THE STRATFORD MIRROR Friday, April 20, 1945. _ Modern Doctors Say No To Strenuous Living It's probably an exaggeration to say that all the world loves a loafer, but nearly everybody loves to quote the famous Chauncey Depew --as famous for his wit as for his sedentary way of life -- who once said he took absolute- ly no exercise except to act as pall- bearer for his friends who did. Even in the lofty precincts of the medical profession there are smiles of approval for Depew's comment. Phy- sicians will go far enough out on a limb to say that it is difficult, if not downright impossible, to improve upon that ancient formula for creative liv- ing--work balanced with play and adequate rest. They emphasize ade- quate rest as the vital distinction be- tween a full, happy life and one that is merely strenuous. The latter ig- nores rest as a sheer waste of time. Little wonder, therefore, that doc- tors lend an impatient ear to the exe- cutive who boasts that he has "worked hard and played hard" all his life. "Take it easy," they warn. "Be a good little Greek and adopt modera- tion in all things. Relax, get some rest." : _ Of course, if the heart is set on early liquidation -- on a short and merry life -- then nothing succeeds like ex- cess. The results of a strenuous life may range from untold wealth to hypertension, from astounding fame to stomach ulcers -- but seldom lon- gevity and happiness. Shakespeare may have had the strenuous life in mind when he referred to "vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other side."' And what else could have prompted Carl Hub- bell of the New York Giants to ob- serve that this is an age of hurry-up people? 3 Hurry Breeds Panic "T've seen motor car drivers who in- sist on being the car," he said. "On a long hill they lean forward, jaws set, muscles strained. Racing cars and airplanes aren't driven by tense, hur- ried men, but by calm and skilful ones. Looking at life from a pitcher's box, I don't think we have to break our necks to keep it up. If I should let the yells of the grandstand panic me into hasty action, I'd get tense and shoot wild. And life is that way, too, I guess." Life, as Mr. Hubbell says, is precise- ly that way. Working hard seldom hurt anyone. But working hard under strain and tension, without adequate periods of relaxation, will eventually get even a superman down. It is customary for the reader at this point to observe that a long life and a happy one do not necessarily synchronize. Nor, for that matter do a long life and a healthy one. And neither, when you come to think of it, do health and happiness. And the reader is absolutely right. Robert Louis Stevenson never en- joyed good health. He was ailing all through the years of his marvelous literary production. Nevertheless he wrote constantly, for writing was the breath of life to him, and he wrote with the vigor of a man enjoying a surplus of vitality. He had learned how to relax and conserve his pitiful- ly small quota of energy. Yet his working credo was boldly aggressive. "For surely the love of life is stronger in an Alpine climber roping over a peril, or a hunter riding merrily at a stiff fence, than in a creature who lives upon a diet and walks a meas- ured distance in the interest of his constitution. Stevenson hoarded his energy only because he wanted to squander it upon his work. That, after all, is probably the most sensible reason for seeking to attain good health and longevity. Neither in itself is a completely satisfying goal. -Nor does the combination guarantee | happiness. There are plenty of human vegetables who have been living in a state of unhappy old-fogyism for years. ("Old fogyism," said William James, "begins at a younger age than we think. I am almost afraid to say so, but I believe that in the majority of human beings it begins at about 25.") This is not to say that good health and longevity are unimportant to the attainment of happiness. They are !very important. They provide time and energy for accomplishing our aims, for realizing whatever our ness is peculiar to our individual de- sires and ideals. Leaders in all ages have followed their own programs of healthful living -- usually based on nature's formula of work balanced with play and rest -- in order to give the best to their work. Voltaire al- ways ate alone, completely relaxed, because conversation excited him physically and impaired his digestive process. Edison's insatiable appetite for work inspired the myth that he never slept. He may never have had the prosaic habit of going to bed, but he most certainly restored his energy with adequate rest, for he had a cot in his office for short naps. Old Age Creative Period "When a man is old," said Goethe, "he must do more than when he is young." The creative workers of the world have been completely addicted to that idea -- Victor Hugo, Galileo, Herbert Spencer, Handel, Corot -- the list is endless. Corot, at the age of 77 wistfully said: "If the Lord lets me live two years longer, I think I can paint something beautiful." The old man who pursues creative activity often accomplishes his best work in the closing chapter of his life. He has found new reservoirs of energy. Bal- anced living has been his secret.--By Stanley Caldwell in Saturday Night. A Young Man Steps Out For Himself One of the things we all like to see is a young man succeeding -- there is something rather exhilarating about it and in a community it shows progress. Ten years ago Charles W. Kelly came to Stratford to manage the local office of The Tait Optical Co. of Lon- don, which was then located at 83 On- tario St. In a few years Mr. Kelly had succeeded so well he had the company move to its present well-appointed quarters at 42 Wellington St. Mr. Kelly is an active citizen and a prominent member of the Lions' Club, as well as St. James' Anglican Church. He also plays golf at the Country Club, and from what we hear, he can boast a good high score. The Mirror joins with a host of friends in wishing Mr. Kelly every success in this forward step. A TOURISTS' LODGE $13,000 TOURISTS' LODGE, a 1942 CHEV- ROLET SEDAN, % other prizes-- 75 prizes, totalling $20,000, or the equivalent in Victory Bonds. Mail this "ad" with ONE DOLLAR sub- scription to "The Kamloops Memor- ial Recreational Society," 359 Vic- toria Street, Kamloops, B.C. Pro- ceeds to be used to erect a Recrea- tional Centre for our returning Vet- erans and the citizens of this dis- trict. Date of drawing to be an- nounced in the press. Don't delay! Act now! WIN 71-45 CDS. Paste Floor Waxes Aids for your spring cleaning! &atonia 1 Ib. 2 |b. 95c Phone 2500 49¢c DELTA WAX - 1-Ib. tin 24¢ CHAN WAX - 1-Ib. tin 59¢ Basement "There's a boy called John Simpson working here. May I see him? I'm his grandfather." ; "You've just missed him. He's gone to your funeral. Smith--"What would you say is the most effective factor for redistribut- ing wealth?" Jones--"From my own experience, I'd say wives, daughters and sons!" A colored maid was asked if she was going to hang up any mistletoe at Christmas. "Not me," she replied. "deed I isn't. I got too much pride to advertise for de ordinary cou'tesies a Those Old Shoes May last a long time after we have repaired them. We repair Rubbers and put on good Rubber Heels. GEO.WELCH SHOE REPAIR 146 St. Patrick Tel. 1998w lady have a right to expect." STARTS MONDAY MEET _asTOr Allso ON THE SAME PROGRAM- Garland wr» Margaret OBrien, yrecnmenr ME IN ST.LOUIS -- Marjorie a ae -- CROSBY HOPE SINATRA -- GRABLE in "ALL-STAR BOND RALLY"