Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • A Simple Prescription

    From the Rock Island Argus, March 5, 1913.
     By S. E. Kiser.
     
    
     The doctor gazed a while at me and gravely shook his head;
     “You must not work so hard,” said he, “eat only whole wheat bread;
     Avoid all starchy things and try to take your beefsteak rare;
     Avoid the deadly stuff they fry, keep in the open air,
     And cheer up. Clear your frowns away, put all your cares aside:
     Play golf or tennis every day, or get a horse to ride.
     
     “You might take three months off and go to Europe or Japan,
     Or take a trip to Mexico; you need a change, old man.
     You have a haggard, weary look, your system’s all run down;
     Go out and loll beside some brook a thousand miles from town.
     Take my advice and rest a while, become a man of ease.
     Quit working and learn how to smile. Three dollars, if you please.”
     
     He could not know how glad I was to get his dear advice,
     Nor that I could not go because I chanced to lack the price;
     He knew not that if for a space I traveled unconcerned
     They would inform me that my place was filled, when I returned.
     By toiling hard and steadily I clung to my position
     And kept those who were dear to me in fairly good condition.