The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17


use of deep breathing movements, then,
and not until then, can we expect to
prevent and arrest the ravages of dis
ease, which find Judgment in the capilla-
| ries of some unused corner of the lungs.
A fanatic" is a person with whom we
have little patience. Yet it is a pity that
there are not more ''cranks' along this
line, for too much cannot be said in
favor of conscientious practice of res
piratory movements accompanied by a Sc
ries of other well selected exercises for
increased circulation. etc
Each person should be fit to be his
own guardian. 1t is not necessary, nor
does it follow that he should be his own
doctor any more than that every one
who has learned the construction of a
steam engine should be restless because he
| is not his own engineer" says a writer.
Then if. the laws governing mental,
moral and physical nature be understood
and studied for the sake of health. we
can determine the best methods OF in
struction to suit the needs of the young.
J We can only hope to have general i'm
precision such as might abide for general
guidance. We must then try to teach the
most essential principals Of physiology in
connection with useful rules for prudence
| in the ordinary management Of personal
and social health. Do not understand me
to say that it is only through the study of
physiology that prudence can be taught,
for it teaches no other rule than nature
and experience has already indicated, but
it gives strength and meaning to these
rules, and enlists the power of under
standing against the overbearing of inch-
nation, useless habits. etc.
Thus if we are enabled in a general
way to accept the truths of natural laws
of health. one would become a better
citizen and not q hinderer to physical pro-
gress, and would give his influence and
help to the furthering of good. The
health of the mind is subject to the same
laws as is the health of the body. for the
organ Of mind, the instrument that rules
the world, grows and is maintained &C
cordng to the same method Of nutrition
as every other part Of the animal organ
ism, and like every other part can be
affected for good or i'll by exercise or non
exercise. Deprive us Of fresh arr and q
proper amount of exercise. and our bodies
will become dwarfish, pallid and diseased,
and Just so surely will cur intellectual
and moral power become impaired. We
! live in an age Of intense mental activity.
Electricity and steam are tasked to BRING
Itidings from all over the world, and i'm
pressions pour in upon the brain at a
rate which nothing in the past is com
parable Competition OF business, fashion,
study, and social ambition are at work to
rack the integrities OF the mental fabric.
| Owing to this constant strain and eXclta-
bilty--as some one has said. of this
''hasty pudding within the scul,' is liable
at any time, upon any sudden stress of
circumstances, to produce permanent
mental arrangement. The price we pay
! for over-work and mental exhaustion is
fearful to contemplate. How cruelty does
nature avenge the insult. as in the case
of Hugh Miller, and many others.
Good, then. should. be the aim of our
lives. Evil is the result of its violation.
AS Paley has said that "no nerve has
ever been found whose function hes IN
giving of pain" so in all things pain or
I evil follows the breaking and not the
observance of a law. Contrast the pal
i lid face and irritable nerves of seden-
tary student with the ruddy cheek and iron
muscles of the physically active man and
gyrnastic student. It is this difference
which translates law into duty and ought
of the moral law into the must OF the
physical. Where facilities are such as to
admit of apparatus work and that car
ried out on physiological and psychological
principles, if attention is given to the
observance of laws governing progression,
when exercises follow each other in
systematic order then there will be no
| ticea BILE decrease of illness in school. We
must take our pupils as we find them,
| that is, make a study OF them, character,
! Temperament and environments, all must
| be considered. No two are constituted
alike, nor do they evince the same
amount of muscular and mental control.
Hence the Importance of discrimination,
not only for the reason given above but
| in cases of organic trouble.
| In the use of apparatus we find the
pupil who is able to master It's use thor
oughly is inclined to continue that par
| ticular exercise to the exclusion of others,
| for which they have less liking. This
| is the trouble we encounter as regards
| travelling rings, trapeze, etc. often ma
lit absolutely necessary to enforce COM
plete abstinence from the use of them. as
| a too constant use, we know, produces
ioyer-davelopment of the pectoral muscle,
causing the very thing we are deslrous or
oyercoming-round shoulders. Thus every
student must necessarily have individual
attention as we'll as class work.
| There are drawbacks. trials to be en-
countered which fall to the lot OF but
| few following other vocations, and call
| forth all the reserve powers of self-control
of which one is capable. In all other de-
partments of work the girl IS equipped
| for immediate active work. The gyrnna-
SUM now necessitates a different garb, re-
curing the 'getting-ready'' process winch,
| as we all know, is not conducive to pleas
J. ant anticipations. Hence the necessity
of cultivating a cheerful disposition, so as
to be able to dispell any feeling of Irri-
tation shown by disconnected pupil 1t
| is often necessary to exert double
amount OF energy to combat the effects OF
| irritation produced on the nerves OF
| those who are naturally of discontented
Temperament, for they lack the co-ordlna-
ton more than those of an even tempera-
ment Then it is that the teacher must
be at her brightest and best II she ex-
poets to be able to counterbalance the evil
leffects Of irritation produced upon the ner-
lvous system.
Too much stress cannot be put on the
! ooto bfiCbmapt of cood breat hing caD3city