The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-06-04
miscellaneous.
Advice to Young Ladies on the
Laws of Health.
nY pn. rLIzApErn nLAcKwELL.


stood, last week, by grief strick
en- young mother, who, with pale
check aud fearless eye, bent in
speeohlcss sgony over her dying
child. 1t was her first born. 1t had
lain in her eneiroing arms six
short months. Now it was torn from
her love; and, helpless aud despairing,
she watched the feeble life ebb slow.
ly away.
l could not say to that poor
mourner, "You, yourself, unhappy
mother, are tho destroyer Of your
own child Your thoughtlessness,
your ignorance, your waste Of the
golden years Of life, before this tou
der child was committed TO your
care, have caused this agony, this
DEATH" Aud yet those stern words
to her, aud to multitudes like her,
would have been strictly true. OF
what use to her in that sad hour,
we're her many accomplishments. her
grace, elegance, aud literary acquire.
ments. The fundamental study, tho
knowledge ofthe laws of health. had
been entirely omitted in her educa-
tion; and now her child was dead, aud
no after knowledge could recall her
dead to life, As young girl, no
habits of attention and respect TO the
requirements of physical organization
had been implanted by her mother;
aud she had entered upon the respon
sibiities Of family life with no idea
of what was needed for the care of
her own health, or for the welfare of
her own children.
Natures laws are inexorablc. No
beauty no love, no agony, viii avert
the penalty attached to the trans
gression of physical law.
The child placed in unhealthy
conditions, dies, though long life is
its birth-right. The young girl over
stimulated with studies and accom-
plishments, or intoxicated with pleas.
ures, or bowed down with cares,
withcrs in her early bloom. The
young mother fragile as a flower,
too feeble for her privileges and her
duties, is wrenched from her orphan
children, or siuks into 'quorrlous
invalid.
II is then essential that physicaI
laws should be earnestly studied, for
the practical guidance oflifq. There
is an Order Of Nature that must be
observed in education, in life; and by
that order tho physical takes preced-
ence Of the mental. The body builds
its temple, for the soul to dwell in.
The physical powers mature, before
the mental facilities; and although
the cultivation of our two natures
should always 90 hand in hand, the
development of the physical nature
must always precede aud be the foun
dation Of all mental culture.
1t is far more important to "A young
lady, to possess strong, active
graceful body, clear, healthy skin, a
bright eye, and cheerful disposition,
than to be mistress of many accom-
plishments.
1t is of fmueh weightier moment TO
the young matron. to know how to
manage her household with intelli
gence, than TO speak French, or play
the piano. The one branch Of knowl.
edge does not exclude the other; but
a thorough acquaintance with all that
concerns the physical well being of a
household, the prevention of sick
ness, the promotion of vigor aud
cheerfulness, is of fundamental i'm
portance TO the young ruler of the
precious home Kingdom. If she
know how to ventilute her house,
in winter as we'll as summer; to pre-
vent injurious odors; to distribute
an ample allowance ofair to the lungs
that must inhale it; to look upon
stagnant air as deadly enemy, by
night as we'll as by day, then her
children will not die of fevers, nor
bo tinted by scrofula. If she eau
select healthy aud nutritious diet
for her household; ensure its proper
preparation; vary it quantity and
quality, according to the needs Of
each member, then she will keep her
household in good temper, from the
Oldest to the youngest-and her doc
tors bills will be only nominal. If
she understands the proper use Of
water; tho moral as we'll as physical
advantages of exercise; the import
ance Of dress, with due regard to
warmth, lightness, and points ofsup-
port, as we'll as of fashion, then her
children will live and not die. She
will reign like queen in the midst
Of her loving subjects; she will reach
good old age, surrounded by her
childreu's children, and her memory
, will be cherished long after she is
gone.
Surely, hygienio knowledge, pos
sessing such power for good, and
bearing SO directly upon the noblest
work Of woman, is worthy of time
and care, and jealous culture.
1t may be safely asserted, that if
the present generation of American
women understood the laws of health
as we'll as they understand the toilet
te, and expended the same interest in
putting them into practice that they
devote to dress, they might save one
half the children who will die 10 the
uext generation, diminish by half the
sickness, and increase by a third the
average duration Of its life.
In what other way could they make
an equally valuable contribution to
the national welfare.