THE FOOL-KILLER AND HIS MISSION. 133 



In physical matters. Touch of wrong-doing heavy 

 on little children. Nature destroys children of fools. 

 Illustrations. Touch apparently lighter in the flush 

 times of youth, the strength of early manhood ; grows 

 heavier as our reserve fund fails, till finally the slight- 

 est draft will put out the light. 



The fool-killer and the student. Sleep : Night study. 

 The " bright moment that comes after midnight." 

 Bryan's words. Eyesight : Reading on the cars or in 

 poor light. Stimulants : Deceive the nervous system. 

 Every trick deranges delicate organisms. Wine. To- 

 bacco. Coffee. Tea. Opium. 



Beautiful fumes of burning nerves. Seeing stars. 

 The great calm thinkers from Plato to Emerson did 

 not write at midnight, nor over absinthe nor strych- 

 nine. 



Every stimulus that hides fatigue comes from the 

 fool-killer. The poetry of stimulants ; the literature 

 of pessimism. Tonics. Nerve foods. Strychnine. 

 Sleep potions. "Bromides lead to Bromism, the loss 

 of mental grip." Strength comes through action. 

 Keep blood flowing. " Do not burn candle at both 

 ends ; not too much at either end." " Pleasures are 

 like poppies spread." 



Youthful folly. Sowing wild oats spoils ground for 

 better crops. Fool-killer's record on every face. No 

 gallantry in Nature. Woman, perhaps, should be un- 

 touched by the fool-killer ; she is not. What woman's 

 faces show. Penalties for tight-lacing, idleness, dissi- 

 pation, foolish eating all exacted. 



Keep up your reserve and keep your functions act- 

 ive where they bring in good interest. Intellectual 



