Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-30

4 has been pcpplar tor long tine, saysthe New
York EVeaag Post, to represent the Inhabitants Of
this OOuntry as undergoing physical dsgsnsFsti0n
Educational medical and other Journals print essays
showing how the decay may Be arrested. The in
PRODUCTION Of athletic games, archery, AID other
exercises into school discipline, constantly re-
commended by progressive edueators A physl-
oisn az 0streit has publisheda phsmphlat, setting
forth that our imperfect system Of education is one
Of the principal causes Of the physical degensracy
Of our people. This is probably not unjust; our
tssehers not only instruct too much and educate too
little. but eonfne their efforts to the intellect to
the neglect of the body. Such state Of things so
far a. Il exists should receive attention.
But it may be doubted whetherthis great degsne-
racy really exists. We wiz not deny that there Is
margin for improvement; butts itHOs quite probable
that our people, even now, are making aPWsrd pro.
sressf Is the average duration Of life shortening?
Il NAV be thatws have fewer oldmen sndOld women,
lint larger proportion Of children attain maturity
than formerly Statistics indicate that the ratio Of
mortality is actually on the.de@ease. It must be
admitted then that our people possess large aggre-
gate Of vitality, though perhaps exhibiting fewer
remarkable instances Of longevity" The French
nstion has lost two inches and more in average
stature within fffy years, while the Americans
taller than their European progenitOrs. Il is argued
that we have less fat upon muscles, and that
exhibit signs of Overtaxed energies, The rapidity
with which We make our way in the world shows the
possession of high vital stamina; while large
eumulstiOn Of fat are only proof that there is an
inactivity of the vital functions Lean men viii gen
orally endure severer prystion, and they are more
ready for physical and mental e1ertiOn than the
fesby. The dread which Cesar entertainedOf Cas-
sius is the tribute paid to the who really per-
form most Of the work Of theworld.
It is true that Americans 'study much, and that
severe mental labor taxes the energies. But few
persons die from this cause, for the most labOrous
students the world over have been the longest ly-
ers Only when bad habits have existed, or other
duties 90 the mind have been neglected, has much
study resulted in deterioration of the health They
are mistaken who imagine that mental development
involves physical degeneraCy. Northumberland
cultivation the liability is far greater. Thus in
prisons the labor though forced isless severet than
that Of farmers and mechanics, merchants and edi-
tors; and very often the apartments better
tilated than our residences and schOOOlhouses Yet
oOnvicts are Of lower type of health than people
outside pursuing similar employments.
In unfavorable localities, particularly in cities
densely populated, there exist many cOuuterbalan-
cling circumstances. There els not that equal distri
button Of labor which is necessary to develop the
highestphysical power Fashions Of dress are often
perniciOus so are residences public buildings and
workshops when badly constructed or located in
unhealthy places. But these evils may be obviated
and such examples are not illustrative Of the gene
raj principle.
The immigrants added to our own population do
not appear 10 equal our own people in vital power
Epidemics are more fatal among them, more of them
die in early fe and they less able to do manu-
81 labor. At the plough and hoe the and earPen-
ters plain in the baying and harvest field, Ameri-
cans will soheiVe more in given time than they.
The Arab and Tartar are our equals in power of
endurance Even Indisa possesses samsner stock of
vitality, and fails when required to perform stated
labor.
The energy Of our people is due to the high cul-
tivation Of their faculties. So far from being in
state Of deeadence, they yet in early manhood,
with an eventful future before them Luxuries that
kings could not afford, five centuries ago, are
now enjoyed by our common laborers. The COM
forts Of life in profusOn are I'M grasp. We have
much to learn yet, but cur attainmsnts already
achieved are neither small nor unimportsnt; and
not among the least of these is the enhancement of
our stock of vital power.