after. When some young girl incurs spinal disease for life
from some slight fall which she ought not to have felt for an hour, or
some businessman breaks down in the prime of his years from some
trifling over-anxiety which should have left no trace behind, the
popular verdict may be, "Mysterious Providence"; but the wiser observer
sees the retribution for the folly of those misspent days which
enfeebled the childish constitution, instead of ripening it. One of the
most admirable passages in the Report of Dr. Ray, already mentioned, is
that in which he explains, that, though hard study at school is rarely
the immediate cause of insanity, it is the most frequent of its ulterior
causes, except hereditary tendencies. "It diminishes the conservative
power of the animal economy to such a degree, that attacks of disease,
which otherwise would have passed off safely, destroy life almost before
danger is anticipated. Every intelligent physician understands, that,
other things being equal, the chances of recovery are far less in the
studious, highly intellectual child than in one of an opposite
description. The immediate mischief may have seemed slight, but the
brain is left in a condition of peculiar impressibility, which renders
it morbidly sensitive to every adverse influence."

Indeed, here is precisely the weakness of our whole national training
thus far,--brilliant immediate results, instead of wise delays. The life
of the average American is a very hasty breakfast, a magnificent
luncheon, a dyspeptic dinner, and no supper. Our masculine energy is
like our feminine beauty, bright and evanescent. As enthusiastic
travellers inform us that there are in every American village a dozen,
girls of sixteen who are prettier than any English hamlet of the same
size can produce, so the same village undoubtedly possesses a dozen very
young men who, tried by the same standard, are "smarter" than their
English peers. Come again fifteen years after, when the Englishmen and
Englishwomen are reported to be just in their prime, and, lo! those
lovely girls are sallow old women, and the boys are worn-out men,--with
fire left in them, it may be, but fuel gone,--retired from active
business, very likely, and just waiting for consumption to carry them
off, as one waits for the omnibus.

To say that this should be amended is to say little. Either it must be
amended, or the American race fails;--there is no middle ground. If we
fail, (which I do n