Show origin of an old fad i A practice was common fifty years ago of rubbing the eye in a peculiar way from the outer to the inner the result being as was supposed aup posed to strengthen the sight the practice originated with president john quincy adams who had what is called a weeping eye disease having caused the closing of some of the ducts so that he wis forced to wipe away tho overflowing moisture about once in every five minutes he always wiped his eye from the outer to the inner comer and bome one noticing this peculiar action and know tu also that although ho had passed his eightieth year be never used spectacles connected the two facts aud started the theory that rubbing the e t 8 in the way indicated prevented the changes inseparable from advancing years for a time all tho old people in the country blent half their time rubbing their eyes but the fad doon died out and is now scarcely remembered save by soma old who saw people practicing it when he was a boy interview in bt louis globe democrat |