A Practical Demonstration

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 383 Though we have exceptions to the rule, as in the cases of Dickens and Milton, may we not say that a man must possess good health to be successful in this strenuous day ? Sleep. Sleep is the time of complete rest for the body. It is a fundamental of health. From seven to nine hours is required. Youth needs more than old age. The hours for sleep should be regular and should begin as much before midnight as one can arrange. Sleep should be taken in an abundance of fresh air. Sleeping porches are recommended. In their absence, raise the windows high in your bed rooms. In this connection it is a satisfaction to note a trend in modern residence architecture toward the use of sleeping porches, and sleeping rooms each one of which is provided with several windows, usually of the casement style, so as to take advantage of the full window space for fresh air. Food. Good food is as essential to health as enough sleep. The plain, wholesome sort is best fitted to nourish the body. Variety is good. Highly seasoned foods and pastries should be used only in moderation. In excess, they cause indigestion and disorder. All food should be well prepared and palatable. It must be agreeable to the taste. Appetite is essential to good digestion. A carefree mind at meal time is also necessary. Food should be thoroughly masticated. Meals ought to be regular, and over-eating should be avoided. Strenuous exercise immediately following a meal is harmful. Fresh, pure water taken freely will assist in keeping the body well. Care should be taken, however, not to use water at meal times to wash down food, until such time at least as the food is thoroughly masticated. (to be continued) A Practical Demonstration BY D. R. LANGLOIS [The following illustration of practical farm work for boys was submitted to the Era on request of Field Secretary Oscar A. Kirkham, by Mr. Langlois. It shows what boys can do when they have a little capital, patience, energy, and willingness to work. — Editors.] My two boys, Percy and Vernon, ages nine and eleven, did the following work during the past summer : They rented three acres of ground just one mile from home,

3X4 IMPROVEMENT ERA for which they paid $45; this included the preparing of the ground for seeding. Then they hired a man to manure the land, paying him $.12 for that, and $7.50 for seeding and planting. This made a total outlay of $64'. 50 before they could see any results in the way of growing plants. It was hard to persuade the boys to undertake such an obligation with so much uncertainty, as they thought, before them. It was a very dry spring, and not a seed came up until after our first rain, which was about the first of June. The boys were getting very much discouraged when the weather stayed so dry and not a plant was coming up. But a remark make by President Jack at our stake conference in May dispelled all their anxiety in that regard. It was a very valuable lesson in helping us to establish faith in our authorities. In talking to the people on this occasion President Jack told them to go ahead and plant their crops, regardless of the fact that there was no moisture in the ground to bring them up, and look to the Lord for the increase, for the rains would come and their crops would mature. The boys had sufficient faith to believe that it would be true, and it was, for the rains began in about two or three weeks and there was an abundance. This was a valuable lesson for them. After the beets began to grow they needed no more encouragement ; the growing plants were an inspiration, and the educational value they received was worth several times the monetary value. The following is a record as they kept it : Check for beets $160.00 Rent for ground $ 45.00 PERCY LANGLOIS, Age 11 VERNON LANGLOIS, Age < 'ash for potatoes 45.00 Manuring 12 00 Seed and planting 7.50 Cultivating beets 4.50 Help topping beets 2.40 Plowing beets up 5.50 Hauling beets to railroad. 22.50 Total received $205.00 Total paid $ 99.40 Net profit to the boys, $105.60. They did about forty days' work themselves. Of course, I directed them in their work, but they did it all except what is listed above. OAKLEY, IDAHO