The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-14
DwARFIHG norH THE MIND AND
RODy

pwARFIsG norH THE MIND AND
BODY.
1t is q common remark nowadays, that
We have not the sturdy hardy manhood and
womanhood of half century back, thatthe
race physically and intellectually is deeeu-
Grating. While the trouble is not so great
as many suppose, there il some ground tor
the of repeated remark. Girls and boys as
a rule do not as they grow up, now present
the rudy healthlul appearance that oui
grandparents insist was theirs in their
younger days, and there seems to be
greater number and greater frequency oil at
taclSs nov from diseases than few decades
back. The causes for what changes there
are in these respects do not lie deep now
ever, and are very easily removed fmofe IN
terest and attention were bestowed upon the
fact We cannot but admit that the greater
population now than then, must have much
TO do with weakening the race, by crowd
ing together aud using thousand methods
and conyeniences, so-oalled, for decreasing
the physical effort and exercise that were
necessary under other circumstances, Scr
ence and invention have found a thousand
WAYS to render mans physical powers far
less necessary for earning livelihood now,
than they were one hundred years ago, and
naturally. and as consequence, physical
strength and development have lost much
of their importance. The race of life now,
more omphatically than ever before, has
ceased, literally, to belong to the strong
and the attention of the times is unfortu'
nately being drawn away from the
healthy development OF mans
physique, ard becoming conferred
upon the cultivation Of the spiritual and in
tellectual. 1.-THE methods pursued in the
training of the mind were less severe and in
their use and application the influence Of
the body on the mind were needed more,
the results would undoubtedly be moresen.
couraging We sincerely believe that tho
greatest cause Of sickness and dwariod
physical humanity IN these days il the re-
suit of the methods adopted for teaching
the children of the time. The brain re-
quires the greater portion OF the nulriment
taken into the body, and If the former is
lunnaturaly worked and the latter neg
lec.ed the brain becomes r0bbef and alb
serbs rapidly and disastrously the vitality
of the body. Notwithstanding this fact,
that intelligent people, and especially
| 10 81, tl,., Iitttn ,,tnlu ,,f
| tho children in attendance upon
schools throughout the country are
loaded with mass of matter to bo
gathered from six or eight Rotations u day
and their bodies cramped and rendered r-
active through the growing period, for six
or eight hours daily. Nothing could be
more disastrous TO both body and mind, II
would be far better for the racei the young
should grow up without any further
education than knowledge of the com
monest rudiments, and yet retain and
develop its physical vitality, than to Thus
destroy the physical and confuse the
mental at the same time by such q system
and practice, 30 totally ut variance with
good common sense. The attention Of
parents and teachers aud legislators has
been directed TO this fruitful source of the
mental and physical evils which seem to be
growing ON the race and becoming the pro-
life and indirect causes at least of most
of tho insanity, suicide and disease about
which wo are hearing 30 much of late, and
its positive retardation rather than benefit
to the growing young intellect, but the
warnings have been but little needed, and
the crude and unwise system in only few
instances improved. We are grntiiiod to
see, though, that in some quarters wise
course is being pursued, and that the at
tention of those having the young idea" in
charge is being properly divided, 80 that
the proper physical development and eNer.
else arc being given and the mind being less
burdened and strained. In many cities and
communities industrial schools are either
taking the place of or being established in
connection with tho ordinary schools, aud
in every instance the results have
been extremely gratifying, Aside from
their value rs means for acquiring informa-
ton that can be put to practical use, they
combine physical exercise with the mental
and thus benefit both mind and body us no
other system can. II is departure on this
order that we desire to see inaugurated
everywhere, II not such plan as above re.
terred to, at least system enforced by law
where there shall be less study and more
play, n greater nurture OF tho physical in
teaching with less of tho mental. Ii is a
matter OF much serious import, and one
well worthy earnest consideration by pa.
rents aud others interested IN the future
growth and outcome of the race, and il will
prove, year after year, more and more cost.
ly, II the present unwise and disastrous
methods are continued. 1t Is to tho young
intellect Of the day what the Chinese habit
OF cramping the female feet is--it neither
benefits the foot nor permits tho use of Il
by tho body,
A RIDICULOUS EXTREME
Since the beginning of the race death ha,
played as prominent part in the history
of nnch oyo md family, M h,r,h l,, l.. 4,