Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-08-18
ILL HEALTH OF AMERICAN WOMEN.

ILL HEALTH OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
The correspondent Of the Independent, who
has been entertaining the readers OF that paper
with the notes of his pedestrian tour in Europe,
has returned home and gives in his last commu-
nication some of the " first impressins which
home made upon his mind, after so long So
journ in foreign countries. Above all, the want
of national health, and particularly the almost
universal i'll health, of American Ladies, struck
him most forcibly. On this subject he says, 81
set down with lady lately, and out of wide
circle of acquaintances, in every part OF the
country, we attempted to reckon the healthy,
and we could not think of more than three heal
thy women. What is the rule in Europe,seems
the exception here, the ladies come before one
here as more fine, more delicate-yes, general
ly with more Of certain graceful beauty, than
in England or Germany but with far less ro-
bust health. There are so few healthy COM
plexions or vigorous forms. Those who are
we'll, are plainly weak, with constitutions which
the first rude shock of pain, or exposure will
shatter. And this does not seem confined to
one class. Indeed it is even more true of the
village than of the city. The pale worn looks
of the mechanics wives, or the sckly faces
which you see in so many farmers household,
show il sadly enough 1t is very seldom indeed
one passes through village here where the
ruddy complexion, the bright glance of health,
the full developed form meets the eye, as they
do so invariably in European villages. This
subject is of such Importance, that we extract
two or three other passages from the same ar
tcle. With reference to the cause of the gen.
eral decay of health, the author observes -
There is no country of Europe, | believe,
where people take so little cir as they do in
this. In England on many day, when no lady
here would soil her shoes out of doors, have
walked with ladies miles and miles through mud
and snow, or heavy mist In Berlin, there was
never u bright winters afternoon in which we
did not make up skating party on the mead
ows, where indeed all the bellies of the city
were collected. In Hungary, horseback scam
per over the plains, or walk in the gardens,
with the ladies was as the meals. And through
out Southern Germany, Italy, France, even
where there are no more vigorous exercises, an
afternoons promenade in the parks on the bas-
ton, has come to be almost necessary of life.
1t seems as if the people of those countries de-
lighted in the sun light much more than we.
The ladies read, sew, eat in the open air, in
arbors and gardens far more than is ever the
custom here Then in the lower classes the
women are obliged to work much in the fields,
in some respect thing not to be approved, yet
on the whole by no means so degrading GUS
tom as we often think in America. 1t brings
as one happy result at least, the full, cheerful
health which God designed to be the natural
accompaniment of life. There is an unnatural
delicacy among all our women about exposures.
If people would only learn that rain and frost
and snow are not half so poisonous as the
close vitiated air which steams all day within
heated walls. An English lady with her stout
boots and shortened skirts, makes no more of a
mud or snow walk than of the pleasantest ram
Bile. The walk becomes as much necessity as
dinner, and there is soon real pleasure in
breasting the rough weather The same writer
thinks we are great but not happy people.
We work too hard, play too little, and eat too
fast "The family NEAL" he says, "has a
higher object than to fill our stomachs. That
could be done in n much easier way. 1t is meet
to help on friendliness and sociality, to cherish
kindly relations. The mind is connected with
the body. We may wish transcendantally to be
above it; but the truth is,the moods depend much
on the nerves. Digestion of good cheer and
pleasant friendly talk seem to aid one an
other. In Europe, the father makes his meals
the time for his liveliest talks with the young
people. They all sit long at table. And the
dinner and supper hour are often the happiest
hours in the day. As recall my convention
with my friends in Europe, am surprised how
much Of the highest and noblest converse, in
terchange of thought which will inspire and
strengthen me for duty many day yet, was
over the table," There are not wanting, we
think, indications of a change for the better in
the habits of our ladies'. There are ladies' in
New York and great many in Boston, to
whom their daily walk is as much necessity
as the dinner, and who prolong both nearly to
the European extent.
Some years ago the Queen of England lost
favorte female dog. 1t was last seen before its
death, poking its nose into a dish of sweet
breads on the pantry-9resser. Foul play was