The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-10-04
Misfellaneons.
For the Camden Journal
PHYSICAL and Moral Training OF the
Rising Generation.


eration, the thought often comes up: What
will be their moral and physical condition, and
what their ability to discharge the duties which
will devolve upon them?
For the faithful performance Of any duty,
proper preparatory course is deemed necessary.
Let us see what preparation the young OF the
present day are undergoing: and, to begin with
tue temales-they being the most important
what is the physical training to which they are
subject, designed to give them sound mind /"
a sound bcdy land thus fit them for the discharge
of maternal relations? Are their bodies suitably
clad, with garments so made as not to impede
the natural motions of the body, but to allow
free and full muscular Development? Are they
permited and encouraged to take free exercise
in the open air, without which the body cannot
attain to its natural growth, nor the mind any
Listing vigor! Alas! forpoor suffering human
tv, this course which nature dictates is not pur-
sued but on the contrary, the natural motions
o. the body are restrained; the limbs and mus.
cles of respiration are not allowed full play; the
helpless prisoners are for the most art confined
within doors; and when suffered to SO out to
take short ,calk, it is under the charge of soc:e
staid personage to watch their motions and tell
them it is unlady like to run and jump about;
thus compelling them to move as so many ma.
chimes, anil with little more manifestation Of VI
talty.
Thus for the most part are females managed
in cities, towns, and at boarding schools. This
is considered refinement! 1t is refinement with
vengeance for truly it refiues away the ener-
gy of mind and body-both are eufeetled-and
child bearing finishes the work that this unna
tural course had begun. The constitution be-
comes broken, the nerves shattered-ther days
are passed in mental and bodily suffering, and
premature death often completes the picture
When will parents and guardians awake from
this stupid lethargy in regard to so important
matter? When will common sense cause them
to cease from course that sacrifices their OIL
spring to such folly and blindness ? When will
they adopt as rational course in raising chill
dren as they do in raising stock We arc wri-
ting nothing neev-these things have been said
again and again; but it is needful that they be
often pressed uron the public attention, in the
hope that impressions may he made which shall
some day result in decided improvement.
And how is it with the boys! They have in
some respects the advantage over their feeble
sstcrs-they can run, and romp, and play until
they get in their teens, when they put on the
gentleman, wear neck-cloths, fashionable hat,
gloves and walking stick-chew, smoke, drink,
and so progress rapidly in all the vices of their
seniors; their constitutions soon become diseased
and enfeebled, and they have little ambition or.
ability, beyond animal iuIulgences. Our remarks
so far apply chiefly to cities and towns, but in
what we may say as to moral training, our re-
marks will have more universal application.
The Almighty has made 1t an universal rule,
bearing upon man as a physical, intellectual and
moral being, that happiness consists with duty
in all these relations; and that every departure
therefrom is followed by its evil consequences,
which act as punishment, designed to awaken
lis to reflection and examination so that we may
amend our ways. The Lord by Moses COM
manded his people to teach his laws unto their
children, and that not occasionally, but frequent
ly, so that often during the day his precepts
would be instillcd into their young minds, and
thus they would grow up in knowledge oftheir
duty, and be fitted for their stations rs the older
generation passed away. How little Of this
training do We see in the world, even among
protesting christians: 1t appears that parents,
as if by common consent, permit children to have
their own way. Where are the fathers or moth
ers that are properly teaching the little immor-
tails given them in time, to be their companions
in eternity! Alas alas to give the girls as
many fashionable accomplishments as may be,
and see them well married, as the phrase is
this is about the sum total Of their care for Mcna
For the sons the concern is to place them in a
situation where they can live free from manual
Iabor-this is about the chief anxiety for them.
As to that discipline which imposes wholesome
restraints, AMI duties-which inculcates subjec-
tion and respect to all in authority and
like duties enjoincd by God upon parents, all
seem by common consent to be abandonel.-