St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1858-10-28

Physical Training. Of Childrsn.


In late issue of the Chronicle and Sentinel,
over the initials Of w. s. H., writer offers
tlse following very judicious remarks. No
anxious consideration than the one here brosssht
20 notice:
'1'he subject 10 which propose to allude
on this occasion il one which claims our
most serious consideration. am sure OF en-
listing the attention of the tender and ratitSsAl
mother, while shall enlcavOr briefly Il. .kIcnt
out q serious evil in the prevailing $. that. {
Physical Education. cOua
@t'The more / reflect upon thet Dl
q mother, the more art | struck he
extent Of her powers the inestimatss ue
of hsr services, and the unlimited influence
which she exerts over her children. In the
language Of leve, women are called Angels;
but this is weak compliment; they ap-
proach nearer to our idea Of Deity, land
wish net TO be considered irrevcrent.) for
woman not only creates. but sastains the
creation, and holds in her hand its destiny.-
Every man is what his mother has made
linn, and to her is he indebted for the
greatest blessing in life, healthy and Wig
UTOuE constitution.
"Dut while thus speak of the dignity oi
female character, it must lie borne in mind
that by the term mother / do not mean
simply woman, but it is she who faithfully
discharges the sacrel Offices Of q parent
she wlosc chief concern is the well being of
hes offspring. and who feels all her cares
amply repaid by its physical and mental
growth aud activity. No subsequent en-
deaSors can remedy oE correct the evils oc-
caSiunei by a mothers negligence, and the
skill of the physician is excrted in vain To re-
plir what she, through ignorance or mat
tentiOn, may have unfortunately blast
ed.
Thousands Of children die every year, tho
victims OF disease contracted at schools, and
Che health and constitutions Of still greater
number. are irretrievably ruined By the de:
pravcd example of their older associ.
ates.
am aware that children are fond O
"running Wild" and require the most watch.
ful care ~ keep them out of mischief; bu
will any mother urge this a. a reason wh,
Shc should continue. as it were, in stocks
chat restless sc tivity which is wisely de.
signed by nature 10 promnte their physica
and mental, and may add, moral welfare.
Will she, from wish to save herself trou
bic. or to gain time for other business o
Infinitely less Importance, send her littl,
prGsHers TO school, under the silly pretencc
!. (pardon the expFeSsionl of Hseeping them
Sus Of harms way?" 1t is highly improSe.
that a child should be one Of the .Ezfwres o.
q school room, in the midst of noxious EN-.
anatiOns, it may be, for the six or sever
hours a day which should be spent in tn,
open air and cheerful exercise Should it bt
said that children are sent to school prema.
turely. from becoming zeal for their early
improvement, need only reply that learn.
Ing, however desirable, is too dearly bought
which in obtained at the expense Of the
constitution. Resides. the mind cannot 6e
welt cultivated i'm such manner Gunfine-
inent and bad air are not less injurious b
the mind than the body; and nothing so ef-
fectually retasCis the growth Of the intclli-
geus faculties as premature mental applica-
tion. Send your child to school il. it's nnrse's
arms, aud you will either make him an
iiiUt or give him such an unconauerablC
disgust Cor bo0ks, that when he attains to
that age when he should he deeply Interested in
the pursuits Of knowledge, he prefers rather
TO luxuriate in intlolence than IN the cult
walton Of his mind or heart. This is not
asere idle spccnlation--it is o truth, aud the
fOrce Of it will BE- appreciated By every pa-
rent OF experience aud discriminating jadg-
ment. s-..
Unhl child has arrived at his eighth or
tenth year, Il should prefer the latter,l he
should be taught at hcsne. Perlaps the
bess book he cOpld study is the great VOL
ume OF Nature. This is lsgible at every
age. and is asgratifying to a child as 10 an
asiuls; nay. more 80. It abUunds with the
most delightful and needful information, and
Il is equally conducive % health. pleasure.
knowledge and good morals ! weu.d not
De % 'presnmptious a. to deny that children
may be bene6cially instructed in their in
fancy. OH The contrary. am Of The opin-
ION that ~ child cannot be two young to
learn, his mind should be put under pro
per training as soon m he can know
nothef'e vice--a mOther's love; for Il IL
tho mGther allne who can comprehend the
physical and mental requirements Of her
child. Some Of cur TnoSt esteemed aud val
sied citizens are indebted. Eir their earlier
intellectual advantages, to the asilSlUus care
Of an aftectionate mother. ,1.E.f
TIut lf child fnust be sent teS sehoSi before
~ has learned "a appreciate jnEtraetidB and
before ne j. physically g. 10 epsl4pg tic htisne
o'ssasys se''l afn where BE slf.il isca b. esa-
4 "a ~ -tStt.a ~