Ideas For Boys | Page 5

gang plank of the excursion boat he saw a great crowd of men, women and children on the boat and he remembered the words of advice his brother had given him, and immediately left the boat. A few moments later he saw the overloaded vessel list and topple over carrying hundreds of its precious passengers to death. His own life was saved because his older brother, who knew more than he did, gave him good advice which he remembered at the proper time, and acted upon promptly.
The cost of learning many things by experience is too great, frequently death is the price.
The wise man acts on the advice of his lawyer on a question of law, or on the advice of his physician on a question of health, and so the boy should act on the advice of his parent or instructor. He must obey promptly, and the sooner he learns the importance of obedience the better it is for him, for if he trys to learn everything by his own experience he will not know very much when his short career is ended.
History relates the experience of individuals, states and nations, and by studying these experiences we learn what to do and what to avoid.

HEALTH AND STRENGTH.
Every one admires the beauty of vigorous health and strength, whether possessed by man, woman or child.
If you would possess health you must study and learn the laws of nature pertaining thereto, and then follow these laws. Some of the fundamental requirements are :
plenty of sleep;
one day of rest each week;
abundance of fresh air ;
nourishing food and regular meals;
proper exercise;
regular bowel movements;
daily baths and care of the teeth;
cheerfulness (don't worry over what has happened).
A boy ten years old ought to be in bed and asleep by half past eight o'clock at night and sleep until half past six in the morning. The windows should be open winter and summer. When a boy gets to be a few years older he does not require so much sleep, eight or nine hours will be sufficient. Even if you should be kept up late at night, don't oversleep your regular rising hour in the morning. A young man can hardly acquire a habit more disastrous to his success than that of oversleeping in the morning. Sleep is a period of rest which the mind and body absolutely require. A few minutes of sleep during the day is extremely beneficial, even a few minutes spent each afternoon lying down is helpful to the heart action, and if regularly taken will add to your strength and prolong good health and life.
It has been said that a child between the ages of ten and twelve years attains a greater muscular action than at any other time in life and in order to properly develop the physique an abundance of fresh air is necessary. A boy should spend much of his time out of doors in the fresh air both winter and summer. If a person is placed in a small air tight room and left there for some time, he will quickly consume that part of the air which sustains life, and die. Wherever you are, in your room at home, or in school, see that there is plenty of fresh air in the room, but don't sit in a draught. Impure air carries in it germs of disease. Pure air invigorates the lungs, purifies the blood and helps you to keep well; therefore get out of doors in the sunshine. Don't sit around and mope, but be active and cheerful.
Your body is your human machine, and it will serve you in proportion as you treat and care for it. Study and learn what foods are nourishing and beneficial to you, and cut out the things which are harmful, for if you take sufficient poison into your body, you will destroy it. Your digestive organs may be able to eliminate a small amount of poisonous narcotics such as intoxicants, coffee, tea, and tobacco, but if used sufficiently these poisons will permeate the system, and cause sickness and inefficiency. These things are especially harmful to the growing youth, because they prevent the proper development of the body. Develop your will power early in life and have the courage to say no, and refuse to take into your system the things which are harmful.
Eat plenty of fruit such as apples, oranges, peaches, pears, grape fruit and other wholesome foods. Moderate your appetite, don't be a glutton, don't overeat. It is better to leave the table a little hungry than to stuff yourself full of food and drink. Great harm follows from overeating. The system does not require a large amount of food to keep it in good condition. Eat your meals regularly, chew your food thoroughly, take plenty of time for