Chapter VIII: Letter VII: Health

THE TOILET, AS CONNECTED WITH HEALTH.

The True Basis of Health--Temperance an inclusive Term
--Foundation of the Eminence of J. Q. Adams--His Life a
Model for the Young--His early Habits--Vigorous Old Age--
Example of Franklin in regard to Temperance--Illustrations
afforded by our National History--The Bath--Varying Opinions
and Constitutions--Imprudent use of the Bath--Bishop Heber--
General Directions--The Art of Swimming--Sponging--
Deficiencies of the Toilet in England--Collateral Benefits
arising from habitual Sponge-bathing--The Hair--All Fantastic
Dressing of the Hair in bad taste--Use of Pomades--Vulgarity
of using Strong Perfumes--The Teeth--Use of Tobacco--Smoke
Dispellers--The Nails--The Feet--A complete Wardrobe essential
to Health--Early Rising--Its manifold Advantages--Example of
Washington, Franklin, etc., in this respect--Daniel Webster's
Eulogy upon Morning--Retiring early--Truth of a Medical Dogma
--Opposition of Fashion and Health--Early Hours essential to
the Student--Importance of the early Acquisition of Correct
Habits in this Regard--Illustration--A combination of Right
Habits essential to Health--Exercise--Walking--Pure Air--The
Lungs of a City--Superiority of Morning Air--An Erect Carriage
of the Body in Walking--Periodical Exercise--Necessary Caution
--The Unwise Student--A Warning--A Knowledge of Dietetics and
Physiology requisite to the Preservation of Health--Suitable
Works on these Subjects--Riding and Driving the Accomplishments
of a Gentleman--A Horse a desirable Possession--Testimony of
Dr. Johnson--The Pride of Skill--Needful Caution--Judicious
Selection of _Locale_ for these Modes of Exercise--Dr. Beatie's
Tribute to Nature--Importance of Temperance in Eating and
Drinking, as regards Health--The Cultivation of Simple Tastes
in Eating--Proper Preparation of Food Important to Health--
Re-action of the Human Constitution--Effect of Bodily Health
upon the Mind--The pernicious Use of Condiments, etc., etc.
--YOUNG AMBITION'S LADDER.--Hours for Meals--Dining Late--
Injurious Effects of Prolonged Abstinence--The Stimulus of
Distension--Repletion--Necessity of deliberate and thorough
Mastication--Judicious Use of Time in Eating--The Use of Wine,
Tobacco, etc.--The truly Free!--Dr. Johnson's Opinion--Novel
Argument against the Habits of Smoking and Drinking--Advice
of Sir Walter Raleigh to the Young--Then and Now--Council of
a "Looker-on" in this Utilitarian Age--Erroneous Impressions
--Authority of a celebrated Writer--Social Duties--The unbent
Bow--Rational Enjoyment the wisest Obedience to the Natural
Laws--A determined Pursuit in Life essential to Happiness and
Health--Too entire Devotion to a Single Object of Pursuit,
unwise--Arcadian Dreams--Attainable Realities--Truisms--Decay
of the Social and Domestic Virtues--Human Sacrifices--
Relaxations and Amusements requisite to Health--Superiority
of Amusements in the Open Air for Students and Sedentary
Persons generally--Benefits of Cheerful Companionship--
Objection to Games, etc., that require Mental Exertion--
Converse Rule--Fashionable Watering-places ill adapted to
Health--Avocations of the Farmer, Tastes as a Naturalist,
Travel, Sporting, etc., recommended--Depraved Public Taste
--Slavery to Fashion--Habits of Europeans, in this respect,
superior to our own--Modern Degeneracy--Folly thralled by
Pride, 203

ILLUSTRATIVE SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES.

TO GIVE ETERNITY TO TIME.--The Senate-Chamber and the Dying
Statesman--The Moral Sublime, 225

JONATHAN'S SINS AND A FOREIGNER'S PECCADILLO.--Celebrities
--Dinner-table Sallies--Grave Charges--Yankee Rejection of
Cold Meats--Self-Preservation the First Law of Nature!--
A Mystery Solved--National Impartiality--Anecdote--Storming
a Fort--Successful Defence, by a Lady, of herself!--A
Stratagem--The Daughter of a Gun--An Explanation--The
Tortures of Outraged Modesty, 226

Dr. Abernethy and his Yankee Patient, 232

COSMOPOLITAN CHIT-CHAT.--A Heterogeneous Party--The Golden
Horn--Contemplations in a Turkish Caique--A Discussion--
"Christian Dogs" and the Dogs of Constantinople--An
unpleasant Discovery--A Magical Touch--The Song of the
Caidjis--A National Example, 232

THE IMPERTURBABLE GUEST.--A Dinner-Table Scene, 238

The Youth and the Philosopher: Lines by Whitehead, 239