Thus, instead of interfering with nature, we are doing all in our power to aid her; and when nature and the invalid work in harmony, health comes on apace.

When illness brings much pain and discomfort with it, the endeavor to relax out of the contractions caused by the pain, are of the same service as dropping contractions caused by the fretting.

If one can find a truly wise doctor, or nurse, in such an illness as I refer to, get full instructions in just one visit, and then follow those directions explicitly, only one visit will be needed, probably, and the gain from that will pay for it many times over.

This article is addressed especially to those who are now in health.

It is perhaps too much to expect one in the midst of an illness to start at once with what we may call the curative attitude, although it could be done, but if those who are now well and strong will read and get a good understanding of this healthy way of facing an illness, and get it into their subconscious minds, they will find that if at any time they should be unfortunate enough to be attacked with illness, they can use the knowledge to very real advantage, and—­what is more—­they can, with the right tact, help others to use it also.

To see the common sense of a process and, when we have not the opportunity to use the laws ourselves, to help others by means of our knowledge, impresses our own brains more thoroughly with the truth, especially if our advice is taken and acted upon and thus proved to be true.

It must not be forgotten, however, that to help another man or woman to a healthy process of getting well requires gentle patience and quiet, steady, unremitting tact.

CHAPTER X

Is Physical Culture good for Girls?

A NUMBER of women were watching a game of basket-ball played by some high-school girls.  In the interim for rest one woman said to her neighbor:  “Do you see that girl flat on her back, looking like a very heavy bag of sand ?”

“Yes,” the answer was; “what under the sun is she doing that for?  She looks heavy and lazy and logy, while the other girls are talking and laughing and having a good time.”

“You wait and watch her play,” responded the first woman.  And so they waited and watched, and to the astonishment of the friend the girl who had looked “lazy and logy,” lying flat on her back during the rest-time, was the most active of the players, and really saved the game.

When the game was finished the woman said to her friend with surprise in her voice:  “How did you see through that, and understand what that girl was aiming for?”

The answer was:  “Well, I know the girl, and both she and I have read Kipling’s ‘The Maltese Cat.’  Don’t you remember how the best polo ponies in that story, when they were off duty, hung their heads and actually made themselves looked fagged, in order to be fresher when the time came to play?  And how ‘The Maltese Cat’ scouted the silly ponies who held their heads up and kicked and looked alert while they waited?  And don’t you remember the result?”