."--_Dr.
Cyrus Edson._

Massage is as old as the hills. Most really good things are, I've
found. The Grecian and Roman women preserved their wondrous, wholesome
beauty by reveling in luxuriant baths and then undergoing vigorous
massage by their stout-armed slaves. Massage is a natural alleviator
and comfort-giver. The first thing a baby does when he bumps his
precious head is to rub the injured spot with his little fist. Relief
seems to come with friction. If one's temples hurt, the hands seem to
itch and tingle to get to rubbing and smoothing out the aches there.
And the reason for it is that friction makes active the nerves and
blood vessels and exercises the tired or fretting muscles. Massage is
exercise. If we were to cease using our arms the muscles would shrink
and soon become incapable of movement. The skin outside would, of
course, be affected by the general warpings of the tissues, and the
result would be everything that is dreadful to the mind
feminine--crow's feet, wrinkles, sallowness and lack of the tints and
colors of health. You who have enjoyed the pleasures of a Turkish bath
must know how new and robust and fresh you feel after the invigorating
cleansing and pummeling by a strong and experienced masseuse.

We all know about the system of decay and renewing which the skin
constantly undergoes. It is much the same way with the muscles. The
very tiny cells of which the muscles are composed are continually being
repaired. As the wornout particles are rejected the new fiber is
created. Does it not stand to reason that massage will facilitate this
process, make the flesh firmer, restore vigor to the muscles and give
new life to the entire system?

The muscles of the face, more than those of any other part of the body,
are lazy and torpid. As the troubles of life descend, the wear and tear
of bothersome existence begins to show. The circulation becomes
defective, and this brings flabby tissues and a wrinkled, sallow skin.
Then, oh, woe! woe! One feels as if one might just as well be dead and
gone as to be trailing through life so afflicted.

Massage means "I knead." While the professional masseuse should be well
informed concerning the muscles of the face and neck, the location of
the veins and arteries, and the general formation of the skin, the
little home body who wishes to rub away a few wrinkles or turkey tracks
can easily dispense with the acquiring of so much knowledge. With
knowing what "not