Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-30

F---"~- n ~ Oo tudt VI Tue tutukluks EcdcOulhS
mothers Of our time. If in reference to the loca-
aon OF the proposed Southern University, about
winch SO much has been said the vote Of all parents
could be taken, would not undertake to answer
ior tne majority Of men, but have no hesitation in
saying that believe all mothers who are capable
Of forming an opinion on the subject, would dCci-
oeaiy object to its being placed either sin, near
large and populous city" Yhe mother who val
ues the physical or moral health of her SOD, would
nave no hesitation in determining where she would
have him placed during the "transition state" which
characserizes life at school, The opinion of some,
aforementioned, is following up of that system
already too prevalent, and which is so much to be
deplored, the sharpening" of the intellect, to the
neglect OF the soul and the heart. That "knoWl-
edge OF human nature" which the young student
gains by city education, is generally too dearly
purchased by the sacrifice of all that is pure and
noble, and good in his own nature. Such course
may, IN themodern acceptance of the term, "turn
out the greatest number of great ["shsrp p men,"
VIII it create, develope the greatest number OF
good ones? We.have now, if we may believe the
~-No'Ss4N PiOoo, duy 4uduAbg VI mNhS
nancers and physicians, orators and oracles patri-
ots, pill-makers, and politicians, all ''great men,"
We have already surplus of such on hand the
supply is more than equal to the demand and what
we want now is to train and educate some plain,
honest, good ones. A city education conducted as
it ordinarily is at the present day, is not the one
best calculated to give to our nation the men she
needs. It's temptations before which the unguard-
ed and undiscpined heart is almost to fall, is
surely counterpoise to that want of "polish"
which some deplore as the effect of "mountain
tirement." have, however, yet to be convinced,
that want Of polish" is necessary consequence
of mountain retirement" could name at this
moment persons who now dispense the hosptali-
ties OF mountain retreat with the elegance and
''polish" that would do credit to a court, and
could ALEC mention persons living within the circle
Of all the luxuries and refnements of city life, Who
are rot only deficient 10 'polsh," but their rude
ness is rendered the more disgusting in that is
the result not much of ignorance as OF sel6shness
But desire not to institute comparisons; the ave-
rage number being taken into consideration, the
True ''polish" can only embeIish true politeness,
aud true politeness is not the child of ceremony,
but is born of the kindly and sympatnetic heart
1t is true that solitude (not Fetirement has its dis.
advantages; it is apt to render men self conscious
if not somewhat sef-suficient. free and open in-
tercourse with society, on the contrary, has ten
dency to render one more liberal in bis views; it
caches US to accommodate ourselves to others and
reconciles to the pecuiarites Of our fellow men,
But when that fear of opinion which awes the weak
and inexperienced has been succeeded by frmness,
and noble scorn of the falsities by which it was
once dsmayed; when the soul has been elevated
with lofty purposes, and the spirit acquired that
bravery aud cool discernment which enable it cor
rectly to study aud anayze human character, and
boldly to contend with the world, then it is time
to send the young intelligence forth to gain its
knowledge of human nature" When ia COM
munion with his tescher-Nature-he has enriched
his mind, developed his heart, formed his physical
habits, and cultivated all his powers, to some ex-
tent then will he be strong go forth Conquer
ing and to conquer" Institutions of learning should
as it is there alone that physical education can be
properly carried forward, and is in physical ed
ucaton that the basis of true usefulness must be
laid. The foundation laid in a sound body, the
superstructure OF a sound mind is much more pro-
bable, and then the polishing" which so many
seem to consider of such paramount importance,
comes in the last and finishing work of the artist
It is easy to put on that "pOlish" afterwsrd when
all the building is staunch and strong; but let us
not polish ignorance, let US not varnish over the
nature where the germs OF vice lie sleeping, let US
not make our children ''like unto whted sepul-
chres." No greater difference in educational sys-
TENS could exist than that which trained the youth
of our forefathers, the rigid Puritans, and that
which characterizes at present. The mental
and moral training Of that early day, stands out
before us like the strong, but dark and rugged
pillar Of stonehenge, ours is too much the modern
brick and mortar structure covered with stucco,
and garnished with paint In the education of girls
especially we deal too much in iinsel, the orna-
ments like those of the Sabine maiden have nearly
crushed all life out Of the system. That system is
puSh buGs VIC az hoNO hctu1 uChy "OutH anu
children of US, to go back to Nature. We are de-
veloped too much upon false models, aud with
false views Of life. We have need to be "born
again" Of the spirit of Nature, we must in our
threefod character be matured at her bosom il
we would become models of health and beauty.
We must have our voices tuned like the harmony
Of birds, and our looks kindled at the stars. We
must revel in her light and beat, drink of her
fountains, and be tossed by her winds.
Whoever thinks, must that man was made
To face the storm, not langnish in the shade,
Actions his sphere,
and by this course Of training will he be bes {
prepared for Il. "The clearbran, the sound
heart, the active nerve, are his who slakes his
thirst at Natures stream, who prefers Coos mer.
ciful thought as expressed in water, to man s
perverted thought as exhibited 10 wine" And
this is just the contrast between q retired edu-
cation, and city training. The one is a cup Of
pure, sparkling, ipvigorating sOater, the other a
goblet OF sedncing, exhilarating bat often fatal
scias Retirement gives just. solid, 6rm aud for
chile tone TO our thoughts, intercourse with the
world impsr's to them point, and brilliancy. 1t
may be said that by being guarded, and by teach.
ing sound morality in city schools, We may make
men as upright as they could possibly be made un-
der any circumstances. 10 al schools, generally,
some system of moral philosophy is taught, but the
young mind cons over 4 volume, for the most part
dry, metaphysical or il may be merely speculative,
and where is the uses Can the feelings thus
awakened compare with the warmth, the rapture
that thrilled bis child heart. when at his mothers
knee, with the Bible for bis Textbook, and al Ma
ture before him as sn illustration, she impressed
upon bis spirit sense OF the love and duty which he
owed to that great and good Being. "who bath
measured the waters in the hollow Of His hand,
and mesed out the heavens with span Who hath