The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-22
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EFFECTS OF FEAR.

There are few things more calculated to excite
just indignation than an attempt on the part young
persons to frghtcn little Children each other. In
this way impressions are often made on the plastic
minds Of YOUTH which remain through liCe and cause
many hour of anxiety and perhaps agony. In this
way species ofco,oardice is produced which cannot
| be overcome in after years-and the man who would
be the first to plant standard hostile fort, to
| board an enemy fighting hand to hand, has been
known pale with alright at the idea Of passing
churchyard alone in dark nght-or even at enter
ing lonely y lofty garret,n the dark, after the family
have retired. Marshal SAKE, of the bravest
! who commanded an army ON the embated field.
would never retire to rest until he had carefully
amined the closets in his chamber and looked under
his bed.
1t is sometimes the case however, that these sud-
den shocks of fear, when young, administered not
frequently by the unthnking, for the johe's sake,
are attended with more serious consequences. We
sometime since saw mention made Of n child lin
Virginia, who was frightened 10 death. The circum-
stances which led to this melancholy catastrophe
not Of unusual occurrence. The child was playing
with its companions, and told by them, in sport,
that n rag. man was about carry him off in his bag
Alarmed with fear, the child into the house,
when the object of his terror, unfortunately, also
coming into the;house, he uttered shrek and in'
stany expired. s.
This is not the first only instance of the fatal
consequences Of fright upon children, and upon
adults peculiarly susceptible of fear. An English
paper received by the last arrival of the Hybernia
contained the following paragraph:
con Wednesday week, girl named Margaret
Pete IN order to amuse some companions, dressed
herself in white garment, and put hdeous black
mask, in which disguise, issuing suddenly from her
residence in Palmer s-ioly, Radcliffe highway, Lon
don she caused so much terror to child that 1t died
on the roywing Friday morning. The girl was
taken into custody and Detained till after the coroners
inquest, when she reprimanded and dischar
gcd.''
Indeed cases are known where young persons have
had their minds entirely overthrowu-and been
doomed to lives of pless idiocy, by the unprnci
pied foics Of their acquaintance, who have devised
and executed cruel plan of making sport of their
fears Such conduct has no apology. Those who
are guilty of it should be held accountable as the
man who levels deadly weapon and destroys the
life ola fellow creature.
And vet this attempt to excite the fears OF child ia
not unrequenty resorted to by parents salutary
punishment! Bugbears arc created TO brighten the
Young innocents into obedience. Such course
not be too severely rebuked. It is unphosophcal
and in the highest degree barbarous in its nature,
often entaling wretchedness, in the shape of unnec-
essary fears, on the being whose courage and detr-
mination should be fortified and strengthened instead
of being sapped and destroyed by the unnatural or
minimizing parent = on 60i.4,.
II is sometimes the case that persons, who for the
sake Of good joke, attempt to Brighten others, get
sadlv frightened themselves, or in some other way
receive a punishment, which they richly deserve
A case is related in the medical books, of young
man in the country, who, on learning that some
froicksome girls intended to go into q neghboring
cornfeld one evening, to get some Of corn 20
roast determined to Tighten them, He accordingly
s- --. s. 1.Bsst' s-osa