Part 22

A good business man is the man who can direct the wheels of industry, who can draw a trial balance between his income and his expenses, and who can measure his own ability on the yardstick of endurance.

He is a good business man who gives as much study to the laws of his own physical organization as he does to the organization of his business, and in the final analysis I doubt if he would not consider himself a better business man, "Penniless," and in good health at ninety, than sojourning in a sanatorium with a million at his call, but out of the fight at fifty.

It is truly unfortunate that the general laws of health and hygiene are not more universally taught and understood. We learn that best with which we are thrown in most frequent contact. The business man would absorb enough information on these subjects to extend his period of longevity and usefulness many years, if they were taught in our public schools, or were matters of general knowledge.

THE ROUTINE LIFE OF THE AVERAGE BUSINESS MAN

He rises between six and seven a. m., takes no exercise or fresh air; eats a breakfast composed largely of acid fruit, cereal starch, meat, and coffee. He then goes at once to his business, sits at a desk until noon, takes luncheon at a neighboring cafe. This repast is composed of meat, cereal, or potato starch, beer, or coffee. He hurries back to his business, sits at his desk five or six hours longer, hurries home, takes a dinner composed of more meat, more starch, more tea or coffee--no exercise, no diversion, no association with the great authors; no music, no poetry, no change.

A friend may come in, or he may go out to visit; then comes the soothing and soporiferous cigar which may have been his companion since breakfast. The market, the business, the chances for making or losing dollars are the topics of discussion. He is in the power of his master, "business," and must do him continual obeisance. Within the domain of the tyrant he lives, moves, and has his being. If he has a headache, sour stomach, indigestion, a tinge of rheumatism, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, or any one of the thousand symptoms or warnings that Nature gives him for the violation of her laws, instead of thinking a little and trying to ascertain the cause, he sends, with "chesty pride," for His physician, and his physician writes out something in a dead language--the only suitable language. The local druggist sends over the "stuff," and it is swallowed with that childish confidence that fitly becomes the modern business man who knows a great deal about business, but nothing about himself.

The days and the months go on, the symptoms or signals become more numerous, more expressive, more impressive, more painful. His physician is called more often; the dead language paper goes to the druggist more frequently, and with faith he still swallows the drugs; they relieve him for a little while, usually by paralyzing the little nerve fibers that are carrying to the brain the messages of warning.

HIS physician finally acknowledges a trip, or a sanatorium. It is either this procedure or the fate that befell Messrs. Roberts, Morgan, Colonel Ingersoll, and the uncounted thousands who had no reputation beyond the domain of their own locality, and of whom we never hear.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR A GOOD BUSINESS MAN

Don't allow your business to become your master.

Don't discuss business at home, or in social life.

Immediately on rising, take a cool shower bath, followed by vigorous exercise before an open window.

Eat a very light breakfast an hour after rising, eliminating tea, coffee, white bread and meat.

Walk to your business, if possible; breathe deeply.

Eliminate woolen underwear; dress as lightly as possible.

Take an hour for luncheon. Omit tea, coffee, tobacco, beer, and sweets.

Keep your office well ventilated.

Secure competent help and trust them.

Love some one or some thing--a dog will do.

Leave your office early enough to walk home, or at least a part of the way.

Masticate your food infinitely fine, and by all means do not overeat. This is the crowning sin of the civilized table.

Take from ten to fifteen minutes exercise before retiring; sleep in a cold, thoroughly ventilated room. Spend as much time as possible in the sunshine and open air. Drive an automobile, play golf, join a gymnasium, dance, sing, kick and play with the boys, for it is infinitely better to dig in the ditch for your dinner and be able to digest and enjoy it, than to lie invalid in your self-made prison, and perhaps die. (Probably if the truth were written on your tombstone, it would read:

There was a fool who made a fortune, but he died; The world called him great, but it lied.)

LESSON XXIII

EXERCISE AND RE-CREATION

PROGRAM FOR DAILY EXERCISE

Every morning, just after arising, take a cup of water, and go through the following deep breathing exercises:

EXERCISE No. 1