Litchfield enquirer., 1833-06-20


 acceptation ofthe term, was Romiually pro- hibited, aud the votaries of this terrible ep- idsmic were placed under a regimen which, tn some respects, seemed better suited for cannibals than for civilized men. All at once the distemper vanished. at least from public notice, and it is now a rare thing that we heaF any complaint fits existence.
 Now, whether this is owing to Dr. Hal sted's discovery of real remedy for the maladys or to some other cause, we pres tend not to know. But we cannct help thinking there is something of fashioninit. If not, the world Is much indebted to that ingenious gentleman for publishing kia book, and thus removing oHe uncomfoFt6 ble accompaniment of life oug of the way.
 Before tho American revolution, and for some time afterwards, we never heard of any such thing as the necessity of Gym- nasium, to keep school boys in health, while pursuing their studies at school.--- Schools used to be kept six hours in day three in the forenoon and three in the afternoon. Every half day, they were al- lowed from fifteen to twenty minutes to . \ go to play.' On these occasions, they contrived to get good deal of exercise by running, and divertiug themselves in great variety of ways, which, with the opporsu- mites they have had of being kept busy at home, either by their parents, or by amus- ing themselves, they rarely suffer for the want of exercise. But the world, or at least the fashion of it, has changed and now, it has become common thing to give notice that a school will be furnished with Gymnasium, to induce parents to send their children to it. What precise a- mount of benefit is derived from climbing posts, mounting ladders, and occasionally falling off, bruising the flesh, and dislocatihg the joints, or breaking the bones. me do not pretend to conjecture. We recollect, in our younger days, hearing an old man who made hats, tell somo boys who wore en- deavoring to beat down butterflies with their jackets, that they must take their hats for that purpose, for if they tore their jack cts, their mothers would whip them. We should not be surprised to find the bons- setters in favor of Gymnasiugs, and possi- bly, for the same reason that the old gen. tlcman recommended to the boys the use of their hats. But we very much doubt whether the mothers, or any body else. re- teive much benefit from them.
 s.Clear as PreacAiHg. 1.-The following cumming expedient, demonstrative of the truth of the old proverb, that actions speak louder than words" was adopted by clergyman many years since, to pro- cufe the repairing of a dilapidated meeting house. The people who worshipped at the house, had suffered it to decay, and their pastor was SO nseaiy nsOutked that he would nevs. say word concerning it, for fear of giving offence. One day he was requcst- ed by neighboring clergyman, to exchange pulpits on certain sabbath. The former assented and requested him to say nolha ing that would affront his people, regarding his pulpit window, though he nigh. suffer some personal inconvonience on account of its being broken. The latter promised hs would not: He also requested him to be very careful of the pulpit cushion, for 1t was much worn. "1'll take care of that," said he. At the appointed time they re-. paired to each others house to perform their respective engagements. It was late l in the fall of the year, and a strong broeze was blowing from the N. w. The eccem- tric parson, (as we shall call him for dis tinction's sake,) before departing, filled his pockets with old rags. He arrived at the place of meeting, and seated himselfin the rostrum. Nothing interrupted the solemn silence of tho sanctuary, save the whistling of the wind through the cfevices, and the cIattering ofa few loose clapboards. The priest soon arose-opened his psalm book named the psalm, and then with shrug of his shoulders, and quiver of his lips, shuddered out BO0-sOO0- 0-0-O-O-O, and turn- ed round and commenced stufiing some of his rags into the window. After this he finished his psalm, which was sung. He then offered prayer, and read portion of the scriptures 1; after which he named a second psalm, and with teeth chattering, exclaimed once more, BOo.w0o-O-O-O-O.O, and went to the window to fill the remain- ing air holes. The first lot of drGpsry was left at loose ends, and was fuitering in the wind like the telegraphic flags at the mast head of ship. It was indeed "a s'gnat of distress" He took for his text the pas- sage of scripture which affirms, that a man who trusts in riches cannot enter heaven. He proceeded through the various heads'' of his discourse-from " first 10 tenthly," expatiating upon the direfol effects of trust in mammon.' At length he arrived to "Iastly," and concluded as follows !" Fi- naIly, and to conclude, my brethren, if you