The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-01-17
MODER
A Few Words of Caution and
Advice 40 People Who Are
living TOO Fast.

c. II. Allen, NJ. D., in Western Rural.
In the present state of the Chris
tian world, the idiotc and imbeciIe,
the weak minded, are treated kindly
by the stronger and richer members
of society. This is proper develop
ment Of Christianity We have often
referred to health of mind; and have
warned our readers against excessive
exercise of the brain as destructive to
mind and body. Mental activity, if
moderate, conduces to health and
growth. Daily observation shows that
the growth and continuances of men
tai power may be seriously harmed by
excessive activity. The mind may be
weakened and exhausted by prolonged
and severe eXertion. We have more
than limited that the training Of chill
drcn consists in securing sound minds
in sound bodies, and that the mind.is
50 dependent on the body, that parents
and teachers should cultivate the body
and develop its various powers by
giving it and its organs proper nour-
ishment, judicious exercise and suit
able repose. The young and growing
need more nourishing food, more regu-
lar exercise, and more rest than the
mature and grown.
Many observations show that the
moderate activity of the mind and
regular training of its forces contri-
butes to long life. Men and women
of mental culture live longer and hap
pier than the ignorant. Nearly all the
mental giants of our race live to be
more than three-Ecore years and ten.
But to secure this result, body and
mind culture should be begun at an
early period Of life and continued ju-
diciously to its close. Men who cease
TO practice the activity Of their grow
ing years lose the powers they once
acquired. Tie active merchant who
becomes rich and retires from bust
ness life usually cuts short his days.
Those who disregard hygienic laws,
and cease To exercise from day to day
their muscles and their intellectual
powers, soon cease to have "a sound
mind in a sound body" Some men
in the prime of life and in the midst
of usefulness disregard hygienic Laws
in some way either by excessive ac-
tiyity of brain, or by ceasing to give
it proper, moderate exercise. Wealth
enables them to tall into sensual in
duIgences and SO impair their mental
and bodily forces They may have no
family tendency to disease, may have
led regular and sober lives, and still
be troubled with weaknesses and in
firmities in middle life. This condi-
ton most men could avoid by contin-
uing to live as they began. MOdera-
ton in eating, regular business, proper
exercise of mind and body would have
kept their mental and bodily machin-
cry in good condition until they
reached old age. 1t may be true that
the prime of life may extend from
thirty to fifty years and still, we have
known men who observed strictly the
laws of health, and SO lived to four
score years. We gain strength Of
brain and muscle by using them; We
become weak when we cease to use
them. After fifty years an active man
should be more moderate in his exer-
ton than before, but still he should
not cease to act and use his various
powers, as the best means Of presery-
ing them. In the middle period OF
life, thirty to fifty years-few men or
women can safely oyertax their brains.
This organ once impaired does not
easily, if ever, regain its strength.
The mind sympathlzes gith the brain
in all its sufferings Many Of our
scholars limit themselves in their ex-
ertions, and so reach old age. Agas-
siz forgot that be was mortal and SO
continued TO exert bis mental powers
during many bours Of the day and
night after he had passed tbree-score
years, and 50 broke down, and science
met with an irreparable loss. Sir
Walter Scott in bis middle life dc.
clared that six hours day in brain
work Ras al he could continuously
endure. But whep be was pecupiarily
embarrassed in later years, be oyer
taxed his brain to meet bis obliga'
tions, he became exhausted and bis
prolific mind lost its former strength
and he died ap imbeeile.
Whiie ne object 70 excessive ply
sical and intellectual exertiou, We alsC