training of the intellect. It is obvious that we have in this, a much
higher subject to deal with than that on which we have just dwelt. The
physical form in a few years develops itself, and soon reaches its
utmost limits of growth. It is then an instrument whose powers we seek
to maintain but cannot increase. As time advances, indeed, those powers
gradually yield to the influence of disease or age, until the senses
begin to neglect their office, the brain declines in vigor, while the
tongue, the eye, the hand, forget their accustomed work in the
imbecility wrought by the approach of death. But no such limitation is
manifest to us in the growth and future life of the intellect. Dependent
upon the body for a healthful home in this world, and so far limited by
the conditions of mortality, it yet seems to have in itself no absolute
limitation bounding its prospective and possible attainments, save as
the finite never can fully attain to the infinite. Granting it a
congenial home, a fitting position, with full opportunity for progress,
and there is scarcely a height this side infinity which in the ascent of
ages it seems not capable of reaching. All creatures are finite, and as
such, limited; but the horizon around the soul is so amazingly
expansive, and the capacities of the mind for progress so immense, that
to us, in our present state, it is almost as if there were no
limitations at all.
The power of the intellect to acquire facts and relations, and from them
to ascend to the laws which control; its power to advance in a daily
ascending path into the region of intuition, where masses of things,
once isolated or chaotic, range themselves into harmony, and move in
numbers most musical; its power thus to rise into an enlarging vision
of truths now latent, and behold directly laws, relations and facts
which once evaded the sight, or were only seen dimly and after great
toil, it is utterly beyond our sphere to limit. We know that what to us
in childhood was a mystery, is now simple; that some of the grandest
laws of the material world which a few years back were reached only
after stupendous labor, are now become intuitive truths; and we can see
no reason why the human mind is not capacitated for just such advances
eternally; at every ascent sweeping its vision over a broader range of
truth, and rising ever nearer that Omniscient Intellect to which all
things open. The instinct and imperfect reason of the noblest brutes,
are here in marked contrast to the mind of man. They reach the limit of
knowledge with the ripening of their physical frame; a limit which no
training, however protracted and ingenious, can overpass; which never
varies, except as a cord drawn round a center may vary, by being
enlarged on the one side and contracted on the other; and which prepares
them without the acquisition of a particle of superfluous intelligence
for their brute life as the servitors of man. While his mind, never
wholly stationary for a long period, has capacities for development that
seem to spurn a merely sensual life, and lift the spirit to a
companionship with angels; which, instead of resting satisfied with the
mere demands of the body, seeks to penetrate the deep springs of life,
discern the exquisite organism of an insect's wing, measure the stars,
and analyze the light that reveals them.
Possessing an intellect of so fine a nature, it is not to be questioned
that, according to our opportunities, it is incumbent on us to carry
forward its improvement from childhood to hoary age. A power like this,
of indefinite expansion, in directions surpassingly noble, among
subjects infinitely grand, has been conferred that it might be expanded,
and go on expanding in an eternal progression; that it might sweep far
beyond its present horizon and firmament, where the stars now shining
above us, shall become the jeweled pavement beneath us, while above
still roll other spheres of knowledge, destined in like manner to
descend below us as the trophies of our victorious progress.
To bury such an intellect as this in the commonplaces of a life of mere
sense; to confine it to the narrow circle of a brute instinct and
reason; to live in such a world, with the infinite mind of Jehovah
looking at us from all natural forms, breathing around us in all tones
of music, shining upon us from all the host of heaven, and soliciting us
to launch away into an atmosphere of knowledge and ascend to an
acquaintance with the great First Cause, even as the bird challenges the
fledgling to leave its nest, and be at home on the wing; to live amid
such incitements to thought, yet never lift the eyes from the dull round
of physical necessities, is treason toward our higher nature, the
voluntary defacement of the grandest characteristic of our being. The
education of the intellect is not a question to be debated with men who
have the slightest appreciation of their noble capacities. The
obligation to improve it is commensurate with its susceptibility of
advancement and our opportunities. It is not limited to a few years in
early life, it presses on us still in manhood and declining age. Such is
a general statement of the duty of intellectual improvement.
In the actual education of the mind, our course will necessarily be
modified by the ultimate objects at which we aim. Properly these are
twofold--the first general, the second specific. The first embraces the
general training of our intellectual powers, with direct reference to
the high spiritual life here and hereafter. We place before us that
state of immortality to which the present stands in the relation of a
portico to a vast temple. The intellect is itself destined to survive
the body, and as the instrument through which the heart is to be
disciplined and fitted for this condition of exalted humanity, is to be
informed with all that truth most essential for this purpose. Whatever
there be in the heavens or the earth--in books or works of men, to
discipline, enlarge and exalt the mind, to that we shall be attracted. A
right heart breathes in an atmosphere of truth; it grows and rejoices in
communion with all the light that shines upon it from the works or word
of God. All truth, indeed, is not of the same importance. There is that
which is primary and essential; there is that which adds to the
completeness, without going to the foundation of character. The truths
that enter a well cultivated mind, animated by right sentiments, will
arrange themselves by a natural law in the relative positions they hold
as the exponents of the character of God, and the means more or less
adapted to promote the purity and elevation of man. All truth is of God;
yet it is not all of equal value as an educational influence. There are
different circles--some central, some remote. The crystals of the rock,
the stratification of the globe, and the facts of a like character, will
fill an outer circle, as beautiful, or skillful, or wonderful, in the
demonstration of divine powers, but not so in themselves unfolding the
highest attributes of God. The architecture of animate nature, the
processes of vegetable life, the composition of the atmosphere, the
clouds and the water, will range themselves in another circle, within
the former, and gradually blending with it, as the manifestations of the
wisdom and benificence of God. Then the unfoldings of his moral
character in the government of nations, in the facts of history, and in
the general revelation of himself in the Scriptures, will constitute
another band of truth concentric with the others, yet brighter and
nearer the center. While at length in the cross and person of Christ--in
the system of redemption, and all the great facts which it embodies, we
behold the innermost circle that, sweeping round Jehovah as its center,
reflects the light of his being, most luminously upon the universe. Such
is obviously the relative order of the truth we seek to know. It is the
different manifestations of God, ascending from the lowest attributes of
divinity, to those which constitute a character worthy the homage and
love of all beings. Now, as it is the great object of life to know God
and enjoy him, so in education we are to keep this steadily in view, and
follow the order of procedure for the attainment of it which God has
himself established. To spend the life or the years of youth on the
study of rocks and crystals, to the neglect of the higher moral truths
which lie within their circle, is unpardonable folly--a folly not to be
redeemed by the fact that such knowledge is a partial unfolding of God
to man. It is little better than studying the costume to the neglect of
the person--than the examination of the frame to the neglect of the
master-piece of a Raphael inclosed within it--than the criticism of a
single window to the neglect of the glorious dome of St. Peter's--than
viewing the rapids to the neglect of the mighty fall of Niagara. In
education, the observance of this natural order of truth will bring us,
at length, to that which fills the outer circle, and thus _all_ the
kinds of knowledge will receive a just attention. Indeed, the study of
the one naturally leads us to the other. We shall pass from the inner to
the outer lines of truth, and back again, learning all the while this
important lesson, that the study of the more remote class of truths is
designed to conduct us to a more perfect appreciation of that which is
moral, religious, central and saving; while the study of the higher
parts of revelation will show us that the former come in to finish and
perfect the latter. We do not despise the frieze--the architrave--the
cornice--the spires, and the other ornaments of the temple, because we
regard as most essential the foundation, the corner stone, the walls and
the roofing; but in due time we seek to impart to our edifice not only
strength and security, but the beauty of the noblest and richest
adornment. According to our means, and as the necessities of life will
permit, we shall seek for knowledge from all its various spheres, and
despise nothing that God has thought worthy of his creative power or
supporting energy.
Now this large course of education in obedience to its first great
object, is not limited by anything in itself or in us, to a particular
class of individuals. It is the common path along which all intelligent
beings are to pass. The object to which it conducts is before us all,
and common to all. It is not divided into departments for separate
classes. Woman, as well as man, has an interest in it, and an obligation
to seek for it, just as binding as that which rests on him. All souls
are equal, and though intellects may vary, yet the pursuit of truth for
the exaltation of the soul is common to all. As this obligation to
unfold the powers of the intellect, that we may grasp the truth, is
primary, taking precedence of other objects--since all duty is based on
knowledge, and all love and worship, and right action on the
intelligence and apprehension of God--so education, which in this
department is but the development of our capacity, preparing us to
pursue the truth, and master the difficulties which frown us away from
its attainment, rises into a duty the most imperative upon all rational
beings. The same path here stretches onward before both sexes, the same
motives impel them, the same objects are presented to them, the same
obligations rest upon them. Neither youth nor age--neither man nor
woman, can here make a limitation that shall confine one sex to a narrow
corner--an acre of this broad world of intelligence--and leave the other
free to roam at large among all sciences. Whatever it is truly healthful
for the heart of man to know, whatever befits _his_ spiritual nature and
immortal destiny, that is just as open to the mind of woman, and just as
consistent with her nature. To deny this abstract truth, we must either
affirm the sentiment falsely ascribed to Mahomet, although harmonizing
well enough with his faith in general, that women have no souls; or take
the ground that truth in this, its widest extent, is not as essential to
their highest welfare as it is to ours; or assert, that possessing
inferior intellects, they are incapable of deriving advantage from the
general pursuit of knowledge, and therefore must be confined to a few
primary truths, of which man is to be the judge. The first supposition
we leave with the fanaticism that may have given it birth, and with
which it so well harmonizes; the second we surrender to those atheistic
fools and swindling politicians who can see no excellence in knowledge,
save as it may minister to their sensual natures, or assist them to
cajole the people; while the man who maintains the third, we would
recommend to a court of Ladies, with Queen Elizabeth as judge, Madame de
Stael as prosecuting attorney, and Hannah More, Mrs. Hemans, and other
bright spirits of the same sex, as jury.
I have dwelt thus at length on the first and most general object before
us in the pursuit of knowledge, because it is really of the highest and
noblest education, common to both sexes and unlimited by anything in
their character or different spheres of life.
* * * * *
Original.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, DERIVED FROM
THE GERMAN PRACTICE, AND ADAPTED TO THE AMERICAN POPULATION.
The great difficulty in this country is, that we try to do too much for
our children. If we would let them alone a little more, we should do
better; that is, if we would content ourselves with keeping them warm
and clean, and feeding them on simple, wholesome food, it would be
enough.
They will take exercise of themselves, if we will let them alone, and
they will shout and laugh enough to open their lungs. It is really
curious for a scientific person to look on and observe the numerous and
sometimes, alas! fatal mistakes that are constantly made. You will see a
family where the infants are stout and vigorous as a parent's heart
could desire, and, if only let alone, would grow up athletic and fine
people; but parents want to be doing, so they shower them every morning
to make them strong--they are strong already!
Then, even before they are weaned, they will teach them to suck raw
beef; for what? Has not their natural food sustained them well? An
infant will have teeth before it wants animal food.
But all these courses they have heard were strengthening, so they
administer them to the strongest, till excess of stimulants produces
inflammation, and the natural strength is wasted by disease. Then the
child grows pale and feeble; now the stimulants are redoubled, they are
taken to the sea-shore, kept constantly in the open air, and a great
amount of exercise is insisted on. By this time all the symptoms of
internal inflammation show themselves: the skin is pale, the hands and
feet cold, dark under the eyes, reluctance to move, &c., &c. But no one
suspects what is the matter; even the physician is often deceived at
this stage of the process, and if he is, the child's case will be a hard
one.
I mention particularly this course of stimulants, as it is just now the
prevalent mania. Every one ought to understand, that those practices
which are commonly called strengthening, are, in other words,
stimulating, and that to apply stimulants where the system is already in
a state of health, will produce too much excitement. The young, from the
natural quickness of their circulation, are particularly liable to this
excess of action, which is inflammation. This general inflammation, in
time, settles into some form of acute disease, so that in fact, by
blindly attempting to strengthen, we inflame, disease, and enfeeble to
the greatest possible degree.
If we look at nature--at the animal instincts that are around us, what a
different course does it advise! The Creator has taught the lower races
to take care of their young; and if some accident does not happen to
them they never lose one; just as they manage to-day, just so did they
do for them a thousand years ago. Man is left to his own reason, I had
almost said to his caprice; every age has produced different customs,
and in consequence different diseases. More than half of the human race
die under five years old; how small a portion live to the full
"_threescore and ten_."
Morally and intellectually, man may advance to an almost unlimited
extent; but he must remember, that physically he is subjected to the
same laws as other animals. Is it not quite time that we should bow our
pride of reason, and look to the practice of those animals that raise
all their young, and live out their own natural lives? How do they
manage? We need not look far; see, madam, the cat; how does she contrive
to rear her young family? Who ever saw her give one of them a
shower-bath? Who ever saw her take a piece of meat to her nest, that her
little ones might try their gums on it, before their teeth had grown?
Who ever saw her taking them out of a cold winter's day for exercise in
the open air, till their little noses were as red as those of the
unfortunate babies one meets every cold day? Not one of all these
excellent fashionable plans does she resort to. She keeps them
clean--very clean, warm--very warm indeed. The Creator sends them to
make their way in the world dressed completely, cap and all, in a
garment unexceptionable as to warmth; there is no thick sock on the feet
to protect from chills, and the head left with the bare skin uncovered,
because reason had discovered that the head was the hottest part of the
body, and that it was all a mistake that it should be so; therefore it
was left exposed to correct this natural, universal law of the animal
economy. Pussy knows nothing of all this, so kittie's cap is left on,
coming snug over the little ears; and who ever saw a cat deaf (but from
age) or a kitten with the ear-ache? Yet the first thing that strikes a
stranger, in coming to our land of naked heads, is the number of persons
he meets, that are partially deaf, or have inflamed eyes. All this
sounds like a joke, but is it not a pretty serious one? Is it not
strange, that men do not look oftener in this direction? It is not the
cat alone, every animal gives the same lessons. The rabbit is so
careful, that lest her young should take cold while she is from home,
she makes a sort of thick pad or comforter of her own hair, and lays it
for a covering over them. We do not hear that the old rabbits, when they
go out into life, (in our cold climate too) are any more liable to take
cold from having been so tenderly brought up. In fact, I doubt whether
they ever take cold at all, young or old; while with man, to have a cold
seems to be his natural state, particularly in the winter season. I have
heard some persons go so far as to say, that a cold does not do a child
any hurt; but it is not true, let who will say it; every cold a child
takes, makes him more liable to another; and another, and another
succeeds, till chronic disease is produced.
(To be Continued.)
* * * * *
Original.
A FAINT PICTURE OF HUMAN LIFE.
THE BOY; THE FATHER OF THE MAN
On my first visit to New York, many years since, I was accompanied by a
young nephew. He was made up of smiles and cheerfulness. Such a
traveling companion, of any age, is rare to be found, so gallant--so
ready to serve--so full of bright thoughts--anticipating all my wishes,
and yet so unobtrusive and modest--at the same time disposed to add to
his own stock of knowledge from every passing incident. Nothing, in
fact, escaped his observation. The variety and richness of scenery which
is everywhere to be found in the New England States, seemed to delight
his young heart. This alone, was enough to inspire my own heart with
sunny thoughts, though I was in affliction, and was seldom found absent
from my own happy home.
As I recall to mind that journey and that happy, cheerful child, I often
think how much comfort even a child can impart to others, when their
hearts have been sanctified by the Spirit of God. I cannot forbear to
say that cheerfulness is a cardinal virtue, and ought to be more
cultivated by the old and by the young. A cheerful disposition not only
blesses its possessor but imparts happiness to all that come within its
reach.
As we entered the city at an early hour, everything wore a cheerful
aspect, every step seemed elastic and every heart buoyant with hope.
There was a continual hum of busy men and women, as we were passing near
a market. Such a rolling of carts and carriages--so many
cheerful children, some crying "Raddishes"--"raddishes"--others
"Strawberries"--"strawberries"--others with baskets of flowers--all wide
awake, each eager to sell his various articles of merchandise. This was
indeed a novel scene to us--it did seem a charming place. My young
companion remarked, Aunt C----, "I think everybody here must be happy."
I could not but at first respond to the sentiment. But presently we
began to meet persons--some halt--some blind--some in rags--looking
filthy and degraded.
Every face was new to us--not one person among the throngs we met that
we had ever seen before. An unusual sense of loneliness came over me,
and I thought my young attendant participated in this same feeling of
solitude, and though I said nothing, I sighed for the quiet and familiar
faces and scenes of the "Home, sweet home" I had so recently left.
We had not proceeded far before we saw men and boys in great commotion,
all running hurriedly, in one direction, bending their steps towards the
opposite shore. Their step was light and quick, but a look of sadness
was in every face. We could only, now and then, gather up a few
murmuring words that fell from the lips of the passers-by.
"There were more than thirty persons killed," said one. "Yes, more than
fifty," said another. We soon learned that a vessel on fire, the
preceding evening had entered the harbour, but the fire had progressed
so far that it was impossible to extend relief to the sufferers, and
most of the crew perished in the flames, or jumped overboard and were
drowned.
The awful impression of distress made upon the minds of persons
unaccustomed to such disasters, cannot well be described--they certainly
were by no means transient.
It was sad to reflect that many who had thus perished after an absence
from home, some a few weeks, others for months, instead of greeting
their friends, were hurried into eternity so near their own homes, under
such aggravated circumstances. And then what a terrible disappointment
to survivors! Many families as well as individuals were by this calamity
not only bereft of friends, but of their property--some reduced to a
state of comparative beggary.
This day's experience was but a faint picture of human life.
But to return to that young nephew. Does any one inquire with interest,
Did his cheerful, benevolent disposition, his readiness to impart and to
receive happiness continue with him through life? It did in a
pre-eminent degree. It is believed that even then "The joy of the Lord
was his strength."--Neh. viii. 10.
He died at the age of 37, having been for nearly six years a successful
missionary among the spicy breezes which blow soft o'er Ceylon's Isle. A
friend who had known him most intimately for many years while a student
at Yale, and then tutor, and then a student of Theology, after his
death, in writing to his bereaved mother, says, "We had hope that your
son, from his rare qualifications to fill the station he occupied, his
remarkable facilities in acquiring that difficult language, his
cheerfulness in imparting knowledge, his indomitable perseverance, his
superior knowledge, and love of the Bible, which it was his business to
teach--that in all this God had raised him up for a long life of service
to the Church; but instead of this, God had been fitting him, all this
time, for some more important sphere of service in the upper sanctuary."
Here, as in thousands of other cases, we see that "The boy was the
father of the man."
Would any mother like to know the early history of that cheerful young
traveler, we reply, as in the case of the prophet Samuel, he was "asked
of the Lord," and was, therefore, rightly named Samuel. The Lord called
him by his Spirit, when a mere child, "Samuel," "Samuel," and he replied
"Here am I;" and his subsequent life and character were what might be
expected from his obedient disposition and his lowly conduct in early
childhood.
* * * * *
A young prince having asked his tutor to instruct him in religion and to
teach him to say his prayers, was answered, that "he was yet too young."
"That cannot be," said the little boy, "for I have been in the burying
ground and measured the graves; I found many of them shorter than
myself."
* * * * *
Original.
MUSIC IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.--NO. 1.
It gives me much pleasure, in accordance with your suggestions, Mrs. W.,
to lay before the readers of the Magazine, a few thoughts on the subject
of music in Christian families. The subject is a very interesting one;
and I regret that time and space will not allow me to do it more ample
justice.