Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-31
INCREASE OF MENTAL DISEASES

would say ~penaldes-for its boosted pro-
Dress in civilization and refinement. MOI
the least of these is the increase OF insanity.
Education, which ought to strengthen ana
cultivate the mind and prepare its possess
,or for the active discharge OF his duty
and for meeting calmly and courage
ously the frowns of fortune and the clam
ors of ignorant prejudices' exers'' TOO
often, an unhealthy influence ootn In
wba, /, does and in what it omits to do.
The intellectual faculties fail to receive
their appropriate culture. and the memory
.,ors ia ,asked to the storing away OF a
f,,r,vo of words, which tell Of knowledge
w;,bou, reaching it, and give the tinsel OF
literature and science, without their real
substance and practical application. Hab-
its of thought and reflection, the tracing
Of the logical connection and sequence Of
events, the relations Of man to external
NATURE, are either not taught, or, If at all,
.mnrically and at random.
Euy il the intellect suffer from imperfect
training, the affective faculties or the
sentiments and affections, are almost en-
tirely neglected, and left to crop u in
rough guise. Nor is the omission ade-
qua,ely supplied BY methodical incubation
and example under the parental roof.
Hence is the want of Difference to age and
elevated station, the loose obligations Of
love and duty to parents and kindred,
and the impotence under the restraints Of
law, both human and divine. The reli-
gious element in human nature, IL it do
not actually lose its vitality, is cramped
by formslisms, the strife Of sects and doc
trinal disquisitions of no practical value
in present guidance or future salvation.
Chriss's Sermon on the Mount and St.
Paul's exhortations to charity are in dan
ger of being buried under the load Of
commentaries on the book OF "Revela-
TONS" and vain attempts, made with
equal confidence from century to century,
70 give present date aud application to
the sublime mNeeries of the inspired
writer OF Patmos.
With such inadequate preparation,
either by knowledge Of self or Of his du-
ties to others, a youth is thrown on the
world to encounter its crosses and its
wiles, its many distractions and tempta-
tons. He is soon engaged in the cares Of
business, or gives himself to the longings
Of ambition. But dominant above all is
his greed for money and the attendant
luxuries which it commands. In the
keen competition to gain his object, health,
internal peace, aad on occasions integrity
itself, are sacrificed. But disappointment
too often comes, and the mind gives way
under the revulsion Of despair following
~exsravagsns hopes. In public and pri-
waite life there is the same strain for hon.
ors or distinction OF some kind, however
temporary or frivolous it may be. The
family hearth has become a figure OF
speech and tranquil enjoyments q subject
for sentimental discourse, but not to be
found in ordinary life. Every moment is
under high pressure. What wonder,
then, that there should be moral as well
as physical explosions, the wreck Of mind
as well as that of matter. To use the
language Of DR.. Chipler, Medical Super
insendent OF the Eastern Asylum Of Ken
lucky, in a late report, "Society is daily
becoming more artificial, and new wants
more imperative. Mems aspirations are
assuming a more impracticable character,
and sad dissppointments are consequently
more frequent and damaging. Thousands
who were formerly happy and c~ontented
in their humble avocations. have been Sc
duced by the spirit Of the times and
mighty struggles for the attainment Of po-
sition, supposed to be conferred by wealth
alone. Too many are wrecked, and come
to spend the remainder Of life in our
wards"