Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-12-23
socIAl pRnCoCITy.


rents are alarmed by the circumstance. IL, as
it grows, it shows forwardness of mind beyond
its years, their alarm increases, and they en-
deavor to promote general vigor and robustness
of the system, and TO repress the develOpement
of the brain. The decidedly precOciOus child
soon runs hisracc, and early sinksinto the grave.
The engine of the mind is too powerful for the
framework that contains il, and soon destroys
that framework. There is need that the mind
and body be developed together. Neither
should be permitted to get greatly in the ad-
vance. But this idea directly suggests long
train of reflections upon bodily precOcity.-
Many are the bodies that grow up to the stature
of manhood, and leave the mind in the rear
The old Latin adage expresses the idea of COM
plete manhood, "Mens Sa,ta IN corpOre s0go," i.
e. A sound mind in a sound body. 1t is pitia-
BILE to see strong body containing neglected
and ignorant mind, but nc less pitiable to sees
strong mind in poor and weak body. Some
men take too little care of their minds, and 9TH
ers too little care of their bodies.
But this is depression. To return to the
original line, there is need of long period Ofin-
tellectual infancy and childhood, in order to the
growth of the most healthy manhood.
Now let us take the idea of precocity into an
other department Itisvery possible that there
should be a social precocity, as well as uent-
al or physical precocity. The period of youth
may be unduly shortened. Boys and girls may
be rushed forward into manhood and woman
hood long before they are ready for it. But
this is very dangerous. 1t invites old age to
come on prematurely. Yet many parents seem
unwilling that their sons should be boys and
their daughters girls long enough to get sound
and healthy bodies Many boys and girls hur-
ry themselves forward into premature age by
adopting habits and practices which should
either never be formed, or at least not until they
have grown up. Many practices are harmless
enough for men and women which are very
hurtful for boys and girls. And many other
practices, always hurtful, become necessities to
men and women because they were entered upon
at SO early period that they controlled the very
growth of the mind and the body.
When see boy smoking or chewing tObac-
co know that he is binding his whole being
with most CALLING chain. To say the least of
it, he is adopting bad habit prematurely. He
Is doing what he can to shorten his boyhoOd,
and thereby to shorten his whole life. He is
fastening to meet old age at halfway. AS to
the use of tobacco, there are a great many ex-
cellent people who have fallen into it. But
have never met one of them who would advise
me to commence its use. Many one has con-
graduated me on my freedom from an enslav-
ing habit but not one has ever intimated that
was the worse foinot smoking or chewing. The
vast army of tobacco users would advise boys to
let it alone. This being true, parents ought to
take greater pains to prevent their boys from
forming the habit.
Mothers often rush their daughters prema-
turely into society. 1t looks bad for girl of
thirteen to be about town making formal calls
like a grown woman. 1t looks bad to see chill
dren spending evenings away from home, and
kept up late from their beds. Parentsl don't
make your children old men and old women be-
fore they are grown up. Let your sons be boys
till they are twenty-one, and your daughters be
girls till they are at least as old. Don't be in a
| hurry to send them Into society,". They do
not need to go into society till they are nearly
or quite grown up. fyou wish them to learn
how to conduct themselves in society teach them
good manners at home and when there are
strangers in your household. There is no need
| of taking time by the fore-lOck and dragging
him along before he is ready to come. tiscom-
monty said that he makes good speed even at
the slowest Young people do not learn polit-
ness bystudying books of etiquette, nor by be-
ing prematurely thrust into society. Within
the bosom of truly intelligent and refined fam
lily is the best place to learn true politsness.
There the best influences are TO be found
| Nodoubt the young need to mingle with peo-
plein orderto acquire ease of manner. But let
them be polite to each other and to their parents
at home And then, every family has company
enough. in the ordinary course of things, to
furnish the intercourse which children need
while they are young. Besides this. more at
tention ought to be paid to gentlemanly and
ladylike department in the common school
/
from home to learn the ways of society. A large
portion of the prevailing rules of etiquette are
merely artificial and bypocritical atany rate,
and need trampIing on Especially should chill
dren and youth be kept at home evenings. Ev-
en- men and women are generally better for stay
ing at horne evenings. Our business Occupa-
tions are undoubtedly doing us great harm by
extending SO far into the evening. NoFwonder
that there has been of late movement to cor
rect this in good measure 1t ought to be cor
rected.
/ But, if children should be kept at home eve
nings they must be interested as long as they
are out of bed. Give them something interest
ing to do and do it with them. Be children
yourselves with your children, if you would
keep them from becoming old before the time.
Many children don't know their own fathers
except "by sight. A man once said to me, "My
father never played with me, never talked with
me- never answered my questions never helped
me. never explained anything to me-" How
many fathers are just like thatI-buried up in
their business SO completely that they never be-
come acquainted with their own children.
We all do well to reach backward for the feel
ings of childhood, not forwards for those of old
age.s Keep the child child during the whole
proper period of childhood. Let the youth be a
youth as long as the proper period Of youth
lasts. B.
FIRE AT ELMORE.
Another severe fire occurred at Elmore, on
"Wednesday night, last week, destroying the
Warehouse of Helbing d Brother. The prog
ress of the fire was so rapid that the warehouse
and contents were destroyed. The fire was first
| tho caDfra of tho b,;IdiD0