Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1911 — READING AS A CURE [ARTICLE]

READING AS A CURE

To Prevent Seasickness Read Exciting Story. za-.T. . 0 University es Chicago Professor Saves Particularly Engrossing Dstectlve Narrative Until Big Btorm la Threatened. Chicago.—lnteresting literature as a preventative of seasickness is advocated by a University of Chicago professor, who declares that his own personal experience Upon the rolling seas has been such as to demonstrate the practicability of his plan. In ordinary weather aboard ship in midocean the professor reads a sentimental story. If the waves are tossing high and the wind is blowing hard he fastens bis attention to a tale of exciting adventure or deep mystery. He boldly makes the assertion that his scheme has never failed to ward off impending seasickness and, adds that, while his traveling companions are In the throes of distress/he sits engrossed In his reading, unmindful of the rise and fall of the vessel. “I gauge the Intensity of the story I read by the roughness of the seas and the height of the waves,” the professor laughed. “Yes, I know It Is a unique cure for seasickness, but In my case and in the case of another professor here at the university to whom I preached the strange doctrine it has been uniformly successful. T have been In some bad storms, but I have yet to feel my first pang of seasickness. 4 “I have one detective story which as yet I have never been called upon to use,” he went on. “I am saving it for some awful storm, and when that time comes I shall have More faith In that detective story as a sure preventive than the - old-fashioned grandmothers had in goose grease as a-pana-cea for children’ ills. If the,waves sweep over the vessel’s bow aft to the stern I’ll wager that I will still be reading in My cabin, as devoid of seasickness as an electric light bulb Is of air.” “How do you explain your unique method of prevention?” he was asked. ‘Concentration of the mind upon some other subject than the height of the waves or the possibility that the boat may sink,” was the reply. “I often have occasion to do ocean traveling and I have found fear of seasickness and constant dwelling of the mind upon its related horrors are largely responsible. So I have devised a way to keep from having the illness. Keep yofr mind off it and keep your mind busy by reading an absorbing book. If you like detective stories get out the most exciting one you own when the captain tells you that a storm Is approaching from the starboard quarter. Interest yourself In the story and you'll scarcely notice that a storm has struck when it does come. “Whenever my students signify their Intention of taking a trip abroad I never fall to give them my scheme

for dispelling danger of seasickness. And they have reported to me upon their return that the method was successful. i Perhaps if they did not apply themselves in their reading—did not become sufficiently interested, I mean —they were seized with the Illness, but those who really Interested themselves In their books crossed the ocoan and were in tiptop physical condition the whole Way over.” The professor’s unique views have caused considerable comment among his fellow educators at the university, many of whom make It a practice to go to Europe or some other transoceanic point every two years. Some have taken the suggestion as a joke, Its exponent declares, and others have takqn It seriously. In most cases the ones who take it as it Is given—4n all seriousness—are the ones who are not taken with seasickness, - while those who think It Is a joke are kept In their cabins for three or four days. Certain advanced classes of students at the university, especially classes In the divinity -school, make pilgrimages In a body to tlje holy land. 6n the eve of their departure this professor never misses an opportunity to Impart to them his discovery.