The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-20
DEATH OF FLORENCE AMEs.
a COrrcctIOn.

Editor Rutland Globe: An item which
appeared in the Rutland GLOBE oflas week
relative to the sickness and death OF Miss
Florence Ames of Mechancville, n. Y,
conveys a very erroneous idea, which de-
sire to correct. The item referred to rep
resents Miss Ames' death as being the re
suit of brain fever induced by "her severe
application to study" We frequently hear
of persons whose health is reported to have
been injured or destroyed by over-appli-
cation to study but anyone who has passed
through any extended course of study must
know that such cases ara much more rare
than is commonly supposed. When they
do occur, they are owing rather to disre-
gard of hygicnic laws than to undue mental
labor. This is the case even in the higher
institutions of learning that call for more
severe and continued applications. When
schools and institutions of lower grade,
they will be found to arise from non-observ
ance of the ordinary laws of health, rela-
tive to diet, exercise, etc and always inn
ply grave censurc toward those whose duty
it is to see that proper care is observed.
So your item reflects quite severely upon
the institution with which Miss Ames was
connected and of which her father and
mother are principal and preccptrcss. Now,
sir, | know, from thorough personal ac-
quaintancc with the management of Me-
chanicsvillc academy, that any such rcfec-
ton or implication is most unjust. Prot
and Mrs. Ames are teachers of much eXpe-
riencc both in teaching and managing n
large family school, and if there is any par
ticular thing for which they are to be COM
mended more than another, it is their care
for the physical health and development of
their pupils. Attention is paid that they
have sufficient quantity of food of pro-
per kind; calisthenics enters into the rou-
tine Of every day life and they are encour-
aged to engage in attractive and pleasing
exercise. That these means bring about
the desired end, health, the fact that dur
ing my acquaintance with the school. OK
tending through several years, there has
been not an instance of severe illness. seems
to show, and in this, all patrons and impair
tial acquaintance of the institution agree.
AS for Miss Florence Ames, she graduated
last June with the highest honors of her
class. Thougha very faithful and close
student she may be said to have graduated
with the best health of any in the class.
Since that time she has continued in the
institution, but has only pursued the sub
ject of music in which she was especially
proficient and for which the institution af-
fords facilities unsurpassed outside the
larger cities. Since graduation she has
enjoyed perfect health. She spent Christ
mas in New York and while there contract
ed a severe.cold; on..Thursday Dec 3lst she
returned home; typhoid fever Immediately
set in and, on Tuesday Jan. 9th, Florence
died. So far as human understanding can
see, her application to study was in no sense
the cause of the disease. Did time and
space allow, we should like to speak of her
high and noble character; but this brief cor
rection Of a false report must suffice.
-
January 18Th, 1875
The statement to which the writer reie RS
was taken from the Troy Times.