The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-05
THE TIMEs-RICHMOND VA THURSDAY SEPTEMBER s. 1895

tai and moral influences brought 70
bear through reading. studying. educa
ton, and the like, have n powerful ef-
feet in forming the character and life
and also upon the comfort and well-De-
ing. Of the individual IN all functiona
activities of his body.
The study OF physical expression VIII
show permanent marks OF the feelings
emotions, passions, &c, Of the individual
Thus IL is that "A mans character Il
often written openly upon his face, anc
the usual and transifory mental states
ar" readable by the most common OBJ
server. while the deeper traces of fixed
habits OF thought and feeling are writ
ten in indeliblc characters upon the or
ganism. Thus the inflow Of organic SEN
sation 10 the sensorium has its compile
mcnt in the constant. regular. and SUD-
conscious transmission Of nerve force
from central cells to the muscular perl
phery." Cowles)
In all these matters Of mental in
flIences over bodily functions. pertain
ing to the highest development OF the
individual. the family, and the nation, 1
would that / could impress deeply upon
every thinking mind, and especially upon
every mother f. the land, the close re-
laticn and the transccndent Importance
thereto Of the early home life and train
ing of the yourg.
1HE FARMERS OF wYTHr.
in speaking to these Intelligent farm
ors of Wythe county. as to the improve
ment ana highest development Of their
thoroughbrcds and short-horns, the live
lest interest is awakened, and most
laudablc efforts put forth as to selecting.
training and rearing OF their young
stock. Why should not the Same COM
nonsense principles pertain 10 the rear
ing, developing. and calling forth or
powers physical and mental I'm the young
Of the human race, I'm pushing to the
highest point Of excellence the better
qualities of muscle, mind. and heart
thereby producing 10 a stll greater de-
gree in each genel alton race OF giants
and thoroughbreds. intellectually. phy-
sically. and morally
II r. true that the element OF mind or
-eason presents added complications
here; but the same lines OF graduation
and similar lines Of process IN growth
and development, or in degeneration ana
decay prevail throughout the whole
realm OF nature inorganic, organic, ana
spiritual and should be thoroughly stud
led and corscientiOusly applied in all
departments OF education and training.
THE individual who comes into the
world is not an isolated being" "Herod-
ity governs all the phenomena OF men
tai pathology with the same results AMI
the same energy as we see IT control
moral and physical resemblance IN the
offspring" But the environments of
early life. in the home, in the school, IN
society, have as much or perhaps more
TO do with the formation and shaping OF
the future life and character.
MANY generations" 81 has been said.
preside at the birth OF every individ-
ual, and the proper care of the child
should begin and should be carefully
considered long before its birth. Il IS
an old axiom, and a true one, that the
hand that rocks the cradle rules the
world but the wOnderf IL influence of
the mother, as 10 temper. disposition.
temperament, aprctites, etc, over the n
borr child is not sc well appreciated or
inculcaicd, even in OUr medical teaching,
as II should be. Mothers should I've taught
10 exercise most careful control over
all their mental and bodily conditions
If they would have their children free
from the leurctic conditions which tend
so strongly toward mental disorders.
How often has it happened IN the his
tory of the worl1 that people who for
generations have exhibited no special &C.
MUS blaze out in bursts Of national great
ness for time, and then almost die out.
For Example, the Tartars under Delights
Khan. the Turks when they Overawed
Europe, the Moors when they conquered
Spain, and latterly the japanese I'm their
recent triumphs over China. How often
do we see a quiet country family, that
has for generations led calm. temperate
lives, suddenly startle the world by their
&c MUS and intellectual power ana then.
as a result of the effcminacy Of luxurious
and disspated lives. relapse into OBJ
SCI rity or become degenerate and die out
altogether"
AS in these cases, so many Of us to-
H.. 81. lu1ra
exciting, lazy lives Of our forefathers
They stored up vital energies Cor us.
which we, in many cases. are expanding
with a lavish hand, regardless of the in
terests OF future generations
TIE GROWTH OF TIE BRAIN.
Psychologists tell MS that the brain ac-
quires 80 per cent. of its growtn 10y The
seventh year, and its fun growth between
the fourteenth and sevent sen.h years of
age but many years must elapse there
after before It's fun maturity and perfec-
ton. IF, I'm the process Of education,
energy designed to further its growth is
dssipated in functional activity. he'eii-
tary tendencies to disease become there
by developed. and the develop nent Of the
brain is limited. and defects become evil
dent which under more favorable cir
cur.stdpt es would never have exist ID w.
pr. Hurd.
Professor James, If Harvard Univcr-
sity, truly Saws: Gould the young but
realize how soon they will become mere
walking bundles Of habits, they would
give more heed to their conduct while I'm
the plastic state. Every smallest -trOlSe
of virtue or of vice leaves it's scar. The
Rip Van Wrinkle. IN Jeffers0ns
play. excuses himself for every fresh
derellction by saying, i won't count this
time Well may hc not count IL. and "A
kind Heaven may not count 1t, but il is
being counted, none the less. Down
among his nerve cells and hbres the mole
cules are counting IT, registering II, and
storing IL up 10 be used against him
when the next temptation comes Moth
ing we ever do is. tn strict scientific
literalness, wiped out. OF course, this
has its good side as well as it's bad. As
we become permanent drunkdrds by 50
many separate drinks. so We become
saints in morals and authorities and eN-
ports in practical and scientific spheres
by so many acts and hours Of work
The civil law excuses no neglect or dis
obedience by reason of ignorance OF its
neither are the laws of ny
giene relaxed or the penalty warded of
because men neglect or refuse 10 obey
them. "These laws of hygiene, as also
those OF mental and physical development
or decay in the individual or nation. are
as fixed and .nviolable az those of the
decalogue. and the punishment enforced
most prompt and positive. DIR. Curwin.
Applying these principles of mental and
moral therapeutics TO the home life, in
the early education OF the child proper
control over the appetites, the desires,
the passions. the emotions, and the af-
fcctons should commence with the lawn
Of intelligence, and b. carefully. patient
y. and judicially exercised with that
.alm parental discipline. not relaxed on ac-
count of any sentimental feeling. This VIII
teach the child a command over its own
passions, which Will be OF Infinite be1c-
fit in the future and give 10 HIM that
stability Of character ard thorough mos-
terry over himself and his environments
, nDnDccal.. n a o I'M liln :.