New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-13
MENTAL DYSPEPSIA.D

The Rev A. A. Willets Of Philadelphia lcctured the
above subject last night in the Presbyterian Church, cor
of Atantcave aud BOnd-st, Brooklyn to an Intelligent
audience OF about persons The Importance OF secur
ing and preserving bodily health lie sad and the neces
sty Of improving 1t, denies; yet there is
health which is to be neglected. and which is
just much more essential 20 human happiness as the
mind Is geater than the body Never in tho history Of
civilization has there been more danger Of an epidemic
OF mental disease than now, Notwithstanding the
efforts of rcformors 10 prevent its spread,
Notwithstanding the many facilities enjoyed in our day
for the betCring OF the human mind rus u an inter
lectua age but Of these days n viii DO found greatly
at fault Ina that il has sanctioned the pcrnciOus use
which Is commonly made Of tie faculties Of the mind
This has given ms mental dyspepsia, most Alarming
compaint-une which seems 10 be q national trouble.
The dyspepsia which aicts the body f. produced by ui
wholesome Dict rapid eating, aud OF proper phys
cal exercise Mental dyspepsia due analogous causes
Our mental Diet is too multifarOus. We must read
everything, read It rapidly rapidly that the mind has
no time to digest food The folly Of this is than
that Of the c0nntTymaH whO for the first time In his lie,
comprised every dish the bill OF fare o set 10
work to accomplish the feat OF eating through from me
soup 10 the orange, including All thc Iigs n iosS S
eitr6e and tho re5hes. the PeceS 0e RESISTANCE, ana
he oiles After sant srnsys WIN sTne iSu sor 81
renewal Of the attack, WhSn' cIahe,hS 10 g'anees
him. he found him quietly enjoying cnslaid " memo,
said rustic pointing 10 the carte dt 0'p: on don't
hearty eater I've jet got to Roast Beef. Few Of
hearty readers manage to get any farther down
digcstng The great OF mental pabuam and stun,
aud poison furnished by the press; Tie iudieous
dyspepsia-sclects the food best suited to 1t,
leaving the highly seasoned 20 the ep, PIC re
mind with everything which crafty cooks dish up Tor IT,
We should read othns that IS no. va nc ~ ~
purest writers. No young person should beactuatcd ny
lie foolish pride of having read everything. Ho who
giyos nav 70 This becomes we'll ACQUAINTED wild, the
works all The b.rrre writer's. bat remains lame ntahy
Ignorant OF those who stood the test OF
centuries and have approved by generations OF the
lie should learn 10 Discriminate between the
worthless and the good, aud reject every work no.
calculated improve aud elevate his mind
The reading of the trashy sensational, vulgar hlthy
book which are scattered Droadtas over or country,
does cOnduce 10 the improvement OF individuals or
improve debases REFORM IN the readng habiIs OF 'o
axe does necessarily discard novels FOR nct0n IS
sometimes made the vehicle Tor great moral truths out
those works when tchd To create hhd Keep awe
morbid taste should DO ttOJOed forever
young Is already sufficiently developed, but reason aud
Judgment crude. aud need 10 be educated Walter
children read works OF imagination. not Ouly the beau
tifu creations OF hs own pure mind Washington irving
her fathers poems. Ina letter ackOW lodging the re.
ccpt OF the present sir Walter spoke OF the rule he had
had for the hfst time revoked and added,
" You have made my little ones acquainted WIN
them TO know Of" This was not the notion OF bgoted
parsOn be IL remembered but 81 the greatest OF al ro'
weakens and contracts thc mind. which for It's true de-
yeopmeut needs vigorous exercise DO less than te noS
strUnSi n MI, ;ycrcis,D.s his les i'm he various
sports in which he delights and you deprive him OF
strength. and make him the beginning OF an unhappy,
unhealthy man. Tie mp the hrawny right arm OF the
iusty blacksmith aud before many months IL becomes
weak and withered COnhuc the mud TO tho study ot
such sentiment rs one reads In dime novels and most
OF the weekly pnpcra and yOu make II shallow and in-
beetle what We want help us IN curing mental dys-
pepSia IL a mental gymnasium IN which young men may
wreste with great truths In which they may learn mat
il Is worse than folly 10 waste precious time IN reading
the SILLY novels IN which many lydia Languishes ssn
their love gallant cavaliers, with glossy uslacheS
and curly hair and listen meath the pale silver moon To
fle mdu ght screuGdc or climb down impossible ladders
into Inaccessible caycrus, aud run away from ureasoh-
bile fathers aud after passing through series OF aae
tures that would daunt any but a QuiXotte or Nun
chausen return baronal castles on lofty mountains,
and spend the remainder Of their days IN the MIDST OF
most gorgeous splcndor The lecture was repiee wilh
good ihngs aud the valuable advice given by tue lee
turor cannot fail To exert - good influence upon TUG
many young people who heard II.