The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-07-11
WHOLE NUMBER 1866:
The Responsibility of Women for the
Health of their offspring.

marked, that "Pcrfect health in civilized so-
c'ety Is unknown; it exists only as an ideal
'ty.' This startling truth, which any one
OF observation cannot dispute, leads to the
inquiry, Who is in fault A full and inn
partial answer would require us to examine
the duties of both sexes. Atpfesent how
ever, we shall only consider the manner in
which woman discharges her high response
bilities rs mother Of the race
From reports published by Miss Beecher,
and Others we learn that our towns do not
average one hcotihy monaan. Nevertheless,
ne who teaches that the sex arc in fault for
their bodily infirmtics, is often regarded as
blasphcmng; for has not Providence seen.
tit to afflict them !! Thus by making Su-
prcmc Power the scapc-goat, they piouslv.
relieve themselves Of all responsibility for,
their own sufferings, and those which they
lnflict upon the race.
When we consider that about every third
woman has a diseased spine, that at least
every fifth one is scrofulous, consumptive.
or possessed Of some other disease transmits
sibc to her offspring and making no es-
innate of general debility and various weak
nesscs, that not one in hundred can boast
OF having no dcformcd bones, We are led to-.
ask, what kind Of Providence is that who
thus delights in distiguring his noblest
work? Providence establishes laws-those
who violate them suffer the penalty. If we
LOOK from effects to their causes, we, can
trace to the habits and customs of women
many OF the evils which have vitiated the
human family. 1t cannot be expected that
lnflrm parents, groaning under load Of
disease, will give to the world ain iron race.
1t should not be expected that women who :
shut themselves in from the inspiring air
and sunlight of heaven, confining their Ia
bors entirely to the house or living in indo-
lent luxury, will "stamp their race with mna-s
Jcstlc grace" or transmit to tho world off
spring possessed Of sound mental and phys--
ica! organizations. AS reasonably may we
look for pure sparkling waters to flow from.
| malignant morass.
There arc those of the sex that have OBJ
| served and reflected much, who know and
acknowledge that women arc in fault, GRIM
inaly 50, for scores of the complaints from
which the race suffer. With such lies the
weighty duty of commencing reform.
which shall restore to the human constitu,s
ton some of its pristine tone. At the pres;
ent time few of our girls reach the age ofst
twenty in sound condition. Large NUM-
bcrs marry and become mothers-give to
the world suffering offspring, and them,
selves drag out lives of pain. So it will ev-
cr be until education and fashions accord
better with the dictates of nature, until par
cnts observe the laws of health themselves,
and require them to be observed in the treat.
ment Of their children.
Take fair girl Of seventeen or eighteen.
who has been so fortunate as to inherit no.
disease, and to pass through the periods oE =
infancy and school with no other misfor-
tune than to come out rather delicate. teach,
her ny example to submit to fashions, how
ever opposed to the dictates Of sound sense-
and the demands Of sound health they NAV,
be, encircle her waist with whalebones and
steel; load her hips with skirts, corded,
quilted, hooped and starched, tied tensely
around the person to keep them in positionS
thaye her adopt the sedentary habits Of thou
sands of our women, and then in few
years look at the woman You havo re-cyeated
from the noble girl.
-, Her whole body is in an abnormal State.
Weakness and disease prey upon a form.
which, had reasonable course been Dur:
sued, would have been bounding with health.
| Thus it is that Providence sends affiictions!r
| =
If women would rejeice. in the fulness Of
life-if they would give to the world an
offspring beautiful and noble, let them make
the laws Of health the great study of life,
and the instruction of her children therein
one Of their great duties.
| Let them throw aside whaleboncs and
steel, and make easy but elegant costumes.
Let them unite the strings which are doing
a work as fatal as the hangman's cord. Let
every garment be SUSPENDED from the shout. !,
ders--let every limb have scope for action
let them spend several hours per diem ins
the invigorating air which Godhas adapted
for their rlnngs.
Teachers are grossly in fault for NOT
bringing these things forcibly before their.
pupils, both in practice and in theory. Eas.
long professions formedto take erercfsssjN,
measured pace, for balfan-houri in. thetHeS.:
ty-four, leave no vivid impressions upon tl5as
4 pupH,except remembrance ofatEe .stupsd.
ity OF tho performance. Let scholars sfssk
the pleasure of living sat least three hox5sr
per diem in the opep;air, and they BiitsssaE
lily comprehend wheE instructed that f
an agreeable duty to do So. ~, txsss''4s
The health of morals and ilte]lect gym
pathises with thatfof the bod II the aat-
ter becomes PROSTATE, the former may he.
: come eafeebled. 1tfwoud therefore s4esn
4 appropriate fer our.eloquent divines to in-.
!, cifcate, Occasionally, ]essonsiupon the ias.
portant subject of Health, and the responxk