Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-25


UNDER HEAVY MENTAL STRAIN
There are of course immense differences
among men as regards capacity for perform
ing mental work OF any kind. Previous
training, constitution and temperament are
potent factors in determining the amount
which each is capable Of doing. Some men
can stand an enormous amount or mental
strain without any apparent Injury others,
from what may he called. for want of bet
ter term, "weakness of the hrain," are in
capable of anything requiring mental ten
sion. The worst consequences are noticed
in people of moderate brain power, who, in
the absence of proper training, attempt the
performance of severe mental labor. This
case is similar to that Of those who Sudden
ly engage in trials of strength and endurance
after an insufficient amount of training, and
who either exhaust themselves by OVertaX-
ing their nervous energies, or induce disor-
ders of the heart or lung, or strain OF some
portion of the muscular system by violence
of their efforts. When a man is being pre-
pared for great muscular eXertiOn he under
goes a course of training in which the sever
ity of the work assigned to him is gradually
and cautiously increased, and the same rule
should he adopted for those whose mental
powers are about to be severely taxed. If
this condition he fulfilled, if proper a.
mount of sleep can be obtained, and if the
appetite remains at its normal level, the
brain will bear almost any amount of steady
strain in the form Of severe mental labor.
JUSTICE FoRTHE ENEGRo.-The verdict of
the Jury which tried the murder case in our
last Court, in which Mack Bird, a colored
youth, was charged with killing a young
white man named Doctor Pickens Rice,
near Sandy Spring, is worthy Of more than
passing notice, for it shows the manner in
which Justice is administered in our Courts.
There was an abundance Of evidence to
prove malice, and the weapon with which
the fatal blow was stricken was large stick
some four inches in diameter. The proof
was strong and complete that he was the
aggressor, and yet a jury, composed of
white men entirely, returned verdict OF
guilty of manslaughter, and the Judge i'm
posed sentence of ten years imprisonment.
1t would perhaps have been nothi. more
than a strict application of the law to the
evidence to have found him guilty of MUIR
der; and yet the jury, in compassion Tor his
youth and surrounding circumstances, rem
dered verdict of manslaughter. This case
gives contradiction to the stories OF race
prejudice in our Courts. Our juries and our
Courts can rise above the prejudices of race
and do justice, tempered with mercy, TO the
humblest.-4ndersOR HateUigencer.
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nag Beecher preached on humanity. lie
said every Christian woman should set her
face against the practice of wearing plum
age on her bonnet. Every feather costs
life. Wages should be paid on Monday, in
stead of Saturday and should be divided by
law between man and wife. Twelve hours
II day is all that any man should be asked to
work. "It would be most moralizing in
fiuence," said Mr.. Beecher, ''if public SEN
timent would make it unpopular to trade on
Saturday afternoon and night. The custom
would 60 out except so far as meats and
vegetables were concerned" 90.