The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-07
THE SEVERITY OF PARENTS AND
TEACHERS - q

We have recently read narrowing instance Of
the effect of blow on. the head. inflicted with n
ruler. DIR. Wigan, in whose work on the duali
~ OF the mind the account is found, states that
he knew the parties, and can vonch for the rene
raj accuracy of the narrative. We give merely a
brief SUMMARY as warning againt severity, and
especially against blows on the head
Two chi.cEen Of a respectable family, one hve
and the other ten years old, showed for wears a
remarkable attachment for each other, such tba,
after several trials, it was decided to be dancer
Gus to separate them, and they were sent away to
school together.
Al hrst all went well the ardent affection
continued, and their education promised to be
attended with the happiest results.
In Inc midst OF the happiness, news arrived
from Inc school master, that, from some unex-
piained cause. the elder hoy had begun to exer-
else very unreasonable aud tyrannical autboritv
over the younger; that he had been repeatedly
punished for 1t. but that although he ALWAYS
promised amendment, and could assign no cause.
reasonable or unreasonable, for his cunduct. he
he soon relapsed into his usual habits and the
school master requested To know what was to he
done. The father Immediately sent Tor both bows.
and entered upon long investigation. The lille
one was almost heart broken, and exclaimed. che
might beat me every day if he would but love
me but he hates me, and shall never be happv
again" rr'
The father now resorted to severe measures.
chassement, long incarceration. and days together
with only bread and water for his diet but all ia
no purpose. The boy promised amendment, but
upon the frst occasion resorted 10 all his former
violence, and finally attempted the child's life
with all the fury of maniac.
The family next called in medical advice. and
years passed In hopeless endnavors TO remove a
disposition obviously depending on diseased
40 ial.A 81
f1oggIngs and imprlsonments would have been
spared, as well as the fathers heart-renJing re-
morse.
The youth now advanced towards manhood -
When about the age of fifteen, he was taken win
a violent, but pla'onic, passion for LADY, more
than forty years of age. and the mother of five
children, the eldest older than himself. His
paroxysms of fury now became frightfnl he made
several attempts to destroy himself; but in the
very torrent and whlrlwind of his rage if this
lady would allow him to sit at her feet. and Law
his head on her knee, he would burst into ,eors
and go on into sound sleep, wake up perfectly
calm and composed, and looking up into her face
win lack lustre-eye, would say, pity me
can't help it,"
Soon after this perod he began to squint. and
was rapidly passing into hopeless idiocy, when it
was proposed by Mr.. Cline To apply the trephine.
and take away piece of bone from the skull in
place where there appeared To be slight depres-
sion. The Indication is very vague said be
. and we should not be justified in performing
the operation but in case in which we cannot
do any harm he must otherwise fall sacrifice !"
1t was done. and from under the surface GREW
long sPlcnla of bone piercing the brain! He re-
covered, resumed his attachment to his brother.
and became indifferent to the lady
The disease which led to these terrible results
had Its origin in blow on the head with the end
OF round rnier-one of the gentle reprimands
then SO common with school masters.-.N. Y.
Mirror