SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
303 
one in your city, who has a small excess of water or 
steam power, and who might possibly be interested in it 7 
I am sure that cement made on the spot would have the 
preference over any other, being perfectly fresh from the 
mill. 
It would give me great pleasure to be able to add snmc- 
thino-, in regard to another use of one of the articles which 
have been the subject of this communication— I mean 
livie for manure. The extraordinary meth'^d adopted by 
the authortties of the State Road “to develo: « the resources 
of the State,” has effectually cut off Middle Georgia from 
the use of this fertilizer, It is to be hoped that the plant- 
ing interest will not rest content until this prohibition is 
removed. I am yours respectfully, 
C. W. Howard. 
Kmgston, Cass Co., Ga., 185G. 
Ri;marks. — We have further evidence ofthe great value 
i and economy of concrete buildings, which, in connection 
j with the experience of the junior editor, who is now 
; erecting a house of this material, will be given hereafter. 
I We thank Mr. Howard, in behalf of our readers, for his 
' very valuable article. — Eds. 
j • •9- • 
|^"The theme of Col. Johnston (pablished in our 
last) is well followed up in the subjoined : 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE MAN. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — The most of your 
I correspondents take the Soil for their theme, but I shall 
take Man on account of the intrinsic importance of the 
subject. Great progress has been made in the last few 
years in mental education, and this should thrill every 
heart with inexpressible delight; but I view the fact with 
deep regret, that while our youths have been taught the 
Drinciples and mysteries of science, and how to explain 
the abti-use dogmas of philosophy and the laws that 
o-overn the planetary wmrlds as they wheel through the 
“void immense,” they have been allowed to live to a ruin- 
ous extent in ignorance of Nature’s laws, as connected 
with their own corporeal systems. Hundreds and thous- 
ands, yea, millions of constitutions are early wrecked and 
entombed in a premature grave after eking out a life of 
misery and pain, because the laws that govern vitality 
were not understood. As a general rule, it is perfectly 
absurd to think of having a brilliant intellect and one that 
will last and be adequate to great achievements in an ef- 
feminate body ; yet, it has become a common practice 
even among those who should know better, to cultivate 
the mind to the greatest possible extent, while the body 
and its members are exercised to such a limited degree 
that the muscles become flabby, bones soft, lungs weak, 
cheeks pale, strength departed, so that the first rude blast 
of exposure that assails the constitution, sinks our bodies 
into the grave, and the “grim monster, death,” with all its 
horrors, terminates this mortal life with its sanguine hopes 
and bright prospects. 
Why is it that many of our collegiates graduate with 
shattered health and diseased bodies, which render them 
unable the balance of life to use to advantage, the literary 
lore that they have toiled to accumulate I The answer 
is easy ; the physical education has been neglected in not 
taking wholesome and life-invigorating exercise. What 
an instructive contrast do we find between the classic sons 
on one hand, and those rosy cheek farmer boys on the 
other, that a good portion of their time throw the maul .and 
axe ; that drink the bright nectar as it gushes from (heir 
native hills, and inhale the fresh mountain air as it 
sweeps o’er field and plain. J hey can run a mile, jump 
and wrestle for hours, endure the chilly rain and winter’s 
cold, shivering blast with impunity, or hunt raccoons 
half the night through swamp and bog, and then rise nextt 
morning in time to hail the “great king,” and bid him 
welcome as he ascends in glory the eastern sky. 
The reason why they have so much bodily vigor is 
plain ; they have received physical culture, hence, the 
rose ofhealth blooms perennially upon their cheeks, their 
appetite is strong, and sleep sweet, and dreams delio-htful, 
transporting them to some lovely isle, where musical 
warblers in Paradisaical groves enchant their hours awajv 
in sweet melodious strains. They enjoy health, without 
which neither wealth nor fame can make us happ 5 r, 
though we dwell in a land “canopied by as lovely a sky as 
ever charmed the gaze ofthe mountain bard,” and fanned 
by as sweetly scented zephyrs as ever “awoke the melody 
of Tasso’s lyre,” 
The bible declares that man “shall eat bread in the sweat 
of his face,” and our nature is so constituted, that unless 
we labor the body never can enjoy its full amount ofhealth 
and vigor. This is the reason why many soon grow 
feeble and become unhealthy while going to school or 
following sedentary occupations. This is the reason why 
young men and ladies who have been accustomed to “in- 
glorious ease,” so soon wither under the pressure of life’s 
hardships. If there was no other consideration, the value 
of health is a sufficient one to sustain physical education. 
But there are other reasons ; every one should know how- 
to wmrk, for those who do not are not qualified either to 
do it or have it done, and this is the reason why many 
silly young men soon squander the property their fathers 
had toiled a long life time to accumulate. Even if a per- 
son is rich, worth his thousands, he may lose every cent 
in a short time by fire, rnismananement, or unwdse specu- 
lation. 
“Riches often takes wnngs and fly away';” there are 
various channels through which they sometimes escape, 
hence the importance of every individual know'ing how' 
to work; getting this knowledge will make a man healthy 
and competent in the management of business, as he is 
then able to either “hold or drive;” he is then indepen- 
dent and able to support his family, though misfortune 
sweeps from him all his earthly goods, and death wfill not 
find him in puris naturalibus. 
Those who do not receive a proper physical culture, 
are generally weak in both body and mind, for the latter 
is controlled by the condition of the former to a great ex- 
tent ; hence a w'eak body often makes a weak intellect ; 
and again, those who have not been so trained as to mas- 
ter difficulties and know something of hardships by ex- 
perience, are not apt to be very studious and wdlling to 
apply their minds to study or the routine of business so 
as to secure that capacity for usefulness which is highly 
desirable. It is a great misfortune that many are raisedln 
idleness, and receive no valuable education at all ; conse- 
quently, their empty heads are so many workshops for 
the Devil’s especial use, for no man can live idle in both 
thought and action. These giddy-minded chaps spend 
their time in running about the country, “killing time,” 
“stuff out of which life is made.” Their constant employ- 
ment is seeking amusement, spending money, keeping 
bad company and getting into bad habits, as they soon 
learn to drink, swear, gamble, &c.; when they reach this 
point they are swiftly sweeping on to ruin with a full 
head of steam and all their sails unfurled, and nothing 
less potent than the povjer that rules the storm can save 
them from the whirlpool and rock ! 
