Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-09
PHYSICAL DEGENERACY.

We copy an article in this number
on this subject from the New England
Farmer. 1t is ii subject wi ich we have
often brought forward, and one which rise,
! in Importance the more we reflect upon it,
We cannot disguise the fact that the great
bulk OF the younger part Of the community
are far, very far from being as athletic, har-
dy and robust as were the older part when
young. We see il every time we look ar
ound upon group of young persons. 1t
appears in every assembly, and it speaks a
loud and warning voice every time We
compare the ellcmnate and sickly forms OF
the delicate lilly checked and lilly finger
ed youth, with the hardy and strong smcwy
forms of that generation who are passing
away from us like old oaks that have with
stood the winds and the storms of long life
time, and are bowling to the effects of old age
rather than any disease.
We think that this, though observable in
both sexes, is more SO among the females
than among the males. A perncious belief
that it is disgraceiul to work, and that a
young lady is elevated in the scale Of reSpcc-
liability and dignity in proportion TO her
iSuoIuu'C VI uOIIItstlI uullcS anu IcI ut1lcGt
of labor, has led to this. Among the far
mers' daughters you will find something of
the old system of hard labor athome, and a
corresponding degree of health and strength.
In the little villages you will perceive less of
it, and performances of elleminacy in the
large villages we see more Oft, and IN the
cities you will find a wide, very wido differ
ence between the forms, shape, color, health
strength, and physical powers Of the girls and
those ofthe country.
We know that there is false pride among
certain individuals of the community which
prompts to this-which leads the young miss
10 value herself more highly, the more deli
cate she can "whtcn out" even at the ex-
pense of health and the phys powers
which God has given her, We agree with
the editor of the n. E. Farmer in the sem
timenl that such should 90 down to the grave
unmarried, childless, "solitary ond alone"
They may toss their head and curl their lip
with as much scorn as they please the laws
of nature will not be inirnged with impuni-
ty, and however delicate may be the subject,
truth will not change, and the truth is, that
puny and feeble parents can raise none 9TH
er than puny offspring. The farmer
would be called a fool indeed, who culed
out the poorest and most blighted and unripc
seed to plant again, or saved the weakest
and most feeble of his 1ocks to propagate
for the future and yet this is the very error
which is blindly pursued in the continuance
of the human species. We say bIindly, for
it must be owngto "a blind impulse that ra-
tional beings should so conduct, rather than
to any reasoning upon the subject.
1t is subject which should engage the at
tention of ever phiaulhropist. Shall we be-
come nation ofinvalids -? or shall we rise
above the silly pride that seems now to di-
rect public opinion, and by manly and useful
labor, coarse but nutritious diet, neat but
clothing-rcform so as to be-
come again something as our fathers were
They were not afraid of the air. They
were not ashamed Tabor. They were not
too proud to be seen eating coarse but sub
stantial food and they we're rewarded with
health and strength neutrality-suspicious.
Farmer.