The Cecil Whig., 1886-01-16
MAGNITUDE AND STRENGTH,

MAGNITUDE AND STRENGTH.
1t is often supposed that magnitude
and strength go together, and that the in
crease Of the former involves a CORE
spending increase of the latter. Yet, if
we look little closely in to the world of
matter and of mind, we shall find that
this is true only up to prescribed limits,
and that, outside of them, an increase of
bulk actually diminishes strength. The
late DR.. Bigelow in an address on sEl lu-
cation thus illustrates this fact in the
material world: GA column or bridge
cannot be carried beyond certain size
without crushing or breaking it's sub
stance; and whale, if unsupported by
the surrounding water, would die from
the pressure of it's own weight. A
small animal will leap many more times
his length than large one, and the in
tegrity of his slender limbs will not be
injured by the exertioh. The useful de-
velopment of tree is known to be pro-
NOTED by severe prunings, and, when
this is impossible, as in primeval forests,
the trees prune themselves, and attain
greater height by the death of their un-
der branches, the insufficient supply of
sunlight being monopolized by the up
per and dominant members at the ex-
pense of the lower"
The same law holds good in all human
affairs. Mems bodies grow in youth,
both in bulk and strenth, but to some
there comes a time when increase of
flesh diminishes physical strength, and
persons who continue to grow stout must
either live on a lower scale of health and
power, or adopt such a regimen as shall
Bodily exercise, though absolutely ne
cessary to secure health and vigor, if
persisted in beyond certain limits, will
end in breaking down the very power it
has been building up. The practiced
gymnast knows this, and insists rigor-
ously on hours of rest as part of his
training.
Mental power grows in harmony with
thought and study just as long as the
proper limits are observed. With wise
exercise the reason grows clearer, the
imagination richer the insight quicker,
the judgment more accurate. But if
these limits are overstepped, if the mind
be overworked and overstrained, it loses
what it has been at so much pains to
| gain. Our wisest educators have long
since given up the notion that the more
knowledge that can be crammed into the
mind the stronger it will grow, and are
| now largely engaged in the task of Sc
lection and on the problem of gauging
the limits beyond which knowledge
ceases to be power.
The same thing may be traced in mer-
cautile life A man undertakes to build
up business. He finds the profits good
and naturally desires to expand. Up to
a limited point he can do this success
fully; beyond that, it will become too
large for him to handle, and, like a
structure raised too high for its founda-
tion, it will fall and be demolished in its
own ruins Where this limit is must
depend on his capital, his business abil
ity, and his other resources, and the sa-
gacious merchant will measure these
carefully, and will know just when and
where to stop. 1t is not the size of a
business that determines its strength,
but its solid foundations and its harmo-
NOUS proportions. SO the best govern
ment, whether of a family or State, by
no means implies the largest amount of
authority. The children who are always
coerced, and the subjects who are tyran-
nized over, alike rise in revolt when they
are able; and the command which was
thought to be so strong is scattered to
the winds. 1t is the quiet control that
confines itself to needful limits and seeks
to make its subjects self-controlled that
is the most powerful and enduring. The
strongest influence is always the gentIest
and the least self-asserting. Indeed, in
almost every phase of human life, this
truth is apparent, that power is not to
be measured by magnitude. 1t is mis-.
taken idea that if little of anything is
good, great deal must be correspond
ingly better. 1t may be so, but not uu-
equally preserved. Few things are
stronger than steam when used and con
fined within working limits; and but few
weaker than the same steam, or ten
times the amount, floating in thin, va
porous clouds, and filling large areas OF
space. So it is not simply the possession
of large wealth, or great knowledge, oil
high station, or much authority, that
will make any man powerful and valu.
able, but the way in VIII: ch he uses what
he has. The strong character is the
well-balanced character; not the one ir
which an exceptional virtue, or single
good impulse runs to seed at the expense
of all the rest, but rather one in which
all the faculties are trained in harmony
with each other, and all good qualities
J combine to form happy alliance.