The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-01-23
THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN WOMEN

mere Is no SuDJPct more AlkeQ anu written
about, yet none, we will venture to say, to
which less attention is paid, practically, in
proportion TO its need Of attention, than that
of health. Foreigners continue to pass their
observations on the fragile appearance Of
women in this country; all can see how rapid.
ly they grow old, and how precarious and
delicate is the health of most of them; they
talk the matter over almost every day, and
yet they live, both in the city and the country
in the daily violation of those rules which
can never be transgressed without penalty;
nay, their habits of life, from infancy to old
age, make war upon nature, conflict with,
prrvert and distort her incessant efforts to
effect kindly mitigation or removal Of evil,
and finally weary her out, and bring about, in
most cases, premature decay and dissolution.
To "rommence at the commencement in
most children of both sexes, the constitution
is undermined and enfeebed, at an early
period, by the want Of proper muscular de-
velopment in infancy and childhood. II moth.
ers were bent on having their offspring grow
up sickly, deformed and imbecile, they could
not adopt surer method of effect:ng such an
object than the prevalent mode of training
Poor innoccnts! Herod is, indeed, out
Heroded in the treatment they have to suffer.
That tyrant only sent them to heaven by a
short and easy death; their loving nurses, from
their birth, exclude the air and light, and by
system of slow torture prepare them to
drag out life as heavy burden. Their earnest
craving for the air and sunshine is disregard.
ed, their supplicatons and artess peadings,
even with streaming tears, for what nature
made essential to their vigorous growth, are
siihrd, and the waiing victims are condemn.
ed to imprisonment, rendered more intolera-
BILE by occasional relief of an hour out of
doors on pleasant day, whenever Susan can
find time to draw the carriage. They become
delicate and fretful under this deprivation,
and then medicines are administered and the
infant is guarded more sedulously than ever
from the healthy stimulous it needs so snre.
ly. In time an unnatural condition Of the
system is superinduced; till at last the little
one actually shrinks from, or is injured by,
the atmosphere outside the door. Habitual
confinement induces morbid susceptibility
to cold; and thus in the first stage Of life the
germs of mortal disease are engendered, or
an enfeebled habit is acquired, which may or
may not be overcome by more judcous
system in after years. Probably in half the
number of cases, the infant constitution sue
cumbs, and the bereaved mother mourns over
the "mystrrious dispensation Of Providence" !"
of whicl, her mistaken fondness has been the
unconscious instrument.
1t is really surprising to see how often the
suggestions of common sense in this matter
are put aside, and that, too, against the die
tatrs of judgment. Pure air and exercise, it
is proverbial, are Indispensable necessities
both for children and grown persons; and no
contrivance or device can produce substitute
for their needed stimulous. Nothing can
compensate for the want of this invigorating
process Of nature-the tonic influence of pure
air, ih- joyous sunshine, and perpetual varie-
ty of sights and sounds; yet even those who
acknowledge all This, adopt the prison system
as general rule, chiefly from considerations
of convenience. The children should be
dressed to be out; the nurse has not time to
take them, &c, and the haplcss little creatures
are deprived even of the scanty allowance Of
exercise they are permitted at more conve-
nient seasons; those who have charge over
them forgetting that every deprivation tells
on the growing system of child, debiitates
him and impairs the recuperative powers OF
nature. Could they see in glass the pros
pertiye train of evils attendant on the break
ing of the habit Of constant exercise in the
fresh air, they would even grudge the inter
ruptions usually thought necessary in inclem.
ent weather.
THIS SECRET OF Coop LUcK.-There is
nothing like courage in misfortune. Next to
faith in God, and in his over.ruling Provi.
dcnce, mans faith in himself is salvation.
II is the secret of all power and success. 1t
il the secret OF good luck, so called. II makes