Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-31
for the VERMONT FARMER.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CUL-
TURE.


TURE.
In olden times when might made right,
bodily steagth, vigor, and courage, we're
above everything else the most priced and
education was almost wholly physical. But
in modern times are we not in danger of
going to the other and more fetid stream, in
placing so high an estimate upon education
Of the mind as to almost wholly ignore phys
ical culture In proportion as we have
elevated mental culture we have degraded
physical; yet physical well-boing is the
foundation Of all prosperity, both national
and individual the very root of all mental
and moral development, personal and social
happiness. Without health no high attain
ments can be made and it is not only nec-
essary to the enjoyment of lfe's blessings,
but it is also necessary to the production of
them. Energy of character is more depend
ent upon the food, its quality, the amount
of nutriment, and the kind that will require
the least labor Of the digestive organs, than
is generally realized. Men are willing to
spend many hours every week, in inspecting
the condition and treatment of their horses
and cattle, and do not dsdain to study the
relative value of oats and corn meal as ar
ticles Of food, but how many persons be-
stow an equal amount of time and thought
upon their own physical wel.being, or that
OF those who have been entrusted to their
care Silently, but really, and almost un-
consciously, do the present generation re-
gard it as a subject unworthy of attention.
The desire has become an insane one to ac-
cumulate wealth without physical labor.
And is not this the cause of so much dis
honesty and corruption in our land 2 We
have men in every community, who con-
stantly rack their wicked brains, to lay
snares for the feet of the laboring man and
who rather than labor with their hands will
wrest the last penny from him, not because
it is rightfully theirs, but because the law
will allow it. But how does such man en-
joy his ill.gotten gains? Does he spend his
last days happy in the friendship, confidence,
and esteem Of his fellow men, aud with a
clear conscience One glance at such
man is sufficient to convince you that health
and happiness are strangers to him.
The man whose energies are all suspend
ed upon mental culture leaves bodily health
and mental strength that might be his.
But how shall we cultivate health and
strength of body and mind ? BY throwing
it away on gymnastic exercisesH We once
read of a minister who during the hour
Intervening between forenoon and afternoon
services was in the habit Of going into his
cellar, and shoveing heap of sand from
one side Of the celler to the other, so that
he might be better able to venrilate his
ideas in the afternoon. Would it have been
any more desecration of the Lords day if
he had sawed wood at his door, or that of
a widow neighbor who needed help?
Ought he not ra ther to have observed the
commandment six days shalt thou labor and
do all thy work, &c.2 Had he exercised as
much physically, as he ought, during the six
days, would he have had occasion to commit
the double sin Of wasting his strength, and
performing useless labor on the Sabbath?
Do We not need institutions Of learning sim
liar to that at South Hadley, for young men,
that they may not be obliged to waste their
strengh on dumb bells and boat races? 1t
is folly and sin to let the bodily powers ex-
Aaust themselves. A man should use daily
the strength that is given him, and no more,
whether he be rich or poor in this worlds
goods or in mental ability.
The nation has become divided into two
classes. Those who labor with the hands,
and those who labor with the head and in
consequence the bodies and minds of this
great people have become disordered, and
suicides, MURDERS and crime of every shade
and description, have become of hourly oc-
curreRce. Wild theories are constantly
emitted from the disordered brain. The
nervous system has become so diseased that
its play upon the imagination is truly won-
deriul. Persons are thereby induced to be-
lieve that they behold departed spirits, and
even imagine themselves to hold converse
with them. We have seen men and women
whose brains had been cultivated to such an
extent that common sense was so complete-
ly crowded out Of it that they were proud
to boast that they were ignorant even Of the
slightest details of physical labor. Such
ignorance ought to be despised by all sens-
bio people, and may the day soon come
when physical labor will be so elevated and
dignifed that dishonesty, crime, and dis
ease, may fee from our midst.
1t is tho duty Of each and every one to
fulfill the curse "By tho sweat of thy
brow shalt thou eat bread all the days of
thy liie;" and according as VIC fulfill it are
we blcst, mentally and physically. Gods
supreme goodness is manifest even in his
curses. Was not this curse designed for a
blessing Y. CuMRER.
Sioioe, W.