he 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 quick