Where Wilson, Lovejoy, Wade, and Hale,
And other lights of equal power,
Have stood, like warriors clad in mail,
Before the giant of the hour,--
Co-workers in a common cause,
Laboring for their country's weal,
By just enactments, righteous laws,
And burning, eloquent appeal.
To them we owe and gladly bring
The grateful tributes of our hearts;
And while we live to muse and sing,
These in our songs shall claim their parts.
To-day Columbia's air doth seem
Much purer than in days agone;
And now her mighty heart, I deem,
Hath lighter grown by marching on.
THE LAWS OF HEALTH.
BY L. MARIA CHILD.
There are three things peculiarly essential to health,--plenty of fresh
water, plenty of pure air, and enough of nourishing food.
If possible, the human body should be washed all over every day; but if
circumstances render that difficult, the operation should be performed
at least two or three times a week. People in general are not aware how
important frequent bathing is. The cuticle, or skin, with which the
human body is covered, is like fine net-work, or lace. By help of a
magnifying-glass, called a microscope, it can be seen that there are a
thousand holes in every inch of our skin. In the skin of a middle-sized
man there are two millions three hundred and four thousand of these
holes, called pores. Those pores are the mouths of exceedingly small
vessels made to carry off fluids, which are continually formed in the
human body, and need to be continually carried off. This process is
going on all the time, whether we are sleeping or waking, hot or cold.
When we are cool and at rest, that which passes off is invisible; and
because we see no signs of it, and are not sensible of it, it is called
insensible perspiration. But in very hot weather, or when we exercise
violently, a saltish fluid passes through our pores in great drops,
which we call sweat; and because we can see and feel it, it is called
sensible perspiration. If the pores of the body are filled up with dust,
or any kind of dirt, the fluids cannot pass off through them, as Nature
intended; and, being shut up, they become corrupt and produce fevers and
bad humors. This is the reason why physicians always advise people to be
careful and keep their pores open. In order to do this, dust and dirt
should be frequently washed away. Many a fever and many a troublesome
sore might be prevented by frequent bathing. Moreover, the skin looks
smoother and handsomer when it is washed often. If a pond or river is
near by, it is well to swim a few minutes every day or two; if not, the
body should be washed with a pail of water and a rag. But it is not safe
to go into cold water, or to apply it to the skin, when you are very
much heated; nor is it safe to drink much cold water until you get
somewhat cool. The best way is to plunge into water when you first get
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