Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-26

ance Of all morbi6c influences can pres
serve the health or the beauty.
Insanity is another result. We have
read. while preparing this paper, an ac>
count Of "a young Spaniard in the city Of
New York, who, during fit of mental
alteration, cast himself headlona from
the house-top and perished. His mel |
ancholy story will be instructive to re-
late. He was the son Of one Of the Real-
thiest merchants in HAVANA, and from
childhood had been accustomed to the
lounging inaction Of that va rm and se-
ductiye climate. His person was slen-
der, but elegant; his nervous system
naturally delicate, became more SO from
his mode of life. An attachment which
he. formed was opposed by his father,
who had other views for him. The young
man was at length banished from bis
parents house and sent into honorable
exile at New York until he should con-
sent 70 meet his fathers wishes. With
4 a heavy heart he reached this ,ccuntry;
but for while the novelty Of the scenes
relieved his mind. This c could not las.
'Ilong. He soon pined for his native land
\ and for the presence Of her he loved.
/ He wrote to his father entreating to re-
! turn. For weeks before the answer
{ came he alternated between desponden-
I, cy and hope. AT length he received a
: reply. It forbade him to think OF a rec-
( onciliatlon at home until he should con.
sent to the hated marriage. The blow
was too much for his delicate nervous
3 organization. Dependency unrelieyed
r by hope, darkened into madness. In a
: fit Of delirum he clambered through the
8 dormer window, got on the edge Of the
!, roof, and in presence Of large crowd,
: joined his hands over his head like one
n about to dive and plunged downward.
/. We could moi cite more forcibIe il :
6 lustrntion. Had this hapless young
!, man possessed different organization
had the nervous system not prepon,
is derated. he would, instead OF sinking
}. into despair. have risen superior to his
'r misfortunes. Butunaccustoded to rely
y iug ou himself, brought up from child.
l. hood in luxury, the deprivations of his
p fathers wealth and the loss Of father,
le kindness, working on defective organ.
Of izatior. destroyed the equipoise Of hi.
Or mind. We have not the means Of de-
), termining whether the ascendency o
Ut his nervous system was hereditary or a
IN rose from education: i. was probably th'
II result Of both combined.
IL This snbject is further elucdated b,
o. the fact that in the United States, wher
re the intellect is more severely taxed Fl on
g. childhood than in any other ciyllize
a- country, and where constant and prope
a exercise, which can alone counterac
40 this labor Of the brain, is comparatiyel
ne little attended to, the number Of insan
or persons is as two to one when compar
oi ed with England. The same difierenc
re is perceptible in different sections oft
ut country. In tho rural districts of tn
TO- .s west for instance the insane bear nc
us more than half the proportion to tn
oy whole population that they do in tn
. manufacturing districts of New Eng
o o' land. In Scotland too where the pee
=. pie are Of metaphysical turn. ihe nun
20 Der Of the insane is larger than in Eng
,n land. These facts show conclusiyeI
~ ~ that wherever the nervous system
on predominant there is a tendency to il
0n sanity; startling consideration for pa
- -. rents, who, by negIecting the physic,
90 o. education of their children, increase tn
40 chances Of this terrible disease. AJul,
cc' too, may profit by this lesson. Lat
10 hours, neglect of the practical dutie!
-. constant indulgene in high,wrought fe
~ y, tons, or other unnatural or sustaine
~ -. excitement, by increasing the relaty
20 influence of the nervous system, lay
y y the foundation Of humorous train
=: disorders, of which consumption and il
is e sanity are among the foremost.
n'' -. We would not wish to be .understoc
ny as opposing intellectual cultivation. c
.as y. the contrary, nothing i . farther from 0,
~, wish. But the improvement Of the mil
'us is not incompatible with the care of Il
c.S body, aud indeed the fancy is alwa
io' y. brighter and the judgment more acc
~ ~ rate in good health than ia bad. Phi
W sical and intellectual education shou
a's '"s go hand in hand; thus the body al
,.u mind would retain their relative pos
~ tions; and the highest amount Of felici
ss ' be secured.--Ladies National Magazin
wn SAvNG TME.-"John," said clergym
les one day to his servant, ''would it not be
,g- good plan for you to have a stub soy
lile here, and be hubbing few bushes while t
wn oxen are res,ingp John with countenon
nj which might well have become the diyi
"S himself instantly returncd--.W WouId il 4
'ed be well, sir, for you to have swinglin
ID board in the pulpit, and when they are singir
ri. to swingle little flax?'
m The Portland Bulletin tells good story