The Placer herald., 1856-04-19
School Reform.

NohN'S''hS Wi S>iOOio, ttAid PloiOoSo eii"e
gynnastic exercises be made a branch of the
common school education. There is no doubt
of the perfect correctness of the recommen-
dation.
In our rage for education, we have over
looked the necessity of cultvating the body
as well as the mind. We take great deal
of interest in the improvement of Our cattle,
but quite forget that our race is affected by
the same physical causes that operate upon
the OK or horse. We know exactly what
kind of food to give a race horse, and how
much exercise he should have in order to in
crease and preserve his powers, whilst the
only care we seem to give to children is to
make sure that their little noodles receive
the utmost amount of stuting that they can
possibly bear.
And this is true, even of our more wealthy
people throughout the United States. From
the time the child is able to 90 to school it
is cooped up in some half ventilated room,
bending over desk, and poring over the
lesson, until both body and mind give way
the spirits are dashed, and premature entry
into busy life finds them a race of pigmy men
and women, deformed in body and Ounces in
practical knowledge.
The Chronicle thus sums up the evils ap-
parent in the city schools:
The children who have been attending our
schools in this city for two or three years steadily
are not as healthy looking as they were three
years ago. One of the most intelligent and
pericnced teachers says that he finds many Of his
pupils hollow-chested, STOPPING. droop shouldered
and some of them showing an evident tendency to
pulmonary complaints. And all these conditions
in nearly all cases undoubtedly the effects of
neglected physical training. The children sit at
a low Bench bend over it, throw, or let their
shoulders gradually curve forward, and contrac-
ton of the chest, weakness OF the muscles
stunting of the lungs lack of vital energy, dis
eases OF the spine, loss of energy and power of
concentration and mental effort generally, follow
just as inevitably as any effect can follow its
cause"
The parents even desirous to have smart
children, rather than to secure healthy sem
sible women and robust energetic talented
men. The mistaken affection of these peo-
pie should be instructed by "litte Paul" of
the firm of "Domby Il Son" 1t is better
that the female should never see letter un
til seven years of age, and the boys remain
fools until they are ten, than that this stuff
fng process should ruin both body and mind
by confinement, and the al sence of the es-
sential exercise.
The people of Europe understand this
o,oe+;or ,,r.1 Io++or t1,oo wa 40 Tho
youth of the English aristocracv often make
the tour of France Germany and Italy on
foot, and the German student is afamous pc
destrian.
Give the little fellows fair show-let them
have plenty of exercise, and we shall have
better men and women as the result.
ROWS Circus was crowded on Thursday
night, and their performances sava satisfar-
ton to the audience. No wonder the Island
ers encouraged this troupe, and filed the
house nightly for months. One of our re-
grets which AGE brings with years and
cloyed taste, is that we cannot enjoy the cir
Gus as we did in our youth. The zest has
passed with boyhood. This is no fault of the
actors, for the performance is actually better.
ATTEMPT AT RoDBERY.-On Tuesday night
three men entered the cabin Of some Ger
mans near Ophir, and demanded their money.
While the robbers were tying one of their
victims, another one escaped from the cabin.
A shot was fired, when the German com
menced hallooing murder; this frightened
the robbers and they left in hurry. Two
of them had their faces BACKED, and the
third white handkerchief over his face.
Mr.. Days warehouse, at Doty's Flat was
robbed the same night of so lbs. Of tea
R1cn QuARTz-We were shown some dust
taken from piece Of quartz about the size
of hens egg, taken from claim near this
place, evincing great richness in the lead,
No particle of the dust could be seen in the
piece with the naked eye, but on the test it
turned out over $40.
A REGISTRY LAw-The X. Ms an clamor-
Gus for a registry law. Wonder if they think
it will prevent rascally members and attaches
of the Legislature from voting away from
home in violation of the spirit Of the law.
DEDICATION BALL.-A ball is to be given
at the Pine Grove House, Secret Ravine on
Thursday evening May lst. From the prep
arations making it will no doubt be a pleasant
party.
New STAGE LINE.-A new Stage line has
been started between Yankee jim and Iowa
Hill via of Wisconsin Hill, by Messrs. Clark
Il Loverin, over the new road recently COM