Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-07-15
OLD SERIES,

The evil does not end upon the victim Of
fa.hi ,nable education. Her feeblencss, and
morbid tastes, and preternatural eHeitabili.
~ are transmitted to her children, and their
childrun. lflt we're not for the rural bab-
its and health Of the vast proportion Of our
population, trained to hearty labor on the
.oil, the degencricy Of tho race IN the cities
would soon make civilization curse to the
health OF mankind.
Now we have not one word 10 say against
''accomplishments" when they are real. and
are not purchased at the expense Of girls
constitution. She may dance like Miriam,
pant like Raphael. make wax fruit nll the
birds come and peck at the cunning imi;a-
ton she may play Orpheus harping alter
Eurydice (or what Will b. more u the pur.
pose, like Eurydiec after an Orpheu., y she
may sing and write poetry to the moon. and
to every star IN the heavens. AMI every lOw.
or on the earth, to zephyrs, to memory. to
friendship, and to whatever Is imaginable
in the spheres. or on the world-ii sac will
in the midst Of these incGable things 70.
member the most important fact tha, health
is blessing; that God made health TO de-
pend upon exercises aud temperate living
in all respects; and that the great OBJ
jet Of our existence, in respect to ourselves,
is yirtuous aud pious character. and in
respect To Others, the raising and training
Of family after such sort that neither
We. nor men, nor God shall be ashamed Of
them.
Now we are no, quite 80 enthusiastic as
10 suppose that Horticulture has in IL a balm
for all these mentioned ills. We are very
modest in our expectations. believing, only,
that it may become very important aux
ilary in maintaining health OF body aud pa.
rity OF mind.
When once q mind ha, been touched with
zeal m Horticulture il seldom (Orget- is love.
II our children were early madn little en-.
,bu.ias,s for the garden. when they were
old they would no, depart from IL. \ wo.
mans perception OF the beauty Of form, Of
colors. Of Arrangement, is naturally quicker
and truer than man's. Why should they
admire these only in painting. in dress, and
in furniture? Can human art equal what
God has made. in variety. hue, grace, sym.
metry, order and dcliclcy! A beautiful
engraving is often admired by those who
never look at u natural landscape. ladies
become connDssours Of artiicial-," who
live In proximity 10 real flowers without
spark oi enthusiasm Tor them. We are per.
suadrd that. II parents, instead or regarding
disposition 10 train flowers a' a useless
trouble, waste OF time, perniciods 70.
mancing. would inspire the love Of it, nur-
turc and direct, II would save their daugh.
tcrs from false taste, and all love OF mere
tricicus ornament. The most enthusiastic
lovers Of nature catch something OF the
simplicity aud ,ru,hluIncss Of nature.
Nova constant temptation to female van.
ity-Uf it may be supposed for the sake Of
argument, To cSist,) is "a display OF person,
oi dress, II equipagc. In Olden times with
out entirrly hating their beauty, our moth
ers used to be proud Of their spinning, their
weaving, their curiously-wrought apparel
for bed and board. A pride in wha, we
have done is not, II m due measure. wrong
or unwi.c; and We really think that rival.
~ among the young in rearing the choicest
plants, the most resplcndcnt flowers, would
be altogether wise exchange for a rivalry
OF lace, and ribbons. aud silks. And. even
IL poor human nature must h. forced TO al.
low the privilege OF critici-ing each other
something severely, il would be much more
amiabIc to pull roses to pieces, than to pull
caps all the shafts which are now east at
the luekless beauty, might more harmle-sly
be cast upon the glowing shield OF her dab.
las or upon the cup Of her tulips.
4 love Of flowers would begct early rising,
industry. habits Of close observation and Of
reading. IL would incline the mind to no.
tice natural phenomena. and to reason upon
them. ltwould occupy the mind with pure
thoughts. and inspire a sweet and gentle en-.
thusiasm maintain simplicity Of taste. and
in connection with personal instruction, un.
fold in the heart an enlarged, unstrai,ened,
ardent piety.