The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1023, August 5, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1023, August 5, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
Walking in moderation will be found far more advantageous to the
delicate girl who would regain health than cycling. It must not be
carried to the boundary line of fatigue, however. One should be just
nicely pleasantly tired. Here, for instance, is a _régime_ that would
suit many a lassie who had gone to some bracing delightful spot to live
for the sixty or one hundred days of summer. She ought to adopt it from
the very second day.
Having retired early on the previous evening from quiet but
non-exciting employment, having neither talked nor laughed nor sung
much for the two hours previous, let her pull the window down, have
sufficient bed-clothing and a not too soft mattress, and easy yielding
pillows. Let her go to bed, and having done so—think of nothing. If
this plan is adopted sleep will soon waft her away to the beautiful
Land of Nod, and if she is breathing pure air all night she will awake
betimes, refreshed and as happy as the birds on the lawn. But this
awaking betimes is a _sine quâ non_ of this health-giving _régime_,
so if not sure of being called by seven o’clock, she ought to have an
alarm.
The first thing on getting up is tonic, bracing, cold sponge-bath
followed by a thorough towelling. She should not dawdle in dressing,
but get out into the garden for a fifteen minutes’ walk as soon as
possible. After a solid breakfast with not too much coffee or tea, the
forenoon may be said to be fairly begun. And the whole of this should
be spent out of doors in the sunshine or light. Even rain must not
confine her to the house. If she could live in a tent entirely it would
be better than a house. She ought to be back home to wash hands and
face and rest a little, a good half-hour before the 1.30 dinner. Rest
for half an hour after this. No wine or stimulant of any kind, and just
enough solid food to satisfy the needs of nature. Soup is a mistake
and so is cheese, and, as a rule, salad. Pudding is not to be eaten if
there is the slightest inclination to _embonpoint_.
Fruit may be partaken of at any time so long as it is quite fresh and
seasonable.
A little rest should be taken for say half an hour after dinner, then
out again for pleasant exercise or non-exciting games. One cup of the
very _best_ tea about five, and supper at seven. If sleepless and
thin, a little food should be taken the very last thing, a biscuit or
two with butter, and a large tumblerful of hot milk with sugar and
flavouring to taste. Then meditation and bed.
Really and truly a summer spent thus in fresh air, sunshine, or light
will cure seventy per cent. of all chronic ailments, quite bring back
appetite and happiness to the dyspeptic and gloomy, and even eradicate
the first seeds of consumption itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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