quarrel In peace.
"Quarrel In peace! How rldleulouil
I think we ought to atop them."
"I don't. If they have a little dia
pute they should be allowed to settle
It without our Interference."
Mri. Martin reaumed her reading:,
but In a moment she waa on her feet
again.
".Vow. Lucy, alt down." aald her
husband, "and let the klda fight their
own battles. I think there's no harm
however, In our knowing what the
row la. There, listen to our eldest."
"Yes, I suppose you think you'll be
the whole thing If you queer me,"
Jack waa saying-. "Out I won't stand
for It I say you shan't go there. Do
you get met"
"I should worry. I don't think It's
any of your business where I go. I've
Copyright.
The Spartan Games, the Recognition by
is indeed tho spice of cxlstcnco, tho bass but
servos to bring out tho beauty of the upper
register of the violin or oboe. Contrast and
change aro as essential In congenial occupation
as tho mystery of tho night after tho beauty of
tho sunny day. The ono must be tho foil, the
guard of tho other. Glfford Plnchot has said
thnt "tho ono best receipt for carrying re
sponsibility easily is not to carry It all the
tlmo. The spring whose tension is never re
leased must weaken, and tho man who thinks
about nothing but work Is eventually con
sumed by it In a senso, our best work Is
dono In "our play time."
A well known Now York physician, In speak
ing of vacations and of their necessity In
modern life, has oxpressed the same. idea, but
In dlfforent words. He has said that many
mon can do twelve months' work In ten
months, but no man can long continue to do
twelve months' work in twelve months. Like
moBt habits, those of play and relaxation bo
como fixed and grooved as wo age, ovon as
do our likes and dislikes of porsons, food or
drink. Henco, the great importance of early
training In thoso directions in order that the
greatest benefits and the greatest aids for tho
future may bo provided.
I therefore particularly wish to call your
attention to-night to tho necessity for select
ing in early Hfo those pleasures or relaxa
tions which are most apt to be boneflclal in old
ago, or whon ono is most busy with the grim
necessities of Hfo. Cognizance In this respect
must bo taken of tho futuro and of tho linos
of work most likely to be pursued by the indi
vidual. Ono would not train a boy destined for
a marine career in horsemanship, or a ranch
man of our groat West In tho sport of yacht
ing or tho nrt of salt-water Ashing.
' Perhaps tho first essential to be considered
In tho selection of a hobby or method of relaxa
tion is the accessibility of that method, not
.only now but In tho probable futuro. A second
Important factor dependent upon tho first Is tho
possibility of such a mothod of relaxation re
maining open and accessible throughout life
without seriously compromising business or
The Female Scorpion Playing -with Her Young
Like a Cat with Kittens. The Same Play
Impulse, Directed Into Other Channels, Pro
duced a Darwin and a Huxley.
social necessities. This does not. of course,
mean that ono who takes up as his hobby, let
us say basoball, must therefore expect to play
A CASE OF TRESPASS
got as good a right to call on girls
as you have. Jaok Martin," returned
Fred. Jr., lustily. "You're not exactly
my boss."
"Maybe I'm not and maybe you've
sot a right to call on Klrls, even It
you haven't been In long; pants a year
yet. but I won't havo you calling on
a special friend of mine and telling
her all sorts of fool things about me."
"What have I been telling anybody,
I'd like to knowr
"You know very well that you told
Beatrice that my middle name Is
Obadlah."
"Well, Isn't It Obadlah? Did you
want nq to' tell her a Her
"I didn't want you to tell her any
thing about my middle name. It was
a nlcethlng, wasn't it. for you 'to tell,
a glrlwtth a swell name tike Beatrice
that my middle name was Obadlah?
And didn't you tell her that I had a
heart tattooed on my arm, with a
girl's Initials In It?"
"Well, what It I did? You have."
"And, moreover, 1 gathered from
something Beatrice aald thnt you had
described the time I was learning to
ewlm In Hope Lake and I thought I
was In deep water, and whin i called
for help a big girl up there told mc
to put my feet down and It was only
up to ray middle.'
"Well, then, why do you care t 1
did nil herr
"Because." Jack's voice, though
tremulous, was freighted with dig
nity "because I prefer to tell Bea
trice myself anything about my past
thi.t 1 wish her to know. I suppose
shii was very much interested, too. In
learning from you that I ran nway
from home when I was twelve to kill
bears and got only as far as Evans
ton. And I just want to know, Fred
Martin, If you had the nerve to show
Beatrlco that fool baby picture of
me?"
"What makes you think I did?"
"Because Beatrice and her cousin
Eugenie, who waa at her house last
night, said they thought that old
fashioned baby pictures were perfect
ly killing, and from the way they
laughed I felt sure they'd seen that
wretched old one of me."
"You needn't be so hot about It. I
didn't tell her it was you."
"There's no use arguing about faults
or anything. All I say Is that I won't
, have you going to call on Beatrice
and queering me. I tell you right
now, Fred Martin, that If you don't
quit I'll thrash you."
"Oh!" gasped Mrs. Martin In the li
brary. "Hush' It will be all right." mur
1914. by tho Star Company. Great Britain Bights
the Ancient Greeks of tho Play Impulse.
tho game all his life, for tho most essential
part of relaxation Is often obtained not from
tho play Itself, but from tho mental diversion
nnd interest In it, and at times quite as much
benefit may bo obtained from an active Interest
In any sport as from active participation.
A third requirement for ideal play for any
porson is that it should glvo pleasure. Without
this Important attribute tho full measure of
benofit cannot be derived from any form of
relaxation. The simple and solitary oxerclses
In a gymnasium In no way approach In bonofit
"se derived from games or competitions into
which the spirit of pleasure nnd keen interest
enter very largely. I question very much, for
example, the utility of horseback riding for
those to whom it ia no Joy, but a torture and
agony.
In general, also, those diversions which pre
sent greatest boneflt to tho individual are such
as combine with pleasure the greatest possible
change of action nnd thought from those ave
nues most accustomed in tho work-a-day life.
It may, therefore, bo observed that usually
thoso formB of play aro personally beBt which
aro most pleasant to tho Individual, unloss his
appetite in these directions has boon abnormal
ly cultivated or perverted. Tho na'tural instinct
of a brain-worker is toward those forms of
pleasure or relaxation which involve physical
exorcise. Tho professor loves his walks, his
fishing trips or his hunting excursions. On the
other hand, those who earn their daily bread
and who carry on the ordinary functions of
their life chiefly in a physical wny should
seek their relaxation more In mental directions.
Tho physical worker, for example, commonly
receives his greatest satisfaction and benefit
as to play and relaxation in reading or in some
other mental avocation. It is indeed true that
the best of play 1b oftentimes but a variety of
work or study, a change rather than a rest.
Tho benefits of play and relaxation are not
expressed only In mental terms. It is by no
means only to make us happy that wo need
play and relaxation. It fs quite as much neces
sary to make and keep us physically well. Di
verting pleasure rests and relieves the tired
and overworked mind as does sleep. U Is
noarly aa essential and quite as direct in Its
effect on the physical conditions of tho body.
Relaxation nnd play oven affect tho most
elemental of the body functions. A high blood
pressure may nt times bo quickly lowered by
tho peaceful strains of agreeable music, and
tho flagging and tired heart or muscles are
stimulated by the martial strains or tho mili
tary band. The thrill of th6 fife and the roll
or tho drum quicken the pulso and send up
blood pressuro more certainly and more prompt
ly than do strychnine or HgitallH. All of us
recognize tho delightful effects or music, prop
erly designed to Induce sleep.
The purr or the cat and night notes of the
thrush are but nature's lullabies. How fre
quently it is thnt a few pages of an interesting
or amusing book will quiet the tired, Jaded or
depressed mind and Induce good nature or
slocp much more satisfactorily than any of tho'
drugs which your doctor has in his saddle-bags
Relaxation and diverting pleasure aro better
aids to digestion than the most potent ferments
on the pharmacist's shelves. There Is no more
powerful stimulant to the appetite than con
genial frieuds nnd agrecnble conversation.
These aro indeed tho best nnd safest of cock
tails. It Is, therefore, well worth the time of any
person, who Is either busy or who expects bo to
bo, to. seriously study and consider this impor
tant problem of piny, thnt Its more satisfactory
results may assist him throughout life, which
will at tho same time become thereby more
nappy, perhaps longer and doubtless more use-
mured Martin, soothingly.
"And I'll tell you another thing."
continued the voice of the elder lad.
"I won't help you with your math or
with your Latin grammar. You can
fall in your exams for all of me and I
won't let you ride on the motorcycle
Uncle Obadlah has prcnised trie on
my birthday unless you give me your
solemn promise that you won't ever
call on Beatrice again."
"Pooh, who wants to call on her
anyway? She ain't the only girl on
the south side. Besides. I'm not dippy
over brunettes myself."
"Then you promise?"
"Sural Say. Jack. I wish you'd
give me a pointer on this problem. I
wish dad would let me cut out alge
bra." "I can show you In a Jiffy. It's
a cinch when you get a little farther.
Say, let's call up Uncle Obadlah to
morrow and ask him If he doesn't
think we'd better take a look around
at the different makes of motor
oyclos." Mrs. Martin breathed a long-drawn
algh of relief and Martin threw back
his head and laughed.
"There, my dear," he said tri
umphantly, "you see the watchful
waiting policy won out"
Reserved.
' . " '
M
Charles Darwin, the Great Scientist, Whoso
Discoveries Concerning Man's Evolution
Resulted from Satisfaction of the Play
Impulse.
Probably the most generally desirable single
method or play or relaxation is reading. This
Is particularly true because tho character of lino
reading may be readily adapted to tho particu
lar likes or needs of the Individual. I know a
great mathematician, ono of tho greatest that
this country has produced, whose chief relaxa
tion, now that physical Infirmities have cu off
his customary physical pleasures, lis the read
ing of detective stories. Another man, whose
excursions have barely led him beyond tho
borders of New York, has made himseir, by
reading during his few hours of relaxation, an
authority on polar exploration. Hia name has
becomo a frequent ono in the geography of both
the Far North and of the Far South, nnd he has
been one of the greatest sources of,encourage
ment to many intrepid men who have actually
carried out tho field work ot these arm-chair,
excursions. No matter what line of work a
man may. do, rending, once the habit has been
formed, adds to his efficiency und work, and
at tho same time In itself affords for him at
least , a certain measure or relaxation and an
Increased Interest In both his vocation and in
his avocation.
Nature studies aro possible1 for nearly every
man who has even a few hours . weekly tq
.spend out-of-doors. An acquaintance of mine,
a buslrfess man, who commuted for domestic
reasons, adopted tho study ot tho bird life of
the bay on hi3 trips to and from Staten Island.
He has derived much pleasure and benefit
from his study, and it has proven so Interesting'
that his SundayH and holidays aro spent In a
similar manner, all without the loss of an hour
rrom his business. Another friend, whose busi
ness connections prevented his taking a vaca
tion far from the city, similarly occupied him
self with the bird lt& about his suburban
home. When, during the Winter season, he
moved to the city, he found the birds or Cen
tral Park quite sutflclent to pleasantly occupy
hi3 spare time. Shortly his descriptions and
hls photographs of this apparently narrow and
circumscribed subject becomo so Important
that tho lesser matter of business has come
to be replaced by his play, which has contrib
uted much to tho pleasure of all of us and to
real science
So we might go on Indefinitely. Nearly all
the great geographical discoveries have been
made by men who first In tholr regular life
took up geography as a relaxation or side lino
of study. An Indifferent theological student
has becomo Vladmir Stoffansen. Robert Peary
deserted engineering problems for the discov
ery of the North Pole and for his invaluablo
contributions to the geography of the Far
North.
To bo a play of staying powers, one which
Insts, the game must possess something more
than mere entertaining qualities. One soon
tires of suoh a sport, and the relaxation which
really Insts and endures uplifts almost without
exception. Such is music, and more than infre
fluently thlB relaxation has become a contribu
tion of great men to mankind for all time.
The love of the open and or nature has given
the world Darwin and Huxley, who might per
1. rs have otherwlso been barkeepers or clerks
'n "Kilns' furnishing store. Boys who would
rather roam the woods and ply the seven seas
than confine themselves In the office or school
ropm havo produced men like Hornaday and
Daniel Board. Tho love of tho heautlful has
given us Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt and Rodin,
it. made a soldier or Florenco Michael Angelb.
The restless energy and love or the rougher
side or nature In Lieutenant Pike gava America
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, and tho
desire1 for the thrills of adventure in Lewis.
Clarko and Fremont gave us the Great West,
In fact, there can be but little question that
the choico of an avocation leads not In
frequently to a happy and most useful voca
tion. The following or a pleasurable bent or
dlvorslon on the part ot a normal Individual is
a tendency toward progress Jn the world, and
the natural rollowlng out or such an Instinct
rarely leads to anything other than good things,
happiness not only for the individual but ror
man. Happiness is perhaps correctly defined
as mental health and without It mere physical
health Is incomplete and unsatisfactory.
For most or us. however, it Is not to follow our
avocations as callings, but as methods to an
end and not, as in some of the cases which I
have mentioned, the great objective Itself Tho
valuo of any drug or person or method in this
age of eMciency must be measured by tho re
sults produced. Let u8 recall then some or tho
direct results or diversions In everyday lire
Whether we will or not we must haye diver
slops, and ir these be deliberately chosen and
well cultivated they become as Mends and
obedient servants; whereas. It we allow them
to choose us or to direct us. they become our
masters and often a detriment to true hannl
nesB and progress, as exemplified in alcoholism,
in the craze for gambling, in the cronlo grouch
the muck-raker or bilious reformer. 6,uucu
The benefits of relaxation are by no man
limited by what it gives to us in itielf. een 1 In
pleasure, health and uplift After the Slav
comes n return to work, with renewed
and refresh,,! body. Relaxation and play ma?
be well looked upon s a preparation for work
ami they are to be clnss l the same Mght
sleep and food. None of our old savings are
more true or pertinent than that "All work and
no play make3 Jack a dull boy." PUy Is ?
to be looked upon as a luxury, but as I n-M
slty. and as ruch Its selection I8 indeed ent1ti;
to quite ns much serious thought and cS
education as in the choice and nrenarMn ,ful
life's most serious work. Preparation for