The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-05-18

said that he could not perceive there was
much the matter with her; he, however
recommended fresh air and exercise, and
suggested that perhaps few weeks by
the seaside might do her good. Now,
this latter advice Fanny liked very much;
it added to her Importance as lady that
she should be taken to the seaside be-
cause she was in delicate health. How
ever, as Fanny meant to be delicate, she
was as much so on her return as before,
until at last it became an allowed fact in
the family that Fanny was so delicate
that she was left to do pretty much as she
pleased.
Time passed on, and Fanny became q
wife, and, with vague idea that she was
to secure to herself the affections of her
husband, just in proportion that she made
demands upon his sympathy, her elegant
ailings became more numerous than ever,
and she has fully established her claim
to be classed among delicate women
Perhaps the custom of giving calomel
to destroy health, as if it were weed too
rank to be allowed to grow, is not very
much practised but other injurious GUS
toms are taught and practised which as
certainly injure health.
Tie custom Of confning the hody in
tight stays, or tight clothes of any kind,
is exceedingly hurtful to the health of
both body and mind. A girl has learned
very bad lesson, when she has been
taught that to gain the admiration of her
fellow-creatures, she must, even to the
endangering of health and life, distort
her figure from that which nature has
made, to something which fashion pre-
sumes to dictate as more admirable.
The custom of preventing the active
use of the limbs, and free exercise of the
body generally, and restricting every
movement to the artificial notions Of
boarding school propriety, is attended
with mental and physical evils Of all sorts
While a child is forbidden to take the
bodily exercise which nature would impel
her to do, the humors grow thick and
stagnate for want of motion to warm and
dilate them; the general circulation is i'm
peded the muscles stiffen, because de-
prived of their necessary moisture; OBJ
structions take place, which produce
weakness in every animal function; and
nature, no longer able to discharge the
morbid matter which constantly accumu-
lates from all her imperfect operations,
gradually sickens, and the child is either
carried to premature grave, or contin-
ues an existence Of physical and mental
languor and listlessness; and another is
added to the class of delicate women
We cannot be far from right in saying
that almost all the mental and physical
ailings of delicate women may be traced
to defestive education. And those who
are now engaged in training girls, wheth-
er at home or in schools, cannot too SER
iously consider the weight of responsible
ity resting upon them. Upon their man
agement depend much of future health,
and, consequently, the usefulness and
happiness of those committed to their
charge.
AS requisites to the promotion of bod
lily vigor, we will mention:-
A strict attention to personal cleanli-
ness, which children should be taught to
cultivate, because it is healthy and right
that they should be clean, and not be-
cause 'it would look so if they were dir
ty?
me use Oh apartments tndt are well
ventilated.
Frequent and sufficient active bodily
exercise in the open air
Entire freedom from any pressure u
pom the person by the use of tight clothes.
A suficiency Of nourishing and digest
ible food.
And, in winter, the use of such firing
as is needed to keep up heslthful
warmth.
All these will to promote health, but
We shall have no security against deli
cate women unless there be also added
the cultivation of mental health.
For this, it is necessary that girls
should be taught to cultivate n1entaI pur-
6ty md mental actiUity, by sufficient and
well-regulated exercise of the mind,
Habits Of benevolence, contentment,
and cheerful gratitude should be incul-
Gated. both by preeept and example, to