The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-04-10
Early Mental Activifv.


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Early Mental Activity.
Experience" says DR.. Spurzman, "dem.
onstrates that Of any number of children OF
equal intellectual power, those who receive
no particular care in childhood. and who
do not learn to read and write until the
constitution begins to be consolidated. but
who enjoy the benefit Of good physical
education, very soon surpass, in their STU
dies, those who commence earlier and read
numerous books when very young. The
mind ought never 10 be cultivated at the
expense of the body; and physical education
ought to precede that of the intellect, and
then proceed simultaneously with it with.
out cultivating one faculty 20 the neglect of
others; for health is tho base, and instruc-
tion the ornament Of education"
Let parents then check, rather than az.
cite in their children, this early disposition
TO mental activity; or rather let them coun-
terbalance it by due proportion Of physi.
cal and gymnastic exercises; for it is not SO
much the intensity as the continuity of the
mental action. which is Injurious to the
constitution. Let them not cause the age of
cheerfuness to 10 spent in the midst of tears
and IN slavery; let them not change thesunny
days OF childhood into a melancholy gloom,
which can at best only be source of mis-.
cry aud bitter recollection in maturer years.
Physical exercises and the cultivation of
the percep,ive faculties should, with the
reading OF moral and instructive books,
form the principal occupations of children:
Their expanding frame requires the invigo-
rating stimulus Of fresh air; their awaken
ing organs seek for external objects Of
sense; their dawning intellect necessarily
calls for the action Of their observant pow
ers. This is the great law of nature. She
has given to the child that restless activity.
that buoyancy of animal spirit that ptyinr
inqnisitiveness which makes him delight in
constant mssion and in the observation of
new objects. If these intentions of Provi-
dence be not frustrated; if he be allowed to
give himself up to the sportive feelings of
his age, he will acquire a healthy consti,u-
ton, and a physical and perceptive devel-
opment which are the best preparation for
mental labor.
OF the rnen who have conferred benefit
on society, and have been the admiration
OF the world, the greater number are those
who, from various causes, have in early
life been kept from school or from serious
study. They have by energetic and we'll
directed efforts, at period when the brain
was ready tor the task, acquired knowledge
and displayed abilities which have raised
them to the highest emineuce in the differ
ent walks in life, in literature, the arts and
sciences, in the army, the senate. the
church, and even on the throne. The his,
tory of the most distinguished among those
who have received an early classical edu.
tion sufficiently proves that it is not to
their scholastic instruction, but to selfedu-
cation after the period of school, that they
chiefly Owed their superiority.
David, the sublime author of the Psalms.
followed in his early occupations the die
tates OF nature; he had in his youth mus
cular power 10 tear asunder the mouth Of
a lion, 10 resist The grasp of bear, and to
impart to pebble velocity sufficient to slay'
a giant Napoleon, when in the school Of
bnenne, was noted in the quarterly reports
OF that institution as enjoying good health;
no mention was ever made Of his possess
ing any mental superiority; but in physical
exercises he was always foremost. Sir
Isaac Newton, according to lis own state
ment, was inatientive, and ranked very low
IN the school, which he had not entered
until after tie age of twelve. The mother
OF sheridan long regarded him as the dull
est OF her children. Adasl Clark was call.
ed "grlevous Ounce" by his teacher; and
young Liebig ''booby" by his EMPLOYER.
Shakespeare, Moliere, Gibboh, Niebuhr. By
ron, liumphry Davy, Porson, and MANY
o'ners were in like manner undistinguished
Tor early application TO stndy, and for the
most part indulged in those wholesome
bodily exercises and that of freedom
mind which contributed so much to their
future exccllence.-Mareel.