Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-04-12
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

HONE LIFE IN GERNANY-BY CHARLES BRACE
There are very many things we want to know
about foreign countries, which never do know
from books What people ent and what they drink,
how they amuse themselves, what their habits are
at home, what furniture they have how their houses
look, and above ALL what the usual talk and tone of
thought is, among the great middle classes of
try-these things interesting, and are very hard
to learn except from travellers themselves" Ac-
cording to his design, thus avowed in the preface,
Mr.. Brace seems to have avoided the usual line of
travel and the sightseeing of the ordinary tourist
country, of which he gives most interesting
and graphic descriptions To the German he says,
his views will necessarily very superficial; but
he tells simply and agreeably what he and heard
during two years soourn in the different states of
Germany, and this without any undue prominence
of the Ego, or dragging unnecessarily before the
public private individuals and their concerns.
While the book is principally taken up with the
home life and domestic scenes which he witnessed,
there is much valuable information, and he helps
understand that most puzzling of all considerations
The German Union" Werecommend the account
of the German Universities to the consideration of
the instructors of youth in our country. And
whether he has hit upon the right solution of the
difference between their students and ours, in the
deep interest they take in their studies and their ap
probation of their intellectual advantages we are
not prepared to say but it is we'll worth the atten
ton of those who often panied by seeing their
most earnest teachings received with careless ndif
ference, and the whole course regarded "a task,
punishment, and the sooner over the better"
remarks upon the subject of our National Health -
awe are unhealthy race. No one can doubt it,
who sees the old races of Europe. Our faces arc
thin, compilations sallow; dyspepsia and consump-
ton are universal in land which in all physical
comforts presents the greatest advantages for the
preservation of health. Life may be as long on the
average, but it is much less enjoyed. An American
is capable Of strong muscular effort and is
during as European but he does not get half the
pleasure from his vgour. Indigestion and nervous
diseases the life of half people These facts
are notorious in Europe, and our sharp, worn Amer
lean faces are known everywhere. In
accounting for this, too much weight, in my opinion,
is laid to the effects of climate. could not in
North Germany, in the autumn and winter, or in
Hungary in the summer that the differences in eli
mate were very appreciable. There were the same
sudden changes the extremes of heat and cold,
and an atmosphere quite as remarkable for dryness
as our own. The great and sufficient cause will be
found to be in this very difference in respect to out
door exercise and amusement
We work too hard and play too little.
Our nervous and digestive systems cannot sustain
such an intense action of brain, the American life
demands without frequent pleasant muscular excr-
else. The people need outdoor manly sports and
healthy amuscments. Those wearing formal city
! enjoyments with late hours and unhealthy fare,
| and those most useless trips to crowded watering
places, must be dropped for something German
like-something cheering, healthful, 5oyish-or we
shall be nation of dyspeptics.
Other causes for Cur sicklness can be found in
our general habts-our diet-our excessive greed
| for money--the little heed give to quiet family
enjoyments. And if in these respects, | shall be
able to show how much vitality important to our fu
ture We have to learn from the Germans, shal
have written to good purpose.
AS a practical conclusion, 1 would say to every
man, who would deserve well of his country, play
play more-patronize, encourage play"
We need not say that the book is very pleasin.
and agreeable, and have doubt will be very
generally read To be had at Pomeroy's.