Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-21
SELECTED FOR THE SPIRIT, OF THE AGE.
From the Parlor Visitor.
n~@Ln~ uoo~As
Broken Hearts.

DIOAG4 hSdILS.
Of the many diseases to which flesh is |
heir, there is one which has as yet bafied
the skill of the healing art.
It lis disease principally confined to the
gentler sex, and for this reason [ propose |
to notice it in the Visitor, trusting that
should the welcome messenger find one so
afflicted it may bear healing on its wings. |
Tho the diagnosis be somewhat difficult, L
hope I shall be able to present the subject
in such light that even those who are ap
preaching s'the last stages" may look and
be healed. | allude to the Broken Hearts
A young lady CT never attacks one, 'sof a
certain age") falls in love weeks, months
and years its sparkling stream widens and
deepens and every day more obstinately
refuses to- strun smoothe."
Passions,swollen, it rushes on regardless
of every opposing barrier. Reason, duty,
nor religion avail to check its increasing
violence, till the foaming torrent dashes
into an infinite abysm of hopeless disap-
pointment. The fair girl pines in gloomy
dependency and refuses to be com forted
because he is not. The last link is broken
and in all the abandonment of her grief
she cries
--''like lily
| That was once mistress of the field
I'll hang my head and perish"
Sometimes they go off in the first acute
paroysm, but usually the diseases assume
chronic cha aracter. How changed is the
once lovel y crearure. Leprous grief has
blanched the rosy cheek, the healthful buoy
ant form has changed to an ETHEREAL fairy
shape, and the icy touch of sorrow has
chilled the gushing tide Of life. Sorrow
prcys upon its solitude. 'She never tells
her love, but lets concealment like worm
in the bud prey on her damask cheek
Slowly and sadly she sinks into the grave
and her Epitaph is "Died of lingering
illness"
This is no fancy sketch, but reality too
real.
Where are we to look for a preventive?
In the nursery, not the school room 1t is
a mistaken notion that education begins in
the school room. If it be delayed till then,
the sweetest buds in the tree of knowledge
will never burst their envelope. Pa
tience' is the first lesson, che may learn it
at the breast" and the habit of obedience
and trust may be grated on his mind in
the cradle. The only true foundation fol
happiness and usefulness must be laid a
home. 'Tis then the character must b,
formed and the impress of virtue and trutl
be stamped on the yielding mind. Fash
ion in its excess-the hollow courtesies O
life-the cob web lines Of etiquette, consti
tute poor nutrition for the youthful mind
But above all, true sentiments of moralt,
should be early instilled in the expandin.
heart, as the only safeguard in the hour O
temptation and solace in the gloom of sor
row. If the young lady suffers her who'll
affections to be centred on an earthly idol
she has no resource in disappointment !
all the best feelings Of her heart are en-
twined around her lover, no wonder it
broken when lie proves faithless-the fall
ing oak carries with it the clinging ivy
Mercenary considerations too often infu
ence the parent, and the child torn fror
the object of its love is sacrificed on tn
altar Of mammon. But by far the mos
fruitful cause of this disease is to be foun
in the trashy literature Of the age. Th
thirsty mind drinks in streams of namby
pamby sentimentalism till it is drunke
with misnamed love, an unholy desecratio
of the purest of Heavens gifts to man.
Thence is the progression downward -th
, spell Of the charner is on her-reason
swallowed up in fancy, Kin fine frenz
rolling" and the lig ght of true wisdol
eclipsed by the tinsel web of imagination
Unnoticed are the real objects of CHART
. around her, she sees only bright images r.
, fected by the Kaleidoscope of phantas s,
! But soon her sweet dream is broken-tf
: rainbow tints have vanished-the temptin
apple bitten and dust and ashes is her po
!. ton. Then away with life to suicide
i grave. It may be said her heart was br
: ken, but she has broken it herself Te
me not, that she cannot help it, that ii
mind cannot react. could as easily dish
: lieve the Immortality of the soul. The
: is a doctrine taught by some, that frail n
:. ture is too weak to bear up under an inc
/, bus of sorrow; that the over charged hea
= conveys its consuming fluid throughout t
: physical frame. and the patient dies und
the fires Of unrequited love. What is the
: in such sentiment consonant with t
: : noblest feelings of our nature? Whe
= the deep impulses and lofty aspiratio
. that should teach US to toll on and
:. hope? Where the patient resignati
% and holy confidence in God, that in eve
oe a misfortune meekly replies" Thy will
u done" Oh! It's an awful crime to Ii
. the creature and forget the Creator
p frightful risk to suspend our existence b
~ rope of sand, rather than the indissolu
- chain that links the soul to Heaven. W
~ ~ fearful prostitution of our talent to sqa
!" der all on one favored object? But e
though the mind may be paralized
sudden shock, has it no recuperatiye Ell
,e. gy? No reaction from a rude contact
ug Then are the sophists of antiquity
nd Psychologists of modern times sadly
,e' fault IN reference to the capacities Of
ne ne human mind. As truly as the victim
ba bo mania potu, the victim of mania m,
ok by unrestrained indulgence, brings d.
ide upon herself J. a. [
the Marion, Tenn.
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