The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-10-04

This IS almost universally the case, and shocking
it is to contemplate in christian age, So
caled-to see God practically forgotten and his
laws contcmncd.
The future-the future will show the awful
consequences of this sad neglect Of duty to chill
dreu, to society, to country, and to God; but
must close these ,lcsultory remarks, which were
designed to introduce an extract from Medical
work on the Theorvand Practice of Medicine,
by Dr. E. E. Maray, the good sense of which
will commend itself to the reader page 1873:
"Ihe first and most essential condition for the
enjoyment Of perfect health, consists in Il SYM
metrical and we'll developed organization. In
looking around upon the world, how few do we
behold that can boast Of unexceptionable physi-
cll conforma,ons ?-how few who have not some
imperfcction which might have been avoided by
an early and proper attention to physical culture
But how shall this bodily perfection be attained
We reply, by the universal establishment of free
public gymnasiums, where those athletic exerc-
ses can he pursued which shall Systematically de-
velope and strengthen every pnrt Of the body.
We repeat, let there be established ATHLETIC sports
games, &C., suitable for all ages AID conditions /;
where the man Of mature years may occupy
agreeably an occasional leisure hour with rhysi-
cal and mental benefit; where the growing youth
can correct all iucipient bodily defects, and ac-
ouire that development and expansion in every
part, which will enable all of the organs to act
in free and healthy manner. Let us abolish
''nfant schools" for the education of infant an
tellects, and establish in their place infant gym
nasiums for the culture of their infant bodies.
Let us see no more intellectual "infant prod-
gies," with their pale, sckly faces, and their fee
BILE and halfdeveloped forms, but show US in
their stead physical prodigies with their rosy
checks, their plump, firm, and we'll grown mus
ces. and with their elasticity and Uuoyancy re-
minding lis constantly of perfect health. Show
US your children Of six eight, or ten years ofage,
wid bouncing and overtlowing with animal
spirits, aiher than your fine, we'll hammered, deli
cate, sickly, hot house and baud-box specimens.
"AIl Psychologists agree rs to the vast I'M
portarce TO the young, of a great amount of ex-
ercse-free, spontaneous, and unrestraincd. 1t
is priEc pie Of their natures, absolutely cssen-
tial to their well being, and we must not permit
the artificial customs or restraints of society to
prevent 1t.
"Our remarks apply with more force to cities
than to the country; for in the former everything
is forced and unnatural. Children are born into
hot-hous,s S, and reared in dwellings, heated with
Lchigh coal, to the temperature Of Is or so de
grccs Fahrenheit. Here do these unfortunatcs
pass the best part Of their existence, encompass
ed by every thing which is unnatural and arlifi-
cial, and inhaling an atmosphere deprived Of a
portion ofits oxygen, and impregnated with car
bonic and other noxious Gasscs, until, while yet
young III years, they arrive at the condition of
old age, satatcd with the displays and luXurics
u: life, and reduced to a miserable state Of ply
sical inctiicieucy.
ut has been we'll remarked by physioiog' sts,
that if the large cities were not constantly sup
Piled with healthy recruits from the country they
would soon become desert wastes. This remark
is, beyond question, true; and it is only neces-
sary to look into any Of our large towns and be-
hold the numerous WORKOUT and lmpotent wrecks
Of the wealthy families who have been inhabi-
tants for TWO or three generations, to be con-
vinced Of the fact i.