Year: 1860



 By this we do not mean that a political con stitution. written, that of the United States or unwritten, like that of Great Britain, is of value to the people possessing 1t. All of that is true, no doubt. But we wish jast now to speak rather of the value of good physical constitution to the man who possesses 1t, and to the nation or State where 1t is most gener- ally possessed Yet 1t is one of those blessings seldom appreciated until 1t is gone, and one lost 1t Is seldom recovered. Of course health is valuable for its own sake, or for the sake of avoiding the perpetual misery of sickness. But by constitution we mean something more than health. Wemean healthfulness of the whole physical system, so strong thatit cannot be easily interrupted. There are many per- sons who are never sick, and yet never robust never we'll They never lose a days work, and yet never do more than the work of half day. Their lives are made up of a sort of compromise between sickness and health, which keeps their friends always supposing they are about to break down, while yet they really never do give way, but outlast half a dozen 1orid healthy-looking men. Tasty and sallow-faced, they have a perpetual liver com 1 of the shoulders that makes them bend round like tortoise. They seem to live upon tobac- co, pies and ground nuts. They never smile, never get angry, never are hungry, never are tired, and never need exercise. This race IS on the increase amongst us. Our cities swarm with such A breath of fresh air more than common would kill the whole race A visit to Cape May of two days uses them up for the season.

 We protest against such men. They may be, and often are, very keen in particular de partments and walks of life, but they are not and cannot be men who take broad, common sense views of things. They will fddle-faddle over details and minutia, while large, heavy, broad-faced man of much greater obtuseness of mind will seize the great outlines of busi- ness, and work them through successfully.

 Men without constitution are soon worn out. They cannot give continuous attention to one point. After so many hours their minds flag, and any man who can hold out quietly till they are a little worn down, can get his way through with them. There is a vital stamina of purpose which is lacking in them. Ner- yous, impatient and fdgety, they cannot wait for the right time and place, to carry their point and effect their designs.

 On the other hand, the man witha good con- stitution inspires d sort of respect by his TO- bust, firm. large and healthy look Every body sees there is power behind all that IS put forth ill everything that he does. His cool, easy, placid way. his cheerful and selt-satisfed air has its weight as well as its softening and pleas ing influence. He does not get easily out of temper, and when he does, it is the rage of a strong man, out of the way of which all weak CT men had better stand aside. He will often lack quickness of perception, and be still slower in motion, but there will be no waste of power about him. If he makes gesture in speaking it will be just sufficient to enforce his idea, and no more.

 A good constitution lies at the basis of much sound mortality It makes a man in- stinctively noble-the hater of all lttleness and deceit. Correct fcelingand q comelyper- son go naturally together Education may make man moral, but the body is the organ through which the mind acts, and where the body Is in any easy and natural conditioni ts instincts will at least be apt to be true to all the dictates of what Is refined and worthy ana becoming. II all thlS Is true, IL may show us the importance of keeping up good constitution at any price. The student who wears this out, generally does it not by oyor- tasking his mind but by neglecting to do something else besides-pertaining to proper food, exercise or bathing. But in so doing, he cuts himself off, not only from success, but from the goodwill, the respect, and the pro- prieties, if not many of the higher moralities of life. The parent or teacher who over tasks a childs brain, or does not take care to see that the means are taken in them to build up good physical constitution are training up miserable existences whose misconceptions, fruits and depravities will make those ne glected ones disgrace to their families, if not a curse to the State and mankind.