636 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



Depressed mental states have an involuntary restrictive effect upon 

 all the vital processes. To be "blue" or sad or despondent is to have 

 the breathing, the circulation and the innervation of the body less 

 than normal — the latter to such an extent that not enough nervous 

 energy is sent to the muscles to give them tone and vigor. The result 

 is, the muscles are unduly relaxed, the chest sinks, the head droops 

 and the feet and legs drag. One must summon the will to the rescue. 

 The inert muscles and heavy body must be energized and invigorated, 

 The very effort made in thus "taking oneself in hand" and holding 

 the body bravely erect, affects the mental state wholesomely. Cour- 

 age begins to replace despondency. Again, when everything is topsy- 

 turvy and one's feelings are correspondingly crisscross instead of cloud- 

 ing the day with irritability, or grieving some one by an angry word 

 or unkind tone, just try a simple physical culture remedy. Stand 

 perfectly still for a full minute. Breathe full and deep. Let go the 

 tension in the muscles, loosen the hard-set jaw, smooth out the forehead 

 frown. "Let go" physically and the mental let-go will follow. 



Everyone admires a woman who is reposeful. A well poised woman 

 has greater efficiency and a greater power over others. Repose may 

 be gained momentarily, as is elsewhere suggested in the bulletin, by 

 stretching the muscles or yawning. 



When things seem to be going all wrong and r/e have begun to take 

 a solemn attitude toward everyday incidentals, the habit of working 

 the muscles into a smile or a laugh will bring a comfortable inward feeling 

 which really means inward happiness. We generally laugh because 

 we are glad, but psychologists tell us we will be glad because we laugh; 

 and if the more natural method of laughing because we are glad has 

 been neglected, it may be well to learn to be glad because we laugh. I 

 knew one woman who had a habit when there was forewarning of a 

 domestic storm to relax the muscles of her face into a smile, and even 

 to laugh heartily. This may have been a nervous reaction, but it 

 worked like a charm upon the family and the children knew that when 

 the mother's sides were shaking, discord would be disarmed. 



HOW TO USE THE BODY. 



The backbone; its great importance in the right use of the body. — Few 

 of us appreciate how much our health, strength and endurance, how much 

 ease in work and youthfulness of figure, depend upon the backbone. 

 When this wonderful twenty-four jointed bone is in its natural position 

 it forms a double curve (Fig. 5). This double-curved line is the line 



