The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-12
The Body and the Mind.


BY the exercise OF very little reflection we
shall discover that the mind and the body are
both dependent on each olher-the mind
more especially, upon the physical structure
for without stimulant from bodily ylgor, the
brain refuses to work and thought is para yzed
These are truisms, and are not put fortn as
embodying any new and startling doctrine.
They are 80 true that all thinking men know
the force OF tn remarks, but fail to take any
steps to practice what is suggested by them
Tor when man is told that his min is weak,
it implies bodily waste, and he must Of neces-
sity recruit the one to improve the other.
This article Is no plea tr gymnasia, or other
similar institutions; in fact, we look upon these
as the last resort for restoring lost animal
strength, and invlgorating the wasted tissues
and muscles Of the body. Rather do we seek
in these lines to impress upon every person
engaged in sedentary pursuits, the absolute
need that exists for sensible and diverting
bodily activity.
How does the case stand: how do men in
general spend the few hours they can spare
from business? Let the reader look around
he can see clearly that but few persons give
the attention they ought to this subject One
individual, for instance, stands all day in his
store, bends over his desk, and wcaries out
his body and mind by close attention to bust
ness. Possibly, at five o'clock he goes home,
because he can't stand the strain any longer ::
what does he do then He plays FIVE min
utes with his baby, or else dozes 10 the corner
over newspaper, all doubled w like a jack
knife Still other men of business snatch
hasty minute to dine, and come home at night.
only to pore over ledgers and business accounts
without end. These plans may be very ex-
celle ores to get riches by, but there are de-
mands OF the body to be attended to, which
neglected, all the wealth in the world can not
compensate for. The obvious remedy is to
give each junction and organ of the body its
proper degree of care. The millionaire will
not consent that his horses shall stand idle in
the stable, Tor ne knows that by so doing they
lose IN beauty and spirit; yet he denies TO his
own body that ne recognizes as indispensable
Tor The animal, and suffers his energies to
waste tvr want Of use, The mechanic, who
has an over-abuDdance of muscular exercise,
requires intellectual food, that his brains NAV
develop aud his IDEAS be enlarged while the
reverse is true Of literary men.
In the beginning of this article we men
toned gymnasla and their influence; we
tkiuh that one great feature in developing our
frames Is to often overlooked and that is the
degree Of interest or sympathy an individual
has IL his efforts to become robust. Most
persons viii concede that if man forces him
self TO walk about 10 pen, open to air and
sunlight, for certain period, be will not nee
essarlly present picture Of perfect health
ana that mere tramplDg over stated number
OF miles may not always bring him in sight of
the fountains Of youth. But let Nature in
spire the heart Of man with all her beautiful
sights AID sounds; let him feel the sweet in.
faences of the landscape filling his heart with
Joy and gratitude ; and then a walk of half
mile is better for his body than five miles
under other circumstances. 1t is not so much
what we do for the restoration of lost physi-
ca energy, as hO'o we do it, Active exercise
Is In fact only another name for recreation