Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-12-13
THE LAW OF GRADUAL PRO-

sustain, we will say, just one hundred
pounds weight to-day. But by drop
ping in q few ounces more OF SHOT TO-
morrow, it will just sustain that, ana
by never letting matters come to II
break down, but always of daily grad
ual increase, the power Of sustaining
weight will grow and become double
what could at first have been supported
If this system is pushed too far and too
fast, so as to break down the load, the
power of sustaining is weakened very
considerably.
Psychologists have long believed that
the arrangement in regard to the phys
ical growth of human strength is strict
ly analogous in point of fact, that 1t is
probably governed by the same laws.
1t is on this principle that DR.. Winshp
undertakes, by a course Of exercise, ten
minutes daily, with his machine, and
under his direction, to double the lifting
power of almost any man in three
months, and he succeeds.
But as with the body, so is it with
the mind. 4 mans increase of power
to study can be best promoted by daily
exercise, never pushed too far, or so as
to overstrain the powers for a moment,
but increased gradually each day. In
the study of mathematics this is most
easily seen TO produce its results. That
is to say, there is not only an increase
of knowledge remembered and accumu-
lated from day to day, but an increase
also of mental strength and clearness to
acquire knowledge. 1t is not even
alone that the mind knows how to go to
work in a more orderly and exact man
ner, but that it is capable of more con-
tinuous and fatiguing exertion for a
greater period, with the best success.
And so in u it is with every study.
Metaphysics, languages, moral investl-
cations, all are best learned in conform
ity with this law.
But it is so moi only with the theo-
retic or intellectual study Of these SCI
ences but with the growth of the will
and moral feelings; that is, Of the con-
formity of the soul itself to the very
image and laws of virtue. All moral
progress is the result of steady and daily
moral land not intellectually exercises.
do not say that there are no other
laws Of growth besides this one; but we
do say that there are no exceptions to
it. so that, however great shall be any
mans who may not have studied
in conformity to these rules, it would
have been far greater, other things be-
ing equal. had the law been obeyed.
Most of the apparent exceptions are,
however, real illustrations of the rule.
Thus, it may be best for a man some
times to remit his usual exercises and
let his body and his mind be fallow, as
it were. But this will generally be
when the exercises have been too labo-
rious, or, as in the case of youth, so as
to allow other powers TO grow also.
That is to say, the laws of rest must be
as carefully obeyed as those of e~zeretae,
alterations of each properly adjusted
being the law of all living developments.
A very short period Of the powers eIer-
cised to the full stretch, with repose
sufficient between fully to recover the
energies, and without once OVERRIDING
the strain, is the great matter to be at
tended to. If a magnet is once broken
down; there is always a considerable
loss of its sustaining power afterwards
for some time, and so it has been con-
jectured that not only does man but
very slowly recuperate from the effects
of one o~ver-exertion, but from a serious
illness he never RECEIVERS. 1t always
leaves its marks upon him in feebleness
somewhere.
The abundant supply of material TO
repair all waste and provide for growth
is another condition of progress most
essential. Professor Agassiz finds that
in the Valley of the Amazon, where the
loan formed by ages of glacial action is
most rich, the fora is proportionably
rich in variety of the species of plants
of all the different genera. And though
he may not believe in the transmutation
Of species, but in many specific crea-
tions, others will regard these as rather
developments from ~pre-existing varieties
rendered permanent by appropriate
causes. Whichever be the true view,
this, at least, is clear, that where the
richest food is there is the most rich and
varied productiveness. Too stimulating
a diet suddenly applied may often kill or
~injure, yet gradually it produces, &C
companied by proper exercises, a pro-
gressive development, not easily to be
limited, while a scsnt supply will cause
deterioration.
For this progress is hereditary. The
highest possible attainment of one gene
ration of plants or animals, up to man
himself, becomes only a preparation and
point of departure for the next. A few
years ago, in the rage for reviving tour
naments, much old English armor was
overhauled in the baronial castles where
it had hung for ages, and the average
size of the wearers was found to have
considerably increased since those days.
Mentally and morally it is fair to be-
lieve that there has been equal progress,
and in proportion as the food for the
body, for the mind and for the moral
nature is more carefully and wisely
adapted to the cases of each, this will
be the result with the whole nature of
man.