Amateur Doctoring

— It is well known that many men and most women who would shrink from the practice of divinity or law, or from that of medicine if they were paid for it, love to offer advice and even physic unasked and free. I crave the sympathy of the Contributors under the intrusion of one class of amateur doctors.

What one ought to wear in the New England climate is a puzzle ; but it is safe to say that most men, by the time they are thirty-five, have found out each what he ought to wear. It seems to me that many of my neighbors wrap up too heavily, and make themselves tender by it ; at least, that I am botter with no “ great coat,” as people used to say when I was a boy, a large part of the colder weather. But when I appear dressed à la Vice-President Hamlin, I am constantly assailed with this remark: “ Don’t you think it is imprudent to go without an overcoat ? ” Now I respectfully ask, what does this phrase mean, and what is the object of asking it ? First, if a man has thought about his outer garment at all, must he not think his course is prudent? Are imprudence and thought compatible ? Does not the question mean “ Don’t you think you’re thoughtless?” The querist means, “ I think you are imprudent ; ” but wishing to make his interference in another man’s business polite, — which he cannot, — he puts it as above, and makes an absurdity of it. Secondly, is it likely that an adult male, often twice the age of his adviser, will be suddenly roused into prudence by this volunteered advice ? Has he not probably been guilty of this imprudence, if it is one, a score of times, and run the gauntlet of a score of older and nearer acquaintances ? How would the querist take similar advice ? Most of my amateur doctors are consumers of tobacco ; I am just as certain they are risking their health by cigars as they are that I am risking mine by exposure. Suppose I reply, “ Don’t you think you smoke too much ? ” they would scoff at the advice, and not dream of altering their conduct. But thirdly, when they give, me this counsel I am generally about eight miles from home. What do they expect me to do ? Go into the first ready-made clothier’s and buy a garment in which I should look like a hall thief ; or go to a custom tailor’s and have one made “ while you wait ; ” or break off whatever has brought me away from home, and hasten thither, to don the clothing, by their advice, which my own sense told me was needless?

I invite subscriptions to a Henry Wadsworth, Jr., Club, of which two mottoes are, “Look in and not out,” and “Mind your own business.”