In a shoe factory I was once shown an attachment to the
sewing and other machines which caused the machine to stop
whenever its work was done. When one button-hole was made the
mechanism paused until it was given another task to do, so
that no power was wasted, and no useless wear permitted. And
the superintendent said: “That little iron ‘trick’ cost us two
hundred dollars, but it saves us thousands of dollars every year
in wear and tear of machinery and in attendance. It enables
one operator to take care of two, three, and sometimes more
machines.” Here, at least, is a hint that is intelligible and
available to us all. How much longer would our youth stay by us
if we had this life-saving attachment affixt; if we could only
stop when a given task is done; if we did but apply ourselves
but once to the one thing. (Text.)--VYRNWY MORGAN, “The
Cambro-American Pulpit.”
(870)
* * * * *
We--at least persons who have passed middle age--have only a
certain amount of reserve force, and all that we draw upon in
hurries is abstracted from that which should be distributed
through the remainder of life. The secret of longevity is
probably skill in so economizing the reserve of vital energy
as to make it last out an unusual period. Persons who begin
unusual exercises in youth may adapt their constitutions to the
habit, and may thereby hold on to their full term of life; but
this can not be done safely if one waits till mature age before
beginning.--_Public Opinion._
(871)
=Economy of Healthful Foods=--See HEALTH, ECONOMICS OF.