This Week In History, 11-25-10

One of the saddest accidents we have ever had occasion to mention in this paper befell Elizabeth Johnson, widow of Chapman Johnson of Bull River. Last Friday afternoon, her clothing caught fire from a stove and before the flames could be extinguished, she was so horribly burned that death relieved her sufferings. She was a most excellent woman of 85 years. There are many people who have been the recipients of her hospitality and kindly acts, and who are sorry that so good and useful a life should be thus endured in its final days.

A case of smallpox is reported near the mouth of Stinson.

We have heard farmers who live close to Grantsville complain a great deal about people trapping upon their premises, and if the guilty parties are caught, no doubt but what the land owners will have the law enforced to the limit. It would in all cases be wise for a hunter to have a written permit from land owners before entering upon their property for the purpose of gaming in any manner. The law in this regard is very strict.

1960, 50 years ago

A famous physician recently said that about one-third of all ailments that came to his attention originated in the mind, as a result of worry. It is a known fact that most of us worry too much, and many of us worry about things over which we have no control.

Perhaps the best advice one can give to those inclined to worry is, “Stop worrying.” To emphasize the fruitlessness of worry, one should keep in mind the following things:

First, about 40% of the things people worry about never happen. Second, 30% percent of the things we worry about have already happened and are out of our control. Therefore, about 70% of the things we worry about have already happened or will not happen, so the chances are--whenever you worry--that you are wasting your time and contributing to the deterioration of your health.

Another 12% of things we worry about are imaginary, and 10% of them are concerned with those who are well able to take care of themselves, and either do not need our worry, or do not want it. That leaves only about 8% of our worries which have any relation to reality. While 8% of our worrying may be legitimate worrying about things which will happen, some 92% of our worrying is wasted effort.

It is difficult to convince the worrying type that this is true. Nevertheless, some of the top physicians in the country, top psychiatrists, and most of the industrial studies have shown that the above is true.