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

multiplied 10 show that nothing is gained,
even 10 mental cultivation, by devoting i
the earlier years Of childhood to play
insted Of study; while examples are nus
merous to prove that confirmed bad
Health il very often the result Of too se>
we're application to books on the part OF /
children. 1t is shameful that in some
schools, little girls are kept at their desks
for six or eight hours day. A late
writer, Broussais, says forcibly. "We
rarely see these prodigies ofintelle ctual
education prospering. If encephalitis
dose not carry them off, they infallibly
perish with gastritis or scro(ula. U
They are seen to decay and die, in the
prime Of lie, if they are not destroyed,
In spite Of all the efforts Of the art, by
|ahe first violent inflammation that attacks
them" Macnish says. "When the
body is growing rapidly. there is great
draft Of nervous energy made upon the
brain to effect the growth. lftherefore,
the brain is worked much at this time a
!, deficient supply Of such energy is sent
to the frame, and, as natural conse-
quence, the process of growth is
, checked" Tissot remarks, "the course
Z to be, adopted with children. for the first
! ten years of life, is neither to press nor
i torment them; but by plays, exercise Of
Y the body, entire liberty we'll regulated,
Y and good nourishment, TO effect the sal
9 utary and progressive development Of
the physical, moral and intellectual fac
n ulties'' And in another place he says,
4 "infancy should be consecrated to those
i exercises which fortify the body. rather
a than to mental application which enfee-
bles and distroys it," These remarks
: are particularly applicable to females,
= who, as being more nervous natural
: ly than men, are more liable to suffer in
: health by intense study when children
Z, Many Of sick-head aches among young
q girls may be traced 10 too active brain.
ID or am overtaxed application.
y The neglect of physical education ii
ID not less injurious to- personal appearance
ly Constant and free exercise in open al
gives grace to the figure and elasticit,
to the movements. the attitudes of chill
dren are noted for their elegance. Cap
tain Cook speaks particularly of tn
graceful walk apd beautiful persons o
IN the woman of Otaheite. and ofthe othe
r tropical islands where they were accus
an toned to living almost constantly ou
ne Of doors. Even to this day the Irisl
ae peasantry, who spend mnch of thei
is time in open air, are remarkable for well
-. proportioned figures. The Italian VIC
% men, especially those around Rome, ar
re distinguished for beauty, chiefly the re
ct suit of their mode Of life. Health is. in
to deed, indispensable to loveliness; aud
as want of proper exercise in youth an
nd afterward is a prominent reason why III
,ds American women fade SO much soone
ne than the English. Mental culture is ,
ed great service in heightening the mel
IN. physical beauty ofthe face, but withol
no health enduring loveliness is impossible
and even an intellectual expression fai
Is to redeem countenance worn thin b
e sickness. High animal spirits have
Tor powerful effect in producing beauty
IN face, and these disappear with disease
n Females, whose physical education hi
m been attended to in youth, retain the
Sc charms much longer than those WI
'r. have neglected in childhood. Englis
ladies' Of rank are proverbial for the
lis fine person and for wearingwell; and pc
wo haps, no race of men or women is q
10y we'll educated physically as the membe
n of the English nobility. 1t is not alto
he gether the climate to which British {
er- male is indebted for her beauty.
an But to turn to the effect which negle
of exercise produces on the young gin
'ur Many Of the nervous disorders prev
nlg lent may be attributed to this caus
fks The celebrated Hufeland says, ''inte
Ills lectual effort in the first years life
ate injurious. We ought not to think
ate attempting this while nature is Who'll
Inc occupied with the development Of orgal
ms and has need Of all the vigor Of the sy
TEN to effect this object. The neryeo'
JUS system thus acquires predominant
over all others, which it preserves {
ng. the remainder Of life, producing i'm,
zen merable nervous complaints. mela'
ing choly. hypochondria, &C.. &c." In Ia
on. er life the same effect may be produce
as by late or irregular hours, by deyotil
aPs the mind too much to exciting fiction
me by love. or by any other agitating caus
US. In our own observation we have know
gnt largo numb ers Of interesting femal
as whose health was injured by this ne;
as lect on the part Of their parents VIII
ma young, and subsequently by their o,
ers ignorance or folly in not counteractil
les by proper exercise the effects produc
KY by late parties and otherwise. A su
ect iect so important deserves the the ne,