INJURIOUS INFLUENCES OF CITY LIFE. 489 



cussions accumulate, and after a time concur with other causes in 

 producing that state of disability called nervous exhaustion. An 

 observant man may see on one side of any stone or brick sidewalk 

 in the city wherever there is soft ground near by, a well-worn 

 path which will be instinctively chosen by pedestrians. If we test 

 ourselves we shall find the chief reason of our choice is because it 

 jars us less to walk there than upon stones and bricks. 



Most healthy men endure these concussions for a long time 

 without very serious effects, while others who suffer from them 

 are entirely restored by enforced rest, provided the circulation be 

 at the same time maintained. It is not improbable that some of 

 the long cobweb-like processes of the nerve-cells are damaged by 

 being shaken for months and years over city pavements. 



Statistics upon such a matter are almost out of the question 

 where insufficient exercise, noise, and jarring of the nerve-centers 

 combine with other influences to overthrow the individual or to 

 lessen his productive powers. 



If it be then injurious to some to walk daily for years upon 

 stones and bricks, and less so upon earth or softer material, this 

 can be remedied in two ways. First, by changing the material of 

 our sidewalks to a more elastic one. Something is needed for 

 ■pedestrians which will be durable, yet not hard. Some of the 

 varieties of asphalt composition are elastic, but none of them 

 sufficiently durable, as far as I know. 



Nature suggests a remedy in a second way, in the covering of 

 the human heel itself where we find a very elastic pad one half an 

 inch thick, to lessen the jar of walking. If we replace the per- 

 fectly hard boot-heel by an elastic India-rubber one, we provide 

 an inexj)ensive and practical remedy, which it would cost the 

 wearer but a few cents a month to keep in repair. This cover has 

 the additional advantage of lessening the noise of hurrying feet, 

 and preventing broken bones in the winter season. If now our 

 city authorities will, at some future time, provide gymnasia as 

 well as libraries and parks, make our large towns quiet as well as 

 clean, and give us sidewalks more like Mother Earth, we believe 

 such a favored community will produce more, and lead collectively 

 a happier life, than most of our modern towns. 



ARGTrMENTS in behalf of Sunday observance, based upon grounds of religion 

 or custom, or even upon the desire of certain classes of people to have one day 

 of quiet, are not usually eflfective with those to whom they need to be addressed, 

 for they care but little for these things. It may be a more potent argument that 

 the conversion of Sunday into a day of pleasure is likely to injure those who 

 work hard during the week, by forcing or tempting them to work on Sunday as 

 well. There is no doubt as to the increase of Sunday labor during recent years, 

 and it is very largely attributable to the increase of Sunday amusements. 



