Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-04-08
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS,


/ s There are very many things we want to know
about foreign countries, which we never do know
from books. What people eat 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
trythese things interesting, and are very hard
to learn except from travellers themselves" Ac-
cordng 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
and to have made his way into the interior of the
country of which he gives some most interesting
and graphic descriptions To the German he says,
his views will necessarily very superficial; but
he tells simply and agreeaby what he saw and heard
during two years soourn in the different states of
Germany, and this without any undue prominence
of the Ego, 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 us
understand that most puzzing of all considerations
" The German Union" We recommend 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 well worth the atten
ton of those who often panied by seeing their
most earnest teachings received with careless indif-
ference, and the whole regarded as "a task,
a punishment and the sooner the better"
We must be permitted to extract some pertinent
remarks upon the subject of our National Heahh:-
We are an unhealthy race. No can doubt 1T,
who sees the old of Europe. Our faces are
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 as en-
during European; but he does not get half the
pleasure from his vigour. Indigestion and nervous
diseases thelife 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 see in
North Germany, in the autumn and winter or in
Hungary in the summer that the differences in eli
mate were very appreciate. There were the same
sudden changes the same extremes of heat and cold,
and atmosphere quite remarkable for dryness
as The great and sufficient cause will be
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 exer-
else. The people need outdoor manly sports and
healthy amusemcnts. Those wearing formal city
with late hours and unhealthy fare,
and those most useless trips to crowded watering
places, must be dropped for something German
cheering, hcalthful, 5oyish-or We
shall be nation of dyspeptics.
Other causes for cur sickness be found in
our general habits-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, l shall
have written to good purpose.
AS a practical conclusion, 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 pleasing
and agreeable, and we have doubt will be very
generally read To be had at Pomeroys.