Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-03-19

L
We find, in the Report ofthe Superintendent
Of Public Instruction for Wisconsin. an elaborate
paper, by r. R Hoy, u D., discussing under
the head Of "Physicai Education the subject Of
| the construction of school houses, which con-
| tains many excellent ideas. He coutends-and
truiy--;hat school buildings should be architec-
turaily tasteful, located in not only the most
| healthy, but the most picturesque and charming
spo; TO be found within tie district: with ample
grounds attached, Eornamen,ed With trees flow
ering shrubs and plants, and arranned with taste
On another point-which we have frequently
urged upon the attention Of school authorities
is that the furniture should be ornamented, as
well as convenient; rooms hung with paintings,
eDgravings and maps executed in the best man
ner. The buildings and their surroundings
should present to the eye nothing but delight
full and pleasing objects, from the contemplation
of which the mind would return satisfied to
make Us better. more contented and happy
quickening our sympathies-filling the mind with
imagery of beauty and taste for man. in eontem-
plating the beautiful in art and nature, not on
iy finds delightful enjoyment OF elevating
character but is profted by the influence these
emotions exert on his physical nature. The in
fuence that the beautiful exerts over man NOR
ally and intellectually, is well known but aside
from this, exerts large influence over his physi-
cal development which has been too much neg
lected. Of this we shall only here speak. In
perfect state of things every individual would
be perfectly beautiful. There can be no physi-
cal perfection without it; for beauty is the nor
NAL condition hence health and beauty are SYM
onymous; then just so far ~ we bring man back
to his primitive, God like condition, we restore
him to beauty and health
1t Is physiological law, contends DR.. H., that
any impression upon our form or features, long
continued, becomes fixed and permanent Ex-
hIbit to child an offensive object, one calcula-
ted to excite disgust or dislike, and mark the
expression ofdisquet and loathing. Now sub
stitute an object of an opposite character, one
suited to excite pleasurable sensations what |
eyes now sparkle and fairly dance
with delight; the face is all radiant with happi |
ness and beauty. Should these impressions be
long continued or frequently repeated, they will
be daguerreotyped on the dial of the soul-the
great abundance. Look at the squalid poor,
their children at birth very often have the ele- |
ments of beauty in considerable degree ;but by
dwelling continually amidst coarse and disgust
ing objects, they grow up with that stereotyped
quirk of the upper lip and nose which makes them
look us though their olfactories were perpetual
ly being offended. The shanty and surroundings |
has become part of their existence; and its in
fluence is stamped upon their faces. Take one |
ofthese children while young, and surround j!
it with elegance, cultivate its taste, and you will
be surprised at the lack Of resemblance to its
parents. If such change be effected in the
first generation, what ought we not to expect if
such influences were continued for a series of
generationss
These considerations should have more weight
than they are accustomed to have with those
whose business it is to order the construction,
furnishing and adornment of our school build
Chicago Democrat.