Excessive Brain Work

One of the clergymen of Worcester, Mass., in the courseof a sermón reccntly, uttered the following cautionary suggestions in regard to imnioderate brain work : "It is a lesson that we are slow to learn - one that has to be enforced by an occasional thrilling fact - that the most robnst physique has its limit of exertion ; that well-compacted and toughfined mental fiber may suceumb to andue strebs at a single point. A piece of steel wire can bear onjy a givon amount of longitudinal tensión. Beyond that limit it snaps. By the annealing process of intense stndy or application to exacting business a man's brain gets toughened. It can bear an immense, prolonged strain, but there is an unknown terminus of your powers; exceed that point and the subtle thread of reason snaps. A ruptured capillary on the brain paralyzes that center of thought, and the stalwart, brilliant man of yesterday, full of hope, projecting grand schemes, the pillar of strength to his family, the prille of many, the possible envy of more, is to-day an enfeebled or quite broken-down victim of intemperate brain work. Yon might charge me with an exaggerated idea of the perils of over-exertion among business men, did not faets justify all I have suggested. Have we not seen som e of the brightcst stars in the cluster of enterprising citizeng, of which we are justly proud, wauder from their orbit of reason and pass, onless God shall disappoint our fears, into the shadow of permanent mental eclipse? The saddest feature of this phenomenon is tliat it seems to fall upon tlie highly organized, generous, sympathetic natures first. A cold-blooded, grasping Shylock, who cares littlo for the good name SO highly prized by another, appears to be in no danger of such a ealamity. Better far toconfess poverty, be an honest bankrupt, than to be broken down in body or miud under too great an exertion to avoid such a ealamity. Witli emotions of nnspeakable pity for every man harassed by his nnsatisfactory affairs, I turn to expostulate with the coming generation. Keep a sound mind in a sound body. Do be conteiited with ' things honest," ii.li eomfortable mediocrity. Hnsbtótd the stock of pliysical and mental life God has given you, tliat you may not grow prematurely old - useless beforo your time."