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��PHYSICAL DEGENERACY.
��seventy years of age, but with, a slightly stooping figure, which gave him the ap- pearance of an older man to the casual observer. His benevolent countenance and cheerful voice were well calculated to inspire the confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and in a few moments Charles felt perfectly at ease in his presence, entering readily into con- versation, so that he had soon imparted all the essential facts in the history of his short life, and all his hopes and aspir- ations, and especially his great desire to go to Chicago. Mr. Austin had recently retired from business in that city, where he had lived many years and which was still his home, but now, having lost all his family by death, he was travelling about the country by easy stages, seek- ing physical rest and menial diversion. He gave Charles much good advice, and assured him that he would And no easy road to success, even in Chicago; but
��finding him anxious and determined to go, insisted upon his accepting from him, as a slight testimony of his regard and partial compensation for the service he had rendered him, a through railway ticket to that city, and a sum of money sufficient to support him for several weeks.
Charles hesitated at first about accept- ing the gift, but it being urged upon him not as a reward but as a return service, which his venerable friend could readily and most gladly render, he hesitated no longer.
Two days later, having closed his labors at the store, and with a letter of recommendation from his employers, and another from Mr. Austin, introducing him to a business friend in that city. Charles had left Boston on a through train for the new " Mecca" of his ambi- tion.
��PHYSICAL DEGENERACY.
��[From the Nashua School Report for 1876,
The deterioration of the people of New England in physical strength, size and energy is a fact which constantly con- fronts us. It is clearly evident that un- der the present conditions of city life, at home and at school, a child of American parentage stands a poor chance to enter upon a career of life having a good phys- ical system— a body healthy, strong, well formed, and of good size.
The saying of Ralph Waldo Emerson that "the first requisite to success in life is to be a good animal," embodies a fundamental principle in the science of education. Without a sound constitution the most intelligent and laborious man is comparatively powerless. The sport of painful maladies, he finds himself fet- tered at every step in his career. Let- ters, science, the arts, crafts the most humble, and the higher professions — nothing is possible without good health.
��by John H. Goodale, Superintendent.]
The rare exceptional cases, like that of Pope, in which a prodigious amount of work is accomplished by a life-long in- valid only shows that a mighty pressure of steam may do wonders with a crazy engine, one time in a thousand. In all other cases the result is speedy wreck.
The physical training of school chil- dren should, therefore, command the most careful attention of parents, teach- ers, and school authorities. Let them give earnest heed to the care and devel- opment of the body as well as of the mind. It is the home, the instrument, the perpetual companion of the soul. Let the children themselves be taught to know that feeding on sweetmeats, sip- ping coffee, and lounging on the sofa will not make them scholars or lit them for the severer emergencies of life. Rather, let them eat brown bread and beef in generous slices. Let them wield the axe,
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