Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-08-11
Health as a Duty.
PHILADELPHIA Iedrerl

The most earnest words Of Carlyle's
address on books and reading to the
students Of Edinburgh university were
those on the subject OF health. Wisdom
and understanding and learning mental
training, and even character, may partial
~ be robbed Of their purpose and mission
II the man is a wealIling and is compelled
In spite OF the resolution which knows
no abatement save In deaths victory, to
turn from his tasks and to yield the fight
often through no fault OF his own, 1ust
when the need OF stamina IS sorest
Whose fault is II that a child has in
herited weak body and a poor consti-
tuition? In many cases that Is a cues
ton which is not within human ken to
answer. but in countless instances the
prosecutors OF the sufferer, and in turn
doroears' have the awful responsibility
mis- Is one of the most serious things
In life, for surely there is no greater
tragedy than an innocent child being
porn TO certain wretchedness because
OF the sins OF those who love and cherish
1t most, or through the weaknesses or the
carelessness of its ancestors.
The world is rapidly changing its at
ttude, and for the better. toward sani-
tary and physiological questions. Every
oody will remember Matthew Arnold's
nne essay, Sweetness and Light" one
OF the best defences and supports ~
things spiritual as contra distine1lished
from mere material well-being. Arnold
quotes from Epictetus. who said that II
was sign OF nature not finely tempered
or nature which did not hold things
IN their due proportion-"to give your-
seiI up to things which relate to the
body; to make, for instance, a great fuss
ABOUT exercise, great fuss about eatinR.
d great russ about drinking, a great fuss
ABOUT walking. great fuss about riding
All these things ought to be done meraiv
oy the way; the formation Of the spirit
ana character must be our real concern -
ANA Arnold continues to enforce his
point. with singular force and elevation
Oh mlnd' that the statistics OF prosperity.
the accumulation OF wealth. the nroducI
ton Of coal, the growth NJ roanvtas
lures the cultivation Of bodily visor a,,sy,
the FORM OF government and the achieve-
meht or individual freedom-all thasa
thlhss' important as they NAV he In
themselves, are but machinery or
means TO a greater end: ito make rea-
son ana the VIII Of God prevail" and to
achieVe that perfection which really rests
on an inward condition OF mind and
spirit and consists in a harmonious az
pansion OF human nature.
Ihere Is scarcely a better or mora
Just tractate in the language, but the
question OF health and bodily vigor is
coming TO be regarded as somethinr NOR
important and essential than as 49,
OF mere machinery. Health Is not onIv
wealth. as Emerson says; II IA liberty ard
Is happiness, and II becomes a deem
moral question, because the health and
happiness and spiritual progress Of orr
successors depend on II. It is NOT tr,ia
tnat man has a right to do as he
pleases; he has no right to neglect his
heaith ana contribute to that lowered
Nltality. that lower level OF animal spirits
"hlch Is one OF the most essential ale
menus or happiness The fathers ara
mothers or this generation have the most
precious trust confided TO them. ana as
they perform 1t so will the harvest he
Inc close relation OF body and MIND
Is more closely recognized now than CO..
merry and the tendencies which. N thew
De not counteracted, produce a lower
vitality to civilized nations are r,oSa
clearly recognized. Everybody viii admit
that perhaps the brightest triumphs ~
modern times have been won In the feISs
OF sanitary reform and medical science
ana there Is also no doubt that ,he
average or human life is higher than ~
was hait century ago. Hospitals. chart
yes manliold, all sorts OF reforms. mora
s sAliiiuI physicians, modern sanitation-
ne sne oohtrol OF contagious disease which
tSr ny swept whole regions the spread
~ .te Anowledge OF living among ali the
PeS 9 ana thousand influences have
ho.'t Iiaht mortality wonderfulIv
Law, Law saved myriads OF adults who for
nroiou,' m9u ~ surely have died, and have
OLD age In former times rough 1870 t.,So
swept these weallings aside. and onIs, the
naturally healthy and Vigorous could ana