Taxes on Civilization. 551 
with that of the body, for thestrengthening of the latter is all- 
important that the full vigour of the former may be ensured. 
Boys and girls alike require very careful management to 
gradually educe the latent force of their minds, and when 
the fire of genius burns brightly it is unwise to pile on fuel; 
economy should rather be practised, and the fire will burn 
longer and brighter for the control exercised. 
The most casual observer must have noticed that children 
are infinitely more precocious now than they used to be. 
The difference in rapidity of locomotion in these days of 
steam power, contrasted with those when the old coach 
was deemed a fast mode of progression, not inaptly de- 
scribes the intensified pace of mental growth of to day com- 
pared with that of the last generation. 
It would obviate a vast deal of nervous disorder of all 
phases, up to the dread climax of insanity, if we were con- 
tent to make a waiting race in education, and to feel our 
way more gently. Not alone in early life is this pro- — 
pensity to force out mental power observable, but in the 
University career and in training for all professions it is 
equally to be noticed and deprecated. Competitive exami- 
nations for various callings are the order of the day, every 
door is closed unless intense cramming is undergone. This 
is now the “open sesame” to appointments, and a multitude 
of shattered nervous systems and enfeebled frames attest 
its malign influence. Girls in their curriculum of education 
escape no better than boys; they are kept at the treadmill, 
and a confused smattering of what can prove of little use 
to them in after life is a poor set off for deteriorated health. 
It is by no means a light tax upon bodily vigour that 
people pay for over cultivation of the intellect, and an over- 
done system of education, which is a product of civilization, 
and to increase the evil the children daily born into life 
naturally inherit the restlessness and excitability it entails, 
and thus the evil is perpetuated. 
Turn we now to business, and let us contemplate for 
a little while the taxes we pay here for this marvellous 
nineteenth century civilization. It is an understood axiom 
that there is no limit to acquisitiveness, and if the desire to 
acquire is realised, and money accumulates, in equal ratio 
multiply ways of spending it. New channels of expenditure 
are daily opened, and acquisition must continue in order 
that supplies to furnish costly superfluities may be forth- 
coming. | 
_ Means of at all a moderate character prevent many 
