The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-30

tentlon has, Within lew years, been
in degree awakened to this subject,
but as the light in Milton's internal
prison only served to make darkness
visible, so that attention has only
exposed the utter apd fatal neglect
of the duty-a neglect almost every
where apparent.
If a panoramic view of the evils
growing out of neglect Of the pro-
per physical training ofschildren
could be presented, the horror and
alarm created by such survey
would drive fond parents, inta the
adoption of better system. Moth
ers who now compel their infant off
spring to live as prisoners, pining in
vain for fresh air and invigorating
exercise, because Mary or Biddy
cannot find time to take them out,
would not only make the servants
perform this duty every day, letting
the house work go rather than omit
iC, but would make some arrange
ment for more thorough exercise of
all the limbs than mere walk can
furnish.
The little ones allowed to play
half the day out of doors, running
and wrestling sat their own sweet
WILL" need no gymnasia to develope
their strength, but city-bred unfor.
tunates will be benefited by calls
thegic exercises. The increase of
institutions for this purpose is a
good sign. A lady who presides
over large one in this city, appro-
priated exclusively to women, and
where there are now thirty invalids,
informed us she received children
three years and ahalf old, and would
warrant the manifest Improvement
in their health in three months
Amusement she makes AIN essential
element of these exercises; for as all
the muscles of the body should be
brought into play, the powers of the
mind so intimately and mysteriously
connected with the physical frame,
should not be inactive.
We would advocate, or rather in
sist npon the attachment Of q gym
nasium to every school; and if one
were in every house, it would prove
an actual saving of more than its
cost, in physicians bills, medicines,
and nurses wages. A frolic every
day with the reclining board or
the 'parallel bars" would put to
flight many juvenile ailments, Danish
the physic bottles from the shelf, and
shed glow Of cheerfulness through
out the household. The benefits
that would result to the community
and to future generations from such
a system are absolutely incalculable.
The evil of hot bed education,
where culture of the mind is attemp-
ted, with neglect of physical devel-
opment, are not so universally recog-
nized as they should. TIE depen-
dence of the integrity of the brain
on the health of the body-the need
that organ has for rest as well as
exertion ought ever to be borne in
mind. Nature should be allowed
her bent in harmonizing the employ
ment ofthe intellect with physical ac-
tivity, by alternate exercises. And
no school deserves patronage where
this subject has not duss considera-
tion.
1t was never designed by our
Creator that the life Of human be-
ing should be made miserable by i'll
health. Strict observance of his
wise laws will secure health; indeed
we would not be afraid to say that
any child born of healthy parents.
allowed abundance of exercise iu the
open air through childhood, and pre-
served in youth from injurious hab-
} its, may be sure of immunity from
disease, till natures great debt be-
, comes due in the course Of events.
Entire freedom from headaches and
indigestion with its train of diseases,
will be his portion whose early life
has had this judicious training.
Think of this, mothers and teachers,
we entreat you! and when you opine
f that an infant "must have worms,
or note symptoms of languor in the
pupil-ask yourself if the young
creature is not suffering from priva-
ton of the blessings God gives freely
to the poorest, and which cannot be
r denied without entailing train OF
miseries upon such portion of life
, as your neglect may leave to the
t child under your care.-M Y. Er
| press.
e. n@~ Fifteen million dollars art
; l.. IN