The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-06-14
Gclrft Alisfcllann.
Health Of American Woman.

Miss Cathalinc Beecher's excellent book
has directed some attention to the subject of
the healthier rather i'll hcalth-ot our coun-
trywonen. spicy article in IIarper's for
June discusses the same matter as, far as
city residents are concerned. 1t is unior-
tunately true, however, that, delicate and
fragile as are metropolitan ladies, our country
DANES outve them in this respect. This,
too, in spite of the purer air and the carly
hours kept of necessity where there are few
public amusemcnts and large assemblies. in
spite, too. Of more active household employ
mcnt. The causes, then, must be somewhat
different, which yet produce the same result.
1t is true that portion Of the physical
suffering of city women who are exempt from
labor may be due to the want of regular 0c-
cupation which exercises the faculties of mind
and body, and TO indulgence in indoltnt
habits But the daily saunter in Broadway,
even though the fair pedestrian be hampcred
with half a dozen skirts of whalchone, hair
cloth morcen and flannel or swathcd and
manacled in other fashionable monstroslties
is favorable to health; while her intellect finds
if not full development little mincing ex-
cltcmcnt-enough to keep it fIom staSnation
in combinations and comparisons of dress
and shopping. and the small gossip Of her
circle Of acquaintance.
We should go to the root oPthe matter, and
assign, as the chief cause, the want of proper
development in infancy and childhood. If
mothers were bent on having their offspring
grow up sckly, defurmcd and inlbccile, they
could not adopt surer method of eliccting
the purpose than the prevailing system of
training.-From their birth, babies are cXclu-
ded from the air and light, and kept IN over
heated apartments. AS soon as they can
make their wants understood, their intense
craving for the blessings Of fresh air and sun
shine are manifest. They plead, Suppllcatc
and weep Tor what nature made essential to
their vigorous growth; but in most cases it is
denied TO the little wailing innoccuts
Almost the first word lisped by babe is a
petition to be taken out But this earnest
voice Of nature is stitlcl, and the victim com
PEELED to suffer imprisonmcnt-as u general
rule-though, perhaps allowed the small re-
lie: OF an hour every pleasant day out Of doors
till an unnatural condition IF the system
is supcrinduccd and the child actually sLrinks
from, or is injured by, the atmosphere out
side of the four walls.
We knew lady who would not suffer her
children even to stand at the closed windows
without being mutllcd-''Thcy are sure to
'ahe cOlu, Snc would Say-anu so they
were; for habitual confinement had induced a
morbid susceptibility hardly to be overcome.
To prevent in the city is the custom of
keeping young children in the house, or, at
the best, allowing them but partially and ac-
casionally the free use of their limbs in the
free air-and so mighty and prolific are the
evils, without any mixture of good, flowing
from the practice-that it cannot be too often
or too forcihly pressed on public attention.
Several gentlemen in this city have construc-
ted gynnasiums in the upper part of their
houses, with every imaginable continuance
for exercising all the limbs and increasing
th"ir strength.
This drop to the ocean may answer the
purpose for their families in Indictment wealth
err: but nothing can compensate even to them
for the want Of the inyigorating process de-
vised by natures sclf-ln the stimulus of
pure air, the bright joyous sunshine, and
perpetual variety sights and sounds; and,
good as gymnasiums may be, there is no pos
sible way of their general introduction.
No contlvance, no device of man can pro-
duce a Substitute for the pure air and exer-
else which nature demands, and which COM
mon sense teaches US are necessities for child
ren.