The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-01-15
For The CPcH Whig.
THE HUMAN MIND.

subject i, full of interest inasmuch as the
most important part Of all science, is the
knowledge which man has acquired Of
the laws governing the operations OF his
own mind. 1t has long been remarked,
that healthtul slate of body is neces-
sary to a vigorous action Of the mind,
and that the mental and physical pow
ers are connected together by numerous
svmpathles, but the manner in which
they operate on each other seems too
subtle tor the grasp OF our comprehen-
sion.
BY reason we discover the laws of
mind in connection with matter, inAu-
enced by bodily condition, but not the
laws of independent mind. 1t would
seem TO be the nature Of mind, inGepen-
dent of body, TO be all-kuowlng and in
trliigent--tha! wherever the Creator
has given the form of man, He has also
given spark OF divine intelligence, all
intelligent in its seperate character, but
in its connection with body it has to ac-
quire knowledge slowly though the bod
lily organs of sense, and consequently
with more or less facility rs those or
gans and the BRAIN are more or less per-
feet. If this theory be correct, there is
probably no difference in the intelligent
principle, among men, but the vast ine-
qualities observable in the world, arise
from the difference in the organs of
sense which convey the impressions to
The brain, and in the character Of the
brain itself. "a human being born
blind and deaf, and therefore remaining
dumb, as in the noted case of the boy
Mitchell, grows up closely to resemble
an automaton, ignorant OF his God, his
destiny, the universe in which he lives,
and sensible only to certain impressions
of pain and pleasure directly reierable
to bodily states" His mind could not
be reached because the ordinary avenues
through which knowledge is communi-
Gated were closed up, yet we are not
from thence to infer that he was desti-
tute of that intelligent principle which
distinguishes man from inferior animals;
on the contrary we have proof in the
case of Laura Bridsman, now in the
Blind Asylum, Boston. that though in
struction cannot lie communicated
through the eye nor the ear. vet there is
present spark OF divine intelligence
| capable of acquiring knowledge, and
that will gain knowledge If there be any
medium through which il can be com
municat ed. Laura is blind. and deaf,
and dumb. and the sense of touch was
used as medium to impart instruction,
and strange as it may seem, she has
been taught to write and to converse,
showing great activity Of mind. She
carries on communication with her fin
gers touching the inside of the hand.
We often notice children whose minds
are SAID to be uncommonly brilliant,
Judging from the facility with which
they acquire knowledge, yet 1t frequent
ly happens that they never arrive at any
eininence, for want of industry and per-
severance, while their companions, who
were said to be of dull minds, by indus
try and application far ou,-strip them,
proving that the difference was not in
the character of the mind itself, but in
the medium through which instruction
is impaired, as the mind in connection
with body will ever br influenced by
bodily conditions, and thus we see that
childhood, maturity, and old age which
have such differences of bodily powers,
have corresponding differences of men,
! tai manifestation.
Numerous instances have been recor-
ded of the precocity of children, of which
Pascal was remarkable case. These
have shown great powers for acquiring
knowledge, and an ardent desire to &C.
quire it. and have almost invar iably fall.
len victims to youthful study. In these
cases we may infer that the organs OF
sense were so happily constituted that
knowledge was acquired almost without
an effort, hence it became delightful
and not task as with the generality OF
children, and the increase of the brain
from its great activity, required more
sustenance than the feeble frame was
capable OF imparting. RAMBLER.
PRETTY CUsToM.--ln the mountains
of Tyrol. hundreds of women and chill,
,ren come out at bed time. and sing
their national songs until they hear their
husbands, fathers and brothers answer
them from the hillSon their return home
Upon the shore Of the Adria'ic, the
wives of the fishermen come down about
sunset and sing one of these melodies
They sing the first verse and then listen
for some time; then they sing second
and so en- till they hear the answer from
the fishermen, who are thus guided to
theil homes.
u Asking a favor by letter, or Civ.
ing a person time to think of it, is only