To the mind we attach infinite value, and justly too; but it is good for nothing in this world without the body. Can a man think with-is nauseated, or when the lungs are oppressed; out a brain? Can he feel without nerves? Can he move without muscles? If not, let him look well to the condition of the brain, nerves, and muscles. Let us be careful to always heed the maxim of the ancient philosophers-an unsound body is incompatible with a sound mind. No

full of daring, quick to see, and keen to feel. of the other, and whatever serves to benefit and In old age, desponding, timid, perceptions dim, improve the one, equally benefits and improves and emotions languid. When the blood circu- the other. Every pernicious habit that lowers lates with unusual energy, the coward rises into the standard of the physical powers, and detea hero. But when the blood creeps along feebly, the hero himself sinks into a coward.

"His coward lips did from their color fly."

riorates the bodily health and energy; equally, and as certainly deteriorates the mental functions and causes a proportionate degeneration of the Equally sudden and powerful are the effects mind. What then is the common sense deducproduced by the different states of the mind tion from these facts? Manifestly that the body upon the body. The expression of the counte- and mind should be scrupulously cared for nance is mind visible. The emotion of shame alike, and together. The states of the body are flushes the face; fear blanches it; joy illumines infinitely various. All these different conditions it; and a sudden thrill electrifies a million of affect the mind differently; they are causes, and nerves; surprise spurs the pulse into a gallop; their effects have all the variety that mark the delirium infuses giant energy often even into causes which produce them. If these different those who were before nearly helpless with a conditions all differently affect the mind, some wasting disease; volition commands, and hun-electrifying, and others paralyzing its energies; dreds of muscles spring to execute; bad news what duty can be plainer to us than to preserve weakens the action of the heart, oppresses the the body constantly and most scrupulously, in lungs, destroys appetite, stops digestion, and that condition which will most favorably affect partially suspends every function. Plato was the mind? If the Maker of both our bodies accustomed to say, "all diseases of the body and our minds is infinitely wise, (which will be proceed from the soul." This is doubtless an conceded), then the highest permanent perfecover-estimate of the thing, yet the mind controls tion of the mind, can only be attained in the every function of the body to a wonderful ex- best condition of the body. Infinite wisdom tent and degree. Powerful emotion often kills has established laws through which the highest the body at a single stroke. Chilo, Diogones, perfection of both is attainable, and it is a false and Sophocles died of joy at the Elean games. philosophy to allow ourselves to attempt to culThe news of defeat killed Philip V. One of tivate and care for the one, without an equal the Popes died of emotion of the ludicrous, on regard for the welfare of the other. Allow me seeing his pet monkey robed in pontificals, and to ask-if we do not see large numbers of both occupying the chair of state. Muly Molock sexes striving to educate and elevate their minds was carried upon the field of battle in an in- to become teachers, members of the learned curable disease; upon seeing his army give way professions, and cultivators of the sciences and he leaped from his litter, rallied his panic-arts, whose aspirations are high and eager to stricken troops, rolled back the tide of battle, enter the honored ranks of those who give charshouted victory, and expired. The door-keeper of Congress died on hearing of the surrender of Cornwallis.

which, healthy development, and the maintenance of noble, manly and womanly bodily health, is an utter impossibility. What has our country and nation to hope from such an accession as our successors must be, if due attention is not given to bodily habits?

acter, intelligence and success to our great, growing and honored nation; yet whose physical habits are excessive, and in no way directed by Eminent public speakers have died, either in prudence or wisdom. Do we follow all the unthe midst of an impassioned burst of eloquence, healthy forms of fashion in apparel, diet, irregor when the deep emotion which produced it ular hours, fatigue, listlessness, or else undue had suddenly subsided. Mr. Pinkney of Bal- excitement-learning to despise manly labor, or timore, Mr. Emmet, of New York, and Hon. E. its equivalent-free general exercise, without Webster, of New Hampshire, are examples, and numerous others may be named and readily remembered. Legrave died when he heard that the musical prize for which he had competed was adjudged to another. Hills of New York, apprehended for theft, taken before the police, and although in perfect health, his mental agony at the disgrace, forced the blood from his nostrils, and he died. Mr. P. R. a patient of my own, although in the prime of life, about a year ago, dropped suddenly dead in an excessive fit of violent anger in a quarrel with his sons. The experience of every day demonstrates religion of God, whatever that may be, is not, that both the body and mind are endorsed with and from the nature of things, can not be insuch acute sensibilities, that each in its normal imical to bodily health. Yet the religious past condition, is ever alive to the slightest influence is made hideous with the self-inflicted tortures

UNPHYSIOLOGICAL RELIGIONS.

If there is any one thing that philosophers know better than all others, it is that the true

of ascetic fanatics who taught that religion con- world. A shabby compliment to the world, sisted mainly in "crucifying the flesh," and truly, but the world accepts it with a smiling wounding natural pride. We are informed that bow, and would do so, if it knew marriage to be this morbid view of Christianity obtained gene- inseparably connected with the other presentsrally in the fourth century, and that in that lying, cheating, &c. The Shakers claim to be elder day, thousands of self-constituted saints utterly sinless, and this condition of purity is tormented themselves to the "other side of reached in part, they say, through celibacy. Jordan" to win a priestly smile and be styled a Abstinence in this respect lifts them to higher saint. It would be difficult to trace this species of fanaticism to its source, but it probably origi nated in the muddy brain of some post-diluvian heathen, who conceived God to be a Gorgonic monster that had to be appeased with blood and agony.

spiritual experiences, placing them on a plain but little lower than that treaded by angel feet.

Are we to believe, then, that God was guilty of an oversight when he gave man, in common with the rest of animated beings, certain organs and passions, the legitimate exercise of which should perpetuate the species? Our friends, the Shakers, are modest but their doctrine is

This barbarous view, hateful to enlightened humanity as it is, still has a foothold in the earth, and will probably continue to have for not. The physical appearance of this class is some centuries to come.

commentary enough upon their system however, for, as a rule, the Shakers look pale, haggard and etiolated. Total abstinence in the matter of sexual congress is unphysiological, and so, is irreligious, for if God is a consistent being, there can be no conflict between science and religion.

In this age, it is not insisted upon so strenuously as of yore, that the prime element of the Deific character is malignity, and that such sacrifices as involve total self-abnegation are necessary to His pacification; but the dogma of total depravity is generally accepted, and this, in the humble estimation of the writer, is The Mormons and Free Lovers go into the not much better. Any creed which holds as a opposite extreme, for, whatever restrictive cardinal fact, the doctrine that all the native articles on this head may be found in their tendencies of human nature are evil, imputes creeds, the ultimate tendency of their doctrines man-like weakness to God, by making him like is to give the rein to salacity. The effects of finite man, subject to contingencies. The idea unbridled lust are vastly more injurious than of omniscience, to say nothing of infinity, &c., the most rigid continence; it is, therefore, one is absolutely incompatible with that which of the most important duties of society to frown recognizes the existence of discrepancies in down all attempts to popularize doctrines which nature as a whole, unless God is essentially evil. encourage this form of immorality. Religion, however, being more a matter of imDozens of other "modes of faith" might be pulse than reason, we can not look for a speedy cited, which, by omission or commission are eradication of such notions, for the ignorant unphysiological, but farther particularization is masses act impulsively rather than reasonably. unnecessary. Few will deny the existence of As a result of such religious views, we see such creeds, but not all, by some millions, will innocent and healthful amusements condemned, agree that unphysiological religions are unscripand to use a church phrase, “handed over to tural. the Devil." Dancing furnishes a notable example. This amusement seems as natural to the young as walking and riding, and it is recognized by the medical profession as one of the most healthful and invigorating exercises known. Yet, for some occult reason, known only to a certain class of religionists, dancing is set down in the list of prohibited recreations.

WAKEFULNESS.

C

Sleep has very justly been termed "nature's sweet restorer." The importance of this is so little understood generally, that thousands die every year of pure insomnia. It is true that too Many creeds derive their individuality from much sleep lulls our intellectual faculties, and the adoption of some distinctive tenet which enervates our bodies; but where there is one condemns certain political and social institu- person injured from over-sleeping, there are tions, or which proscribes a particular custom. hundreds sent to a premature grave by want of As instances, I may cite the Shakers, Mormons sleep. and Free Lovers. Our Shaker friends, who by Life is a process of waste and repair-building the way are a good class of people, put their up and tearing down. At night, eliminative emphatic interdict upon the institution of mar- action is at its minimum, and during the day it riage. They do not claim to have any quarrel attains its maximum. When one is in perfect with that sacred relation, but they hand it, along health, the repair is equal to the waste, and with profanity, lying, cheating, &c., over to the enough surplus vitality is elaborated to meet the