Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-22
Incomplete Men.

, w N4tOH HedI VI uulsueu SFHtIetEeui
but nobody seems to devote much attention
to " unfinished gentlemen, and yet the world
IS full or them. There are thousands with
whom an unnatural development of the mind
has shattered and extnguished the resources
OF the body, and the number is equally large
Of those who " live on their muscle" who
have developed their physical faculties, and
totally neglected their mental cndowments. S.
Neither the prize-fghtor, nor the human
book-worn, can properly bo called man.
line ons has passed to enc extreme, aud the
other to the opposite; one has sacrificed the
cultivation of his mind to physical training.
and the other has ruined his health in the Of
fort to improve his mind. There is a mean
between these extremes, and occasionally an
effort IS made to establish it, but no univer.
sal, systematic CfortshaG been noticed Here
and there We hear of the attention of edu-
Gators being awakened to this subject, but
their efforts to improve the physical as we'll
as mental condition OF those under their
charge, must receive encouragement, and the
hearty cooperation Of all who desire to see
apopulation growing up a,ouad them with
vigorous muscles, full chests, and rudy
hc0th, as we'll as with active, strong, and
wol3torcl minds. Occasional aid irregular
exercise Of mind and body amounts to moth
ing, FIR to accomplish the desired results a
SYSTEM OF habitual discipline must be follow
cd Every one interested in overcoming this
state Of things, that il, every individual in d
community, ought to be impressed with q
sense Of his responsibility. In governing
himself, and in inAueuoi'5 others, he mast
constantly bear in mind the two.lod nature
Of cur being, with lis composition Of mind
aud body. A sensible writer remarks, " hat
the body should be regularly and properly
exercised Soacntary habits, and coniiuo-
ment within the four walls Of /, small room
surely produce physical prostration and dis
case. Moderate out door exercise cnriches
the blood, strengthens the body, and iuyigor-
ates the spirits.
And while i! IL tue that general exercise
benefits The whole sys en-, it is equally true
that the proper exercise Of any organ, or set
Of organs, has tendency to Increase the
power and strength Of such part of the Or
! ganism. II is well known that the steady ex-
orclso OF the arm increases the size and pow
or OF the muscles Of the limb. This truth is
beautifully illustrated in the familiar exam
pie CT the blacksmith, who wicds daily the
ponderouH sicdgo, or throws vigorously the
tashioning hammer; his arm muscl increase
in size, frmues5 and elasticity, until the
power Which he eau exercise is almost beyond
credit. As it is with the arms. so it is with
any other orgau. The mind being intimately
connected with the nervous system may be
Strengthened by exercise in the same manner
as muscle. Every QUO Knows that by con-
tinued effort the memory may be improved
until il becomes 0ul y necessary for the person
10 hear or read anything in order to remom-
Der it, If this be true Of memory, it fol
lows that it is oci every other mental fac
ulty. 4 nan wAo cuItiyates the body, 20 as
to exercise the power Of giant, is but h9t
a man, If lie doe, not also cultivate Tie
mind, We want no more uuGuis ed gonte-
men, bu. Let us have Inc next generation grow
up with physical and intellectual capactias
adapted 10 the great wants Of tie tine
Lo. it be intelligent ard strong, cschowng
luluiy, which first became the bano Of our
national life, AID avoiding that devotion to
tie pursuit Of wealth, which brings luxury,
cne.gaticn, and Z long AID dismal procession
Of evils in It's train.
1t is time to think seriously upon this sub.
joet, and by q concert Of action to unite upon
some plan, which will, in its operation, pro-
ducc complete men, men with sound minds
and sound bodies Apathy upon this subject
has been too long INDUCED in, and the fact
that men Of brilliant intellect too often waste
away and die, because their physical frames
will not stand up under the demands which
the mental organization is constantly demand
ing, speaks volumes in itself, and on the 9TH
or hand, the stout, well developed, and ath-
letiO specimens Of ignorance require word
of advice, that may awaken them from their
dream of bliss, and incito them to add some
thing to the generel intelligence of the world.
A systematic movement in this matter will
do much to crush out the "ncompete men"
of society, and their places will be supplied
with full grown, well educated, and sensible
men, whose every thought and act may result
in coed to the race OF which they form a
part
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