The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-15

Mrs. W. J.. Chambers on Reciproc- ity Day of the City Federation cele- brated Friday afternoon In the audi torium of the Girls High School, read her paper on Adolescence, Sym opsis of Period" which was prepared for the Montgomery Mothers Circle.
 Mrs. Chamberss paper follows:
 Adolescence is new birth, for the higher and more completely human traits are now borne. The qualities of body and soul that now emerge are far newer. The annual rate of growth In height, weight and strength is in- creased and often doubled, and more important functions previously non existent, arise. Growth of parts and organs loses its former proportions. some permanently. and some for . season. Nature arms youth for con-
 fiict with all the resources of her com mand-speed. power of shoulder. bi- ceps. back. legs. jaws. strengthens and enlarges skull, thorax. hips. makes man aggressive and prepares woman's frame for maternity. The functions of every sense undergo reconstruc- tion, and their relations to other psy chic functions change. and new sen sations. some of them very intense arise, and new associations in the sense sphere are formed. The youth craves more knowledge of body and mind that can help against besetting temp tations. and in the choice of a profess sion.. and if his intellect is normal he does not tax his soul overmuch about the logical character of the universe or the ultimate sanction of either truth or virtue. The social instincts undergo sudden unfoldment and the new life of lq8e awakens Interest in adult life an in vacations develops. Youth awakes eto Q new world and understands neither 1t nor himself.
 The whole future of life depends on how the new powers now given sud denly and in such profuslon are hus- banded and directed. Character and personality are taking form. but ev- erything is plastic. Self-feeling and ambition are increased, and every trait and faculty Is liable to exagger- alton and excess. It Is all a marvel ous new birth, and those who believe that nothing Is so worthy of love. reverence. and service. as the body and soul of youth, and who hold that the best test of every human institu- ton is how much 1t contributes to bring yodth to the ever fullest pos sible development. may well review themselves and the civilization In which they live to soc how far It meets this supreme test. Are we pro- gressing so rapidly that we are for getting that for the complete appren- ticeship of life, youth neeis repose. leisure. art, legends, romance. ideal ization, in word humanism, If 1t Is to enter the Kingdom of man well equipped for mans highest work in the world.
 Let us take a resume of life. The young child grows despite great hard ships, but later adolescence is more dependent upon favoring conditions in the environment. disturbances of which more readily cause arrest. and prevent maturity. Not only is the variation in growth now increased but there Is a far greater liability to reversion. As we advance to the lat CT stages of Adolescence all these lfa- bilities are greatly increased as IS the predisposition to sickness. There is a typical development and standard of symmetry. for each heighth of age, a standard which Is attainable, and to which the muscular development of the individual of that height may be made to conform very closely through the aid of systematic physical training and general health. In girls muscular growth Is less pronounced with the im- portant exception of the uterine mus cies which acquire most of their devel- opment during these years. Bone growth needs lime, somewhat as cat tie need salt. that their milk, etc, should have slight admixtures of lime. Perhaps the nicotine and other aka limo habits to which thls age Is so prone may also owe part of their strength to nutritive needs. which might be better interpreted and thus loose their morbid character.
 Puberty is not unlike new birth when the lines of development take new directions. The range of individ- uality fin nearly all respects. size. strength, motion mental ability, etc, is greatly increased. extremes are wid- CT apart, and average variations ann pier as seen In wider distributions among the percentile grades. This means increased elasticity. and docil- ity. so that the powers of aquisition are increased and jeepened.
 The influence of the environment ii, producing acquired character trans- missabie by heredity. Is greatest on the child during adolescence. Although perhaps the influence of experience may be greater later on. At any rate for those prophetic souls interested in the future of our race. and desir- ous of advancing. etc, the field of ado- lescence is the quarry in which they must seek to find both means and goal. If such higher stage Is ever added to our race, 1t will not be by lncTemeHtS at any later plateau of adult life. but 1t will come by in- 1 creased development of the adolescent stage which is the bud of promise for | the race. Change of ethmic develop ment best occur now, and the point of departure for higher and more evolv- ed forms is adolescence. and not adult hood. It is the age of reconstruction. when new determinants come to the front and also point of departure for new lines of development It is the | age also when. if ever previous tend encies to abnormality may be over- come. both by nature and treatment.
 Mental development during this pe- riod of life. though is mainly in the future. The high achievements and successes are more apparent than the tedious means by which they are at tained. During the growing life the mind has been unconsciously develop ed by action of environmental sugges- ton. by needs of the individual made known or aroused by association and condition. and as 1t is ever progress sive each successive requirement but served to pave the way for the next.
 We find that play. understood play, has been a great assistant in mind de- To acquire the power of