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times experience, when visiting new scenes, or in
S nc histories or incidents in real and miagl
„ „ in hearing of occurrences, or
nary narauve, or in Hearing 01 , . . I
when we behold a strange lace. .Perhaps it is,
not right to speak of these as phenomena ot mem
ory. Vet it is difficult to designate them other-:
, v [<e. These feelings have been often and elo-j
uuemlv described, and by none more beautifully,
displayed than by W ovdsworth, in the Ode, which |
begins* with “Our birth is but a sleep and a for-j
getting,” and containing those lines—“Trailinej
clouds of glory do we come,” “From God who:
is our home.” ‘ Pre-existence is considered as the
only adequate solution of the problem suggested \
by these feelings. Is it a fact that we have lived j
before ? Or must we believe that all beings “ are
but parts of one stupendous soul” and that each j
new incarnation ot spirit being participant ot an j
eternal existence, having always lived and never j
to die, recollects what the H//experienced before I
its separation ? This, too, has been proposed as
. a solution, it is a phenomenon. These solu
tions are tin satis factory. f lhe first is not proved
to be fact. The second makes Cod and man
identical, the Author of life but a multiplied being,
and Providence, Law and Retribution, a mere
farce. It is a phenomenon. They who observe
it must ever wonder.
But though the mind can recall all ot its known
existence, and read the history of every hour;
though all experience confirms the doctrine, that
man never forgets, yet many complain ot an in
efficient memory. It is not seldom, that we hear
even those who are somewhat reflective, confess
ing that they do not remember; and they who
declare their inability to keep any thing in mind
are a legion that no man can number. bile the
thoughtless is heard to say, J have no memory —
the thinking man says, my memory is not a ready
steward. The treasures committed to her trust
are not displayed when called for; yet sometimes
unbidden sne shows what is in her keeping, and
the exhibition she makes assures me that nothing
is lost. But what is wealth if it cannot be used
at will. Reputation, comfort, the welfare of
others, may be hazarded by the merchant who
cannot promptly meet the demands to which his
resources are more than adequate, as well as by
the moneyless speculator. The pleasures ot
knowledge, the power of instructing the ignorant,
are lost to the well-stored mind that cannot com
mand its treasures; and for the great purposes
of life it is as unprepared as* the ignorant. It is
like the intermittent spring, that gladdens with
sparkles and refreshes with coolness the traveller
who chances to approach it at the period ot its
flow, but unlike the aqueduct from the far off'and
unfailing fountain, it cannot minister to the wants
of any hour. It is voluntary recollection that we
need for our daily intellectual service. But the
aquisition of this power is difficult and rare. Its
importance is universally confessed, and the want
of it extensively bewailed. To render the mem
ory subservient to the will, many methods have
been adopted. There is a word in our language
which shows how early the practice ot assisting
the efforts of memory by artificial helps prevail
ed in the world. We ask of those who have lis
tened to a speaker, what were the topics of his
discourse. Now we draw this word, or rather the
popular use of it, from a method of aiding the
memory prevalent among the clasical ancients.
An orator, rising in the forum to address the as
sembled people, or standing before the tribunal
of the selected judges, fixed his eye upon a cor
nice, a faeade, or a column, and determined in
his mind, that such an object should remind him
of a given subject, and, assigning to each place
its office of mnemonic service, be proceeded to
utter his premeditated thoughts, and the consecu
tive subjects of remark carne to be denominated
topics. Since this early time various mnemonic
syitems have prevailed, or rather, I should say,
have been proposed, for none have been found
completely adequate to the purpose for which
they were designed, the subjection of the ope
rations of memory in some degree to the will.
Involuntary recollections will occur of course.
Impressions, derived from whatever source,
whether study or conversation, surrounding
scenery or passing events, will always remain,
and many influences, visible and invisible, may
turn the eve of the mind upon these impressions.
But to acquire the power to recollect at will, is
desirable. And hence we have had multiplied
systems of mnemonics.
In my judgement, artificial memory is ineffi
cient, and it is a waste of time to acquire the use
of it. It is treacherous in the extreme. The
true way to fasten a subject in the mind is to re
produce what we read, and to repeat to our
selves or others what we observe. Have we
read a book, let us at our leisure view the sub
ject of which it treats, when the book is removed
from sight. Have we observed a fact, let us
communicate it to another, or utter it in words,
or in some manner make ourselves sure that we
can state the facts concerning the subject without
the aid of foreign associations. What we have
made our own we can keep and command. The
difficulty of clear recollection arises from imper
fect knowledge. I have here, as I think, declared
the secret of the power of voluntary recollection.
To multiply words is needless. Let those who
find difficulty in remembering, ask themselves if
they have ever perfectly formed the image they
now wish to behold. Are they not attempting to
.I?member —I use .the word now in its literal sense
—are they not attempting to remember, to re
arrange, what was not in the first place perfectly
put together. The word remember means, as we
all know, to collect again what, having been
originally well formed, has been taken apart and
‘laid aside. The process of remembering is like
setting up a machine. It any part was originally
wanting, or if it was not carefully laid up with
the rest, it cannot be produced when the machine
|is to be re-erected. So it any part of the subject
was not committed to memory, it it were allowed
to drop without design and to make a chance im
pression, it can be recollected only by chance,
and will be found missing when most wanted.
They who are engaged in the instruction of the
voung, cannot be to careful to train them in hab
its of real intellectual labor. Let them never
prepare lessons merely to recite. Let them feel
| that they are to store up knowledge in such wise
as to command it when they will.
t. p. R.
mlscS& is A N Y *
PHYSICAL PERFECTION OF WOMAN.
This subject cannot fail to constitute an impor
tant chapter in nature’s advocacy of human hap
piness and progression—a subject not to be lightly
scanned or hastily commented upon —involving
more closely the prosperity and well being of our
race, than the whole catalogue of theories or the
proudest dogmas; a subject vastly more impor
tant in favor of those, whose position and influ
ence in societv stands divinely prominent ; whose
example and whose perfections sway for good or
evil the destinies of mankind.
But to proceed with our chapter —a city life, of;
all others, is least adapted for the development
of nature’s ends, as regards womanly perfection ;
and we become painfully impressed with this
tact when we observe the pale brow and paler
cheek of the great majority of our city-dwelling
females. Frowning walls and stern customs tor
bid that free gushing of the merry soul which, in
itself, is nature’s wisest ordination and intent,
inasmuch as this same spirit of mirth and joyous
ness gives its animation to the whole system, en
dues the limbs wtth activity, exercises the body
and empowers the mind. This vivifying impetus,
being chilled by the cold reserve, and deadened
b}'the natural usages of society, the system must
necessarily become relaxed and enervated, sub
ject to disease and languor, and wholly unfit for
the great purposes of human existence. And it
would almost seem that such a race is growing
around us; that an age of boasted civiliztion
has almost entirely overlooked the great secrectof
human progress and improvement, and that the
germs of degeneration and decay are being thickly
sown by this neglect.
Our Mothers were women, taught in nature’s
school and trained by experience ; free, healthy
forms ; strong, unfettered minds, nobly calculated
and destined to produce a proud and mighty
race. Bat how have their daughters forsaken
this noble standard of female worth and excel
lence, by the gradual intermingling of French
folly and English Aristocracy? We find them,
not with the wheel and distaff, ennobling life by
activity and usefulness, and perpetuating moral
end physical perfection by their example, but
premature young ladies and fashionable belles,
prominent in all that can least serve humanity and
utterly wanting in the accomplishment of her
great mission.
A ‘ lily cheek ’ may grace the poet’s page, and
win the praise of the brainless; but it speaks in
activity of muscle and a dormant heart. Pride
and fashion, bv a humiliating course of exaction
and deformity, may make the ‘lady,’ but all the
wealth of pride and fashion were vain to pur
chase one tithe of the happiness inseparable fiom
a state of health and vigour, as developed in the
true woman. Then how necessary, how all im
portant is it that females should devote less time
to fashion and its pursuits, and more to bodily
culture ; less time to the cultivation of the pretty
accomplishments, and more to the building of a
strong and healthy constitution, which may be im
parted as a ‘ store house of blessings ’ to their de
scendants.
This subject is of immense importance as re
gards the welfare and future destiny of our coun
try and of the world ; for the might of women is
all powefrul, and her influence for good or evil is
paramount in its progress or decay. Man makes
laws and executes them ; builds empires and over
throws them ; but woman makes man; moulds
him for good or evil,and her early influence proves
ever the lover of his efforts. The influence of a
mother, be it good, bad, or indifferent, gives to the
world the statesman or the fool, the Christian or
the knave, and sends on his mission the brave, pow
erful and robust, or the weakly, cowardly or de
formed.
Then is it not unmeasurably requisite that wo
man should perfect herself, mentally and physi
cally, for the great and important duties devolv
ing upon her ? And how is this to be done ? 1
answer—by physical education, or culture of the
body, first. This simple and easily attainable
process will surely strengthen the mind and shar
pen the whole range of faculties, diffusing a most
happy and elevating influence throughout the sys
tem. Mothers! if you would yourselves become
truly contented and cheerful, healthy and happy,
and bestow this inheritance of blessings upon your
offspring, have.your sons in high stations and” tal
ented, vour daughters nature’s pride, and the en
vy of all art, see to it that you take regular exer
cise; give not up to household seclusion and to
the enervating influence and harrassing pett\
cares indoor. Let exercise return as pleasantly
and as regularly as the hour for dinner 01 toi ie
pose. Let there be eight hours devoted lor rest,
eicjlu hours for your occupations or studits,
and eight hours for healthful pastime. Establish
diis rule in your family and among your children,
with the exception that children should be allowed
more recreation and less study* Iwo 01 thut
hours per dav is all sullicient tor the studies ot
children, and those should be ot the most simple
character, mainly by objects, pictures, maps, or
conversation. 1 f you would have them 4 schooled ’
while young, let it be almost entirely physically . —
Developt’ the system by a judicious course ot ex
ercise daily. Allow them free use ot limbs and
lungs, and encourage gaiety —by this method you
will find the mental faculties to grow, and
strengthen with their growth, and when the proper
lime arrives they will seize upon knowledge with
avidity and an appetite, and rapidly become more
learned and talented than those who have been
toiling from earliest infancy against nature and
reason.
And daughters !—you w ith the pale cheek and
sluggish step —if you w*>uld become as sprightly
as fawns and as beautiful, cheeks like fresh ro
ses, anti eve beaming with life and brilliancy —
take exercised run! ride! walk! dance! join your
gvmnastic institutions, and take an occasional
flight into the country. Depend upon it, physical
culture is the ground work of female perfection.
MoJd American Courier .
A TH KILLING SKETCH.
BY MRS. L. M. CHILD.
Otic of my fiither’s brothers, residing in Boston
at that time, (when the yellow fever prevailed to
such a frightful extent) became a victim to the
pestilence. When the first symptoms appeared,
liis wife sent the children into the country, and
herself remained toattendupon him. Her friends
warned her against such rashness. They told
her it would be death to her, and no benefit to turn,
for he would soon be too ill to know 7 who attended
upon him. These arguments made no impression
on her affectionate heart. She felt that it would
be a long-life satisfaction to her to know who at
tended upon him, if he did not. She accord ingl\ T
staid, and watched with unremitting care. He
grew worse and worse, and finally died. Those
who went round with the death-carts had visited
the chamber, and seen that the end was near.—
They now came to take the body. His wife re
fused to let it go. She told me that she never
knew how.to account for it, but, though he was
perfectly cold and rigid, and to every appearance
quite dead, there was a powerful impression on
her mind that life was not extinct. The men w ere
overborne by the strength of her conviction,
though their own reason was opposed to it.
The half-hour again came round, and again was
heard the solemn words, “ Bring out your dead.”
The wife again resisted their importunities; but
this time the men w r ere more resolute. They
said the duty assigned to them was a painful one,
but the health of the city required punctual obe
dience to the orders they received ; if they ever
expected the pestilence to abate, it must be by a
prompt removal of the dead, and immediate fu
migation of the infected apartments.
She pleaded and pleaded, and even knelt to
them in an agony of tears, continually saving, “ I
am sure he is not dead.” The men represented
the utter absurdity of such an idea ; but finally
overcome by her tears, again departed. With
trembling haste she renewed her efforts to restore
him. She raised his head, rolled his limbs in hot
flannel, and placed hot onions on his feet. The
dreaded half-hour again came round, and found
him as cold and rigid as ever. She renewed her
entreaties so desperately that the messengers be
gun to think that a little gentle force would be
necessary. They accordingly attempted to re
move the body against her will, but she threw
herself upon it, and clung to it w 7 ith such frantic
strength, that they could not easily loosen her
grasp. Impressed by the remarkable energy of
hei will, they relaxed their efforts. To all their
remonstrances, she answered, “If you bury him,
you shall bury me with him.” At last, by dint of
reasoning on the necessity of the case, they ob
tained from her a promise that, if he showed no
signs of life, before they again came round, she
would make no further opposition to the removal.
Having gained this respite, she hung the watch
upon the bed-post, and renewed her efforts with
redoubled zeal. She kept kegs of hot water
about him, forced hot brandy between his teeth,
and breathed into his nostrils, and held hartshorn
tohisnose ; but still the body lay motionless and
cold. She looked anxiously at the watch ; in
five minutes the promised half-hour would expire,
and those dreadful voices would be heard passing
through the street. Hopelessness came over her
—she dropped the head shehad been sustaining—
her hand trembled vipleutly—and the hartshorn
she had been holding was spilled on the pallid
face. Accidentally, the position of the head had
become slightly tipped backward, and the pow
erful liquid flowed into his nostrils. Instantly there
was a short, quick gasp—a struggle—his eyes
opened ! and when the death-men came again,
they found him sitting up in the bed ! He is^still
alive, and has enjoyed unusually good health.
A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY,
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY MAY 10, 1H49/
AGENTS.
Mr. J. M. Boardman is our Agent for Macon.
Mr. S. S. Box for Rome*
Mr. Robt. E- Seylk for the State of South Carolina.
SEASONABLE SHOWERS.
The Muscogee Deniocrat, Columbus, says: —“We h,
been favored the past week, in this region, with a •uecasi tOB
of showers, that have caused vegetation to spring forth with
unexampled rapidity, giving hope to tho farmer that lie ma,
yet recover, in some degree, from the blighting influences 0 f
the late frost, so far, at least, ns the corn crop is concerned.”
The Cherokee Advocate, Marietta, says:—“Wo have hid
refreshing showers within the last few days. We are gnti.
fled in learning that though the wheat has suffered several*
from the recent frost, many of our farmers will muke full an
average crop.”
We have been favored in a like manner with occnnioiul
showers during tho past ten days, which has given an impetus
to vegetation.
FIRE IN CHARLESTON.
We learn by the Charleston papers that a fire occurred
there on Monday, which destroyed between 120 and 130
houses, loss estimated at $20,000. The papers are of the
opinion that if was the work of an incendiary.
The intelligence of the tire was communicated, by Tele
graph, to Augusta. The firemen of that place promptly ten.
derod their services to the Mayor of Charleston.
A SUGGESTION.
Would it not be well for the Georgia Historical Society to
purchase the splendid collection of reptiles, minemls and
shells, made by the enterprise and persevcronce of our oner
gctic townsman Mr. Win. Humphreys, Jr., and have them
properly arranged in their new hall. It would lay the
foundation for one of tho finest museums in this country, and
be a source of attraction to persons visiting among us. For oim,
we are willing to contribute our mite to retain it in the city.
DUPUYTREN’S RECEIPT FOR RESTORING TIIE
GROWTH OF THE HAIR.
1 drachm of powdered Spanish flies add one ounce spiriti
wine, leave stand for two weeks, frequently shaking it during
that time. Then decant the liquid.
For ten parts of this tincture ninety parts of lard, and somn
essential oil to scent it, as lemon, bergamot, almond, or what
ever pleases.
Rub into the hair night and morning, this mixture, and
brush it in with a stiff brush till the scalp becomes rodoned, it
will restore the hair almost invariably.
BANK OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
The following gentlemen were elected, on Monday last,
Directors for one yenr :
A, Porter, C. P. Richardsone, R. Hutchison, W. Thorne
Williams, N. A. Hardee, B. Snider, 11. D Weed, Joseph
Washburn, the last named is anew Director. Hiram Roberti
is the Director ou the part of the State.
The Board unanimously re-elected A. Porter, E*q., Preu
dent.
CENTRAL RAIL ROAD.
The earnings for the past five months in comparison with
those of last year, show an increase of one hundred and
thirteen thousand dollars, an increase of nearly fifty per cent,
over last year, as follws :
1847-8 1848-9
December, 37,421 73 67,861 05
January 52,29 1 27 66,629 07
February 57,786 38 71.364 00
March 51,434 38 75,000 00
April 30,254 39 61,171 90
$229,188 15 $342,026 02
THE HERON FAMILY.
The performance of this talented family was well at
tended on Monday evening, and the audience was delighted.
Their delineation of character is inimitable, and extremely
chaste in speech, gesture, and dress. Their singing was ad
mirable, and was several times encored.
We are aware of a prejudice existing in the minds of many
to visiting the Theatre, and seeing the performance of plays.
If it was no harm to witness that of the Kilmistes at Armory
Hall, certainly there can be no impropriety in seeing th*
Heron Family at the Theatre, where the adjuncts of scenery,
&c., adds so much to the representation.
For our part, we love a good, honest, hearty laugh, when
it can be indulged innocently, and we shall miss no opportu
nity °f enjoying one excited by the highly amusing entertf" 0 *
ment of the Herons—which we consider as among the moil
diverting and gratifying of the season.
AMERICAN MECHANIC.
We have received the first number of anew paper pub
lished at Athens, Ga., under the above title, edited by an as
sociation of mechanics. We welcome the enterprise of the
mechanics of Athens, and hope they may meet with a just ap
preciation of their merits.
RICHARDS* WEEKEY GAZETTE
Is a very* neat sheet, devoted to Literature, the Arts and
Sciences, and General Intelligence, and is intended to super
seed the Southern Literary* Gazette. Success to your enter
prise friend Richards, may you reap an abundant harvest and
subscribers.
tW We call attention of the Sons to the notice of Father
Matthew's Division, No. 34, inviting them to attend the ti^ l
anniversary in Athens on Saturday, May 26th. Health and
business permitting we will avail ourselvesof the invitatioo-
The flags of the Shipping were pi splayed at half-mast o*
Friday, as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Joh’
Dillon, who died after an illness of three weeks. Mr*
was supercargo of the ship Nkw Zkland.
THE CENTRAL RAIL ROAD.
The Stockholders at their meeting yesterday resolved **
increase the capital stock of the Company by an *’
$450,000 of new stock.