The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-23
DAILY PRESS.
PORTL ND.
saturday Msrning, March 20, 1867.
PORTLAND. A
The AIi,nen, of the I,r.r,

appetite may select stale food or that which
has acquired positively deleterious if not poi
sonous properties, but the bone and blood and
tissues will attest the difference between such
offai and sound, healthy food. The depraved
taste may appropriate with intense zest the
In'trest peelings and shells from which the
luscious iruit has been extracted, but the re-
iusai OF the muscles to become fill and strong
OF the blood to become invigOratiug, of the
hmps to become firm and steady, and of the
countenance to put off its cadaverousness,
constitute natures emphatic protest against
the cheat SO, too, the miserable inebriate, who
4 has allowed himself to become the bond
slave OF an unhaowed appetite, may
barter bread for alcohol and exult in the
exchange, thinking he has gained an advan-
taSe, but his hasgard look, his blear eve
and his muddled brain tell far different
story The husbandman tries in vain to de.
fraud physical nature Of a crop Tor which he
has either sown no seed, or, sowing il has
done so upon hard and fiinty soil, not suited
to its necessities. 1t requires no inspired
prophet to assure him that he cannot reap
where he has not sown, or gather where he
has not strewn.
Equally tue is it that in the realm of mind
nutrition of suitable quality and in proper
quantity is the inexOrable condition OF growth
and developement. Without this, weakness
and imbecility usurp the throne that should
be occupied by energy, and logical, penetrat-
ing, aggressive thought. Food for thought
is quite as indispensable to tul develope-
ment of mind, or to the free and easy work
ing of a well developed mind, as food for the
body is to a well rounded limb, full chest or
a set of sound lungs.
And what shall we say of the heart, or the
affectiOnal nature, which ,benignant Creator
has made just as much part of our human
creatiOn-of ourselves-as the body or the
mind? We are not insensible to the fact
that, with many people, the heart is consid-
cred of the least Importance, if not the soft
| est and silliest attributes of our being. Ii
has become fashionable with some people
dehumanized men and unsexed women-to
affect great contempt ior everything per-
tanning to the heart, Everything like affec-
ton and love, as the mcrest sentimentaty,
to be tabooed in all good society, and allowed
no lodsment in the well stored mind. And
this kind of disregard of the poor neglected
heart of humanity has not been without its
bitter fruits. All along the shore of our So
cial state we find the wrecks which this spirit
has produced
| Even in that tie so often merely a cold COM
mercial contract, but which should be the
blending OF two warm congenial spirits into
one, how seldom, in these days of greed and
materialism, is love considered the first con-
dition precedent, and how often the hearts
instructive aversion is overcome by artiul de
vices, for which years of domestic infelicity
are found but poor and inadequate measure
OF atonement. Love, the hearts only ap.
propriate aliment, the only thing upon which
it can feed and grow strong, confiding and
safe, and the only thing, deprived of which it
sickens and dies, should be the "higher law"
OF every life association, and its disregard in
such matters has rendered households un-
happy, produced alieniations and estrange-
ments, prompted elopements, led to unlawful
intrigues and alliances, opened the domestic
door to suspicion and jealousy, and filed our
courts with petitions for divorce
The writer who inculcates the lessons of
love, and insists that the love of true hearted
young manhood and womanhood should be
respected above all material things, is flouted
as sentimentalist, and his efforts receive the
damning brand OF sentimentality. The young
lady, piousy cautioned against novel-reading
and sentimentalismby her maternal guardian
is often by the same pious mother encouraged
to look with favor upon those only of high
birth and good family,-the qualifying adjec-
/ tives usually having reference to wealth and
the position wealth gives,-to aspire to what
conventional world calls elevation in married
life, rather than stoop very little to accept a
hearG she canlove and that will faithfully re-
turn her love, and trust to its inspiration, un-
der the direction of reasonable Judgment, to
guide to the only success in domestic life
worthy the name or worth achieving.
The heir to the British throne who, when
admonished that by alliance with a poor but
loving peasant girl he was in danger of forfeit
ing his royal inheritance, with manly indigna-
ton exclaimed, "d-n the crown: give me the
girl love-" may have been more sentimental
than reverent, but every true-hearted republi-
can lnstlnct'vely commends his decision; and
yet 6e are quite as ready as were the advisers
OF the Prince, to scowl upon the heart-alli-
ance of friends with humble life, to sneer at |
"love in COTTAGE" and to see no legitimacy
in such unions unless gold responds to gold,
and diamond reflects fellow diamond The
diamond of the heart is all lost sight of, and
the food which is to keep the heart Strong,
healthy and vigorous, is all forgotten.
Casuists may investigate, statesmen may
debate and vote, sages may philosophize, di-
vines may preach and judges may issue de-
crees, all intended to reach and extract the
roots of the social and domestic evils which |
aiiict society, but till the heart and its imper-
ious necessities are fully recognized, and its |
appropriate aliment is allowed a proper place |
in the highest and most delicate affairs of life,
the evils will continue, and continue to in |
crease. The affectional nature of the young |
should be cultivated, that in age the life may
not be sapless like a blasted tree on the noun
tain side. And its development can be perfect
ed only in the warm atmosphere of love, and
by such an atmosphere ii should ever be sur
rounded. To expect growth and health of
heart without this is like expecting health
and vigor OF body on wreck or in the arid
desert, where nothing to appease hunger can
be found And this warm, glowing sunshine
OF love must not be EXCHANGED for the cold.
rigid atmosphere OF calculation and rashiona-
6le conventionalism, when the young heart
goes out from the paternal roof to lean upon.
or be leaned upon by, one who had before |
been stranger. Then more than ever wifi |
the heart need its only appropriate aiment. |
and it deprived of it at such a time, woe-be- |
tide the hapless pair, for not only will their
lives become waste, but those that spring
from them will very likely curse the day that
gave them birth. -."
The theme is exhaustess but our sheet is
full, the readers patience is probably exhaust
ed, many prosaic readers are doubtless pro-
nouncing what we have already written
"stuff.' and so we stop.
The British Cabinet.
The seeding members of Lord Derby's Cab
met il appears were three-Lord Carnaryon |