EDITORIAL AND GENERAL 



377 



"RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT." 



The oldest and the youngest (Almira J. Hoyt) at 

 The Soldiers' Home. 



Don't Worry — Work. 



The above heading is a fitting motto 

 for all our readers to tie to. Those who 

 worry much have but little time for any- 

 thing else. The time so spent is wasted, 

 for along with worry goes a spirit of 

 pessimism, discouragement, downheart- 

 edness, and usually a lack of ambition. 



Where worry constantly enters into 

 the routine of daily life, the slough of 

 despondency broadens daily unless filled 

 at once with sunshine before it grows 

 broad and deep beyond all hope of filling. 



Worry prevents effective work no 

 matter what the occupation may be. If 

 we are given to introspection and worry 

 and allow this habit to grow, our days 

 of usefulness will be shortened and we 

 will prove of little aid to those about us. 



In the first instance it is useless to 

 worry because we can correct the trou- 

 ble in some way and then there will be 

 nothing to worry about. Where we can 

 help matters the thing to do is to get 

 busy and remove the cause, as we are 



wasting valuable time in concerning our- 

 selves about those matters over which 

 we have no control. 



If we cannot change conditions that 

 cannot be helped, it is manifestly useless 

 to worry about them. It, therefore, 

 rests with ourselves to eliminate this 

 kind of worry, for no amount of anxiety 

 can alter the situation. 



It is therefore only the first condition 

 of things about which we need to con- 

 cern ourselves. "Know thyself" is a 

 pretty good axiom to cling to. Where 

 people have the worry habit, the thing 

 for them to do is to turn the search light 

 direct on themselves and try and deter- 

 mine where the fault lies. It may not 

 be possible to cure the worry habit in a 

 day or even longer, but worrying one's 

 self into a frenzied condition of mind 

 simplv means unarming one's self to 

 grapple with the perplexities of life. 



The one who is worrying should find 

 some deviation from his or her routine 

 of dailv duties and in some different 

 work find relief. A hobby is a good 

 thing to tie to, if it is the right kind of 

 a hobby. Reading helpful literature is 

 a good panacea. Attention to the family 

 and to helping others, or the doing of 

 something that will take the mind off 

 the things that are perplexing, is the safe 

 way out. 



Strive to cultivate a cheerful disposi- 

 tion. Spend the spare time among 

 people who are cheerful. We should 

 keep out the rays of worry that creep 

 into the wellsprings of the heart ana 

 let in the sunshine of optimism. If an 

 opportunity passes do not worry about 

 it; look for another one. 



Work kills worry, just try it once 

 and see if it doesn't. Life is short at the 

 np c t : we should not shorten it by worry. 

 We should aim to eliminate, as far as 

 possible, those things that cause worry. 

 We should arm ourselves by keeping in 

 good phvsical condition to better meet 

 the aggravations of life, ever remember- 

 ing that there will come across our path- 

 way of life things that are not to our 

 liking. We should be philosophical. If 

 we lose in one place grab hold some- 

 where else. Be an optimist, fill your 

 soul with faith and hope, look at the 

 bright side and shun the dark. "Don't 

 worry — work. " — Successful Farming. 



