Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-12-19
Something to be rtsd and re-
memberea.
By Al. D0wNNo

memberea.
/ m u BYA.J. DowNno. -
Now, there is curiouj BAT indisputa-
BILE fact, I somebody must 81 ~ touching
our present condition and appearance, as. a
nation of men, women AID children, in
which we Americans compare most unfa-
vorably with the people d Europe, and
especially with those Of northern Europe or
in England and France, for example. 1t
is neither in religion or molaIity, law or
liberty. In these great essiniisls every A.
merican feels that his county is the birth
place Of larger number ofrobust and heal
thy souls than any other. But in the bodi-
ly condition, the signs Of ikysieal health,
and all that constitutes the onward aspect
of the men and women of li.eGniied States,
our countrymen compare most unfavorably
with all but the absolutely starving classes
on the other side of the Atlantic So COM
pletely is this the fact, that though we are
unconscious oft at home, the frs, thing
especially of late years--which strikes an
American returning from abroad, isthe pale
and sickly countenances Of his friends, ac-
| quaintances, and almost every one he meets
in the streets Of large towns-every other
man looking as if he had lately recovered
from a fit of illness. The men look so pale,
and the women so delicate, that his eyes,
accustomed to the niger hues of health, and
the more vigorous physical condition OF
TRANSATLANTIC men and women, scarcely cred
its the assertion of old acquaintance, when
they assure him that they were never bet
ter in their lives
With this sort Of impression working on
our mind, ON returning from Europe lately,
we fancied it worth our while to plunge two
or three hundred miles into thu State OF
New York. 1; would be pleasant, we
thought, to see not only the rich forest see
merry opened by the new railroad to Lake
Erie, but also-for we felt confident they
were there-some good, hearty, fresh-look-
ing lads and Iasses among the farmers sons
and daughters.
We were for the most part disappointed.
Certainly the men, especially the young
men, who live mostly in the open air, are
healthy and robust.-But the daughters OF
the farmers-they are as delicate and pale
as lilies of the valley, or fine ladies of the
Fifth Avenue. Ii one catches the glimpse
of a rose in their cheek, it is the pale rose
of the hot-house, and not the fresh glow OF
the garden damask. Alas, we soon discov-
cred the reason. They, too, live for seven
months Of the year in unventlllated rooms,
heated by close stoves! The fireplaces are
closed up, and ruddy compilations have van.
ished with them. Occasionally, indeed,
one meets with an exception some bright
eyed, young, rustic Hebe, whose rosy cheeks
and round, elostic figure, would make you
; believe that the world has not grown 'deii'
cate;;' and if you inquire, you will learn
probably that she is one of those whose nat
ural spirits force them out continually il
the open air, so in that way escaped any
considerable doses Of the national poison.
: Now that we are fairly ahoat OH his dan
gerous sea, we must unburthen oar hear
sufficiently to say that neither in England
nor France one does not meet withsO mucl
beauty -certainly not, so far as charmin:
eyes and expressive faces 60 towards con
structing beauty-as in America, but alas
on the other hand, as compared with tn
elastic figure and healthful frames oftnose a
broad, American beauty is as evanescent a
dissolving view, contrasted with real ant
, living landscape WHAT is with Us a swee
dream from sixteen to twenty-five, is Their,
: permanent reality till forty-6ve OF fifty.
We should think it might be matter G
:. climate, were it not that we saw, as the mos
common thing. even finer compilations il
France-yes, in the heart Of Paris and es
!, pecially among the peasantry, who are al
!, most wholly in the open air-than in Eng
= land.
And what, then, is the mystery Of fin
> physical health, watch is SO much better ur
u derstood in the Old World than it is in tn
:. New?
The first transatlantic secret Of health,
muchlonger time passed in the air BY a
|. classes of the people the second, the be-
: ter modes of heating and ventilating III
rooms in which they live.
;. Regular daily exercises in the open ali
u both as duty and pleasure, is somethin
looked upon in very different light on tn
two different sides Of the Atlantic. On tn
side of the water, if person-say Profe
sional man, ora merchants seen regula
" devoting a certain portion of the da
: = TO exercise, and the preservation of his be
= Oily powers, he is looked upon as valet,
dinarian-an invalid, who is obliged to tax
{ !. care ofhimself. poor soul and his FRIEND
- daily meet him with sympathizing looks, h
= ping he " feels better" etc. As for ladie
IS unless there is some object in taking wall
i they look upon it as the most stupid and vi
J meaning thing in the world.
e On :he other side Of the water, perso
q who should neglect the pleasure If breath
e ing the free air for a couple Of hours daily
. or should shun the duty of exercise. is su
y pected of slight lunacy; and ladies VIII
q should prefer continually to devote the
leisure to the solace of luxuriant Fashion
rather than an exhilarating ride or wall
are thought little tefe montee What,
short, is looked upon as virtue there.
q only regarded as matter Of fancy here
IS Hence, an American generally shiver
in an air that is only grateful and bracing
y an Englishman, and looks blue in Paris,
weather wheu the Parisans sit with the cas-
q ment windows of their saloons wide opeI
Yet it is u ,doubte6Iy matter Of habi an
&c we Yankees-we mean those Of US not 70
. ced to rough it"-with the toughest matt
:, raj constitutions in the world, nurse GU
= selves, as people. into the least robust an
rnost snscentible pkvsi0mss in existence.