TAKE OFF THE BRAKES

The writer saw an incident on Main street, Davenport, Iowa, which caused much ill-humor, amusement and some instruction to the I crowd which witnessed it. Human Nature, the quality of which depends upon education, was shown by each one presenting his peculiar idea of the situation and his suggestions.  Main street is paved with brick and is quite steep between Sixth and Eighth. A crowd of idle men had gathered on the street to watch a stalled team. I, of course, joined them. The horses were once full of life and vigor, but now they are thin of flesh, showing want of care and lack of ambition. They are hitched to a good wagon, which contained a heavy load. They had gone half way up the hill, but could go no further. The driver did not know what course to pursue. Several of the bystanders were eager to assist him with their counsel. Their varied suggestions only served to confuse him. The reader will notice closely the advice given, for it will be made use of hereafter.  The first instruction was to apply the whip; which was used unsparingly. It excited and aroused what energy they had left, but only worried them without any gain.  The next order given and acted upon was to back down the hill, so as to give them a new start. This was tried, with the result that they were not able to make as far up the grade as before.  A professional-looking man then said, “Blindfold the horses, shake the wagon, throw something heavy on the pavement; make them believe that you have unloaded. If they think the wagon is empty, they will pull it up the hill easily. But, try as hard as they might, they could not pull the load.  The next man to offer advice was a clerk from a nearby drug store. He thought the axles and wheels needed oiling; that the wheels were tired instead of the horses. A supply of oil was secured and applied to the axles and wheels plentifully, which seemed to make the wagon more inclined to slide down the hill.  Then there appeared in the front of the crowd a seeming wise fellow who looked as though he was a graduate from some college or a president of some hospital board. He argued the case as follows: “No team on earth can pull that load’; there is too much wagon, make it as light as possible, take off the spring seat, take out the end-gate and all the loose rods, saw out half the spokes, for they are crowding each other; take off the tires, for they only serve to make extra weight; the fewer pieces you have in the wagon the more easily it will move.” But, fortunately, before the well-dressed man’s advice was put in action, there appeared a practical farmer who took in the situation at a glance. He spoke in a mild tone, but what he said carried force and was convincing. He said: “Let that wagon remain whole, not one piece of it can be spared at this time when it is so loaded. Wipe off that surplus oil; throw the whip in gutter; cease to blindfold the horses.” When this was done, he calmly said to the driver, “Now take off the brake.” It was released.  The team made the top of the hill with the usual speed and ease.  The farmer was heard to say, “That is easy to do when you know how.” The crowd dispersed, being benefited more or less by the experience.  This may seem to the reader a simple and ridiculous story; but let us see if there are not incidents in our daily life fully as ludicrous and absurd.  Please observe that woman with pale, hollow cheeks and sunken eyes. A few years ago her cheeks were plump and full of color, her eyes sparkled with ambition. She is trying her best to climb the incline of life. She has her burden to carry as the most of women have, but that which used to be comparatively play is now a load she cannot move. She is discouraged and disheartened.  Physically and mentally she has not the strength accomplish her usual labor, and yet she does not realize what is holding her back.  Under all circumstances Human Nature is very much alike.  Human sympathy is manifested and advice freely given to the afflicted in much the same way as was manifested in the crowd referred to on Main street. Strangers as well as acquaintances are ready, willing and eager to advise this frail woman what to do.  Some recommend stimulants of various kinds to whip up the circulation and excite the already overworked woman.  A well-meaning friend advises some kind of physic that will deplete her system, thinking it necessary for her to get away down in order to make permanent improvement. Some advise narcotics to deaden the sensibility of the physical; others suggest therapeutics or Christian Science, for the purpose of making her believe that she has no disease. None of these really assist the invalid, for they do not release the brake.  There are those who will advise blistering, bleeding or lubricating the body with liniments, just to be doing something, for what purpose they know not.  Sooner or later the wise men are called in. With ready hands and sharpened knives they desire to cut out any or all parts that they think can be spared, believing that the less organs that the blood has to support and pass through, the purer it will be. But, thanks to the sensible farmer (Chiropractor), who realizes that there is a cause for all human ailments, and dares to say it in the presence of those standing by, who advise therapeutical remedies, “Take off the brake.”  We think it strange that no one in the crowd at the wagon thought of taking off the brake. It looks equally strange to a Chiropractor that until twenty-five years ago, no one discovered that a brake is set on some one of the 300 articular joints of the body, compressing the nerves, thereby deranging their functions.  If, by any means, the articular surfaces of any of the joints of the skeletal frame, especially those of the vertebral column, become displaced by being wrenched, go to a Chiropractor, who will take off the brake. The Old School idea of disease is, that it is an enemy that has to be fought, conquered, banished; while Chiropractic kindly says.  “Take off the brake—remove the pressure—and health is your compensation.”