Smyrna times., 1857-05-13
Written for the Smyrna Times.
The Poisoned Chalice of American Edu
cation,


4 The structure upon which the elements ofI I,
mans happiness dgS reared, when viewed cir. 4
with reference to its durability and !,
strength, musthave some sure, uneompromising I;
basis 10 order to secure its permahent stability.I
AT the very door of happiness and prosperity, q
conceive, stands what should be its foundation -
"a thorough physical sducatiOn,-withoutL -,
which, its collateral helps can be of but little ;,
advantage. 10 no point ofsprovijent caution n
are we, as people. so profoundly at fault as in
this great elemental provisioh,-upon which
depends the happiness and greatest good to the
| rising generation. The untutored mind, igno-
raHt Of the higher claims of his nature, and
careless as to interests that do not Immediately r
concern the epjoyments ofthe present moment,
knows but little of that great main-spring Of
human actions whose elasticity vbrates the
heart throughout its mnutest ramnifcations;
nor does he care upon how slender and brittle q
thread the hopes of the smoral and intellectual
lite of the community at large depend.
There must be something that shall address
itself forcibly to the pecuniary manifestations
of the morally blinded eyes,. ere the lethargic
) slumbers of ignorance can be broken in upon.
: Education, IMMORAL, intellectual and physical
= is the lever upon which the elevation of mans
highest, noblest earthly good, is to be accom-
: plished,-the Promethean torch whose fires shall
$ light up the world in one universal blaze of
light and brilliancy, and show to man the i'm
q mortality Of his fame. Its neglect shall fall
like the whitening simoom of the desert, and
sweep away with its devastating breath the
happy aud glorious institutions of our cherished
and Justly honored land. In no country, per.
haps, has tnere been more attention bestowed
upon the cause of intellectual pursuits than in
our own, and no brighter ornaments have adorn.
- ed the pages of literary effort than the exam
pies of the brilliant and touring genus of our
: own immortal, prosperous country. But here
must we not cease in justly merted encomiums
ID ner lay the fattering JUNCTION to our souls that
~ we have done all that can be done. Here meets
OIL us the poisoned chalce of our national defec
III tive system of Education. Our moral and
10 physical resources, from which are developed
those sterner, more lofty principles of the human
n mnd-prudence, fOrtitude, truth, fidelity, are
r. but too sadly neglected, and too plainly evident
&c to challenge contradiction. Hence the nume-
ed rous failures from rash and culpable specuIa-
nd tions. Fidelity, the grand steppng-stOne TO
eminence and responsibility, forming no part OF
n, the moral nature, Irregularities i'll business un-
nd faithfulness in the marriage relation and en-
M bezzlement of property must follow us the in
Ia evitable consequences of violation of the
28 social and moral ties which preserve society it
OIL one beautiful and harmonious whole. OF Trutf
nd as the basis of good character, nothing need be
1t; said. At once the Al Alpha and Omega of all the
le- relations of the social compact it becomes tht
re- sword that sewers the Gordon knot of every
lso entanged network Of falsehood and stamps th,
indelibe impress of divinity upon the life. No
he is the principle of Foritude to be lightly incul
as Gated in the ddactic digestions of the youth o
our country. The obligations that shall pres
upon their future life must be fully met, ant
10 the engagements of prva'e, social and pabi
M interests discharged with fidelity and conscien
n.y. tious exactness. If these be neglected, tn
Ie' most casual glance will make apparent th
ne deleterious, Iuinous results. Professional obi
II cations are, then, but lightly worn and fnall
ice thrown off as a useless incumbrance; matr
monial ties burdepsome and painful, and tn
lx, happy fresde the scene of donfestic strife, o
the fearful outbreakings of tale Of passio
en- and crime. And now, are these principles
DO from which are distilled the cup of life
i've choicest blessings sufficiently we'll instilled
or is there not too often found within tha
ate chalice the nauseous, death-iniictng seeds
be human natures greatest foe! While industr
uld and enterprise are rational, good points, as i
IKE seen In the fast ana growing greatness OF ou
of country's fame, the eaAker Of our defective sy
tenn of Education is to be found in the want
complete and radical change with regard /
ole the physical development of early life, by whc
ou' the strong and healthy constitution is forme
i'a' in which that delicate, ETHEREAL essence-tt
immortal minds placed. Ifit be asked, VIII
are it is that dyspepsia, consumption and kinfre
Observation-Disclosures imbecility of mind, delica
nervous organizatiOns,-are of SO frequent o.
n, currence, the solution Of these important que
oh tions is at once easy and plain: they are owin
,cts could almost say. entirely to the shamet
abuse or neglect of the physical education
"as our youth. Hence it is, so many delicate p
in. rents and still more helpless offSprings II
delicate organization of American girls, who
past the winds Of heaven must not too roughly Wis
~. is proverbial. Exercise aud the invigOratin
urt, ;a.,a.oe e..L ~. ;ns,o.d or ho;,
was - P"'~' ' 'e' ' - =
red considered what IN truth they are' the Soulo'
1sia water Of life, whose limpid streams of heaIt
Wild giving power need no Alchemical elaburatiO
tne are too often thought the most inmcal foe
health and rosy bloom. And thus are negIectt
red, the purest medicines that the laboratory of
arts ture can possibly yield. All activity is but tc
hey often merged into the sickIy and deprayed 4
sorption Of the upas poison of the lighter liter
ture of romance, around whose dexterous W,