Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-09-06
Brain Forcing.

Aomc SONCEulLR tic NNkGllul
kingdom hold good with regard to thi
intellectual Every one in the least IA
| mlllar with forced or hot bed plants i
aware how soon they wilt and die wheI
exposed to rude blasts and chilling air
that want of sufficient root and strong
healthy growth will never give an
abundance of foliage or fruit; that over.
forcing when young never make study
plants. 1t is at variance with nature tc
imagine such result. All the expert
ence of years is opposed TO the theory.
And the same system of culture is IA
tai to vigorous and intellectual manhood
me young of the human race are tender
plants. They require the same natural
'roWth and expansion as those whose
root is in the soil and who draw nour-
ishment from it. The case of an over
forced child fulfilling the promise of its
earlier years is an isolated one. Fore
ing the brain dwarfs the body, and is
gained only by the injury of bone, nerve
and muscle. An abnormally cultivated
intellect is antsgonistic to health, to
long life, to steady and thoughtful work
IN later years. knowledge should be
propor1onate with the physical delop-
ment-never beyond it.
Some one has wisely said, in speaking
OF the matter, that "early risers are las
rule) conceited all the forenoon and
stupid all the afternoon" and Professor
Huxly, in a late article discussing the
subject of Competitive Examination,
justly adds of over forced children, ''they
are coneeited all the forenoon of life,
and stupid all its afternoon" The vigor
frochT1aCc IL
stored up for the purposes of the hard
struggle for existence in practical life,
has been washed out of them by preco-
cious mental debauchery-by book-glut-
tony and lesson-bibbing. Their fac
ulties are worn out of them by the strain
put upon their callous brains, and they
are demoralized by worthless, childish
triumphs before the real work of life be-
gins. The cheerfulness, the tenacity of
purpose, the power of work. which makes
many a successful man what he is, must
often be placed to the credit, not of his
hours of industry, but to that of his
hours of idleness in boyhood.
There is truth and wisdom in this. A
thousand instances prove it. Who
knows of phenomenal child ever max
ing a great man? The reverse is always
the case. The brightness and brilliancy
soon die out, and the remainder is simp-
ly a plodding one. Walter Scott was
called a Ounce at school. So with num-
bers Of others that might be instanced,
who became world-famous. But not a
single one of a precocious child-eomet,
that, to use trite adage, did not ego up
like rocket and come down like a
stick"
There must be stamina to endure men
tai strain must be physique to sustain
braini the growth of the one must precede
the other there must be firm founda-
toni there must be recuperative power,
and it can never be found in hotbed-
cultivated intellect.
That so many children are dwarfed,
sickly; and fill early graves, is the fault
alike of parents and teachers. Both are
anxious to see rapid progress, and the
latter, especially, do all in their power to
produce it, thinking it increases their re-
nown. 1t may be well for them, but for
the scholar it is the fate of the frogi the
fable. "Cramming" for exhibitions may
do for prize cattle, but should be sternly
frowned down for our children. Let the
growth of the mind be in accordance
with the body only. Don't foolishly and
wickedly sacrifice health and strength
for the ffbook learning" that will come
with years. Better have strength in
limb and muscle, rosy cheeks, good di-
gestion, quiet slumber and merry laugh
Ter, than puny, diseased, lstless child
hood; manhood without energy, and old
age (should they surviye) cursed by
overforcing in the days when strength
should have been considered the great
desideratum.
There has been too much of this, and
we are glad to do our quota In calling
the public attention to the evil. Much
has been the result of a thoughtless am
bition for our offspring; for a natural
love of seeing them excel; for the hope
of a bright future for them. But with
the matter set before every eye in its
proper light; with the true bearings
shown; with the fatal results pictured,
we dare hope we have seen the last of
the forcing system of the little, tender
human plants; the men and women that
shall soon take our places, and to whom
will be given the management OF the
world.
Shall they be healthy, vigorous, able
to bear the strain, or dwarfed, colorless,
Wilted plants2 1t is for fathers and
mothers to decide which it shall be.
Only a Boy.
The natural history of boy is an in
teresting study. 1t is hard for the old
folks to look at things from his stand
point, because their memories are short.
However, he will grow old soon enough,
and the era of mud pies and marbles
will fade only too quickly.
Only boy, with his noise and fun.
The veriest mystery under the sun
AS brim full OF mischief ana WIT ano glee
AS ever human frame could De.
And as hard to manage as-Ahi All, mel
'Tis hard to tell,
Yetwe love him well.
We can't see why it should be fun for
him to put bit of orange peel on the
sidewalk and then watch until the UT1z
wary traveller lies on his back, splutteE-
ing all the oaths which the living and
dead languages afford, or to tie string
from the door to the lamppost just oppo-
site, high enough to knock off every
body's hat who hurries along, or to slip
out the tailboard of lemon cart and
then start the horse on a run, while the
dismayed vendor gnashes his teeth and
expresses the wish that the cholera
would come quickly and make short
work of the little rascals. No, we can't
see the sport in all that; but twenty
years ago we did. We can't remember
that we ever stopped the chimney up.
and filled the house with smoke, or put
particles of gunpowder in the middle of
the old gentleman's cigar, and then
watched for the explosion, looking so
meek and absorbed in our geography
lesson that the victim of our mischief
thought there must be mistake some
where, and that if he thrashed us he
would do injustice to an innocent stu
dent. Well, that is probably what we
did, nevertheless, and that is Just what
other boys are dong nowadays:
onlv boy. who will be man
II naturegoes on with her Erst great plan
If water. or nre. or some fatal snare
Conspire not 70 ron US OF TINS our heir,
Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care
Our torment ourjoy,
"Only boy"
Beauty OF Woman.
Is there not a beauty and charm in
that venerable and venerated woman,
who sits in the majesty of age" beside
the fireside of her son she who nursed
him in his infancy, tended him in youth,
counseled him in manhood, and who
now dwells as the tutelary goddess Of
L. 6o,,.,Lo11O IUhok host of hlacaad