to the wondering spectators. The ball was apparently smooth and uniform, nor could any mark or speck be discovered upon it, såve a faint scratch, apparently an accidental bruise. But we had not so far lost our nationality, as to fail to guess, that it might be a mark; and on observing closely, we perceived that he always found this scratch, when called upon for a colour, and from that starting point, measured off with his fingers. He knew, that two fingers' breadth from the centre of the blue, commenced the red, and

so on.

The girl probably hardly knew that she was deceiving; and we doubt not hundreds who saw her, are ready to take their bodily oath, that the blind can distinguish colours by feeling, and that they have, with their own eyes, which they will never disbelieve, seen an instance of it. We always go for the lesser miracle, and consider ourselves duped, rather than the laws of nature nullified.

It should be the aim of him who educates the blind, to overcome, as far as possible, the obstacles which want of sight presents to the full developement of the physical powers; to develope and strengthen the religious sentiment; to elevate and give tone to the moral character, by inspiring proper self-confidence, and holding out the prospect of useful and honourable employment; to store the mind with useful knowledge; to accustom the body to useful toil; and in eight cases in ten, he may save a victim from despondency, and the alms-house, and give to society a useful and happy member.

Can any task be more pleasing? Can any duty be more imperative? Can any doubt exist, as to the sacred obligation of society to provide for those whom God has made dependent upon it, but for whose instruction, and elevation, and happiness, He has pointed out the way? Surely none; and most heartily do we rejoice, that this long-neglected class is beginning to attract public attention. Already have three institutions for their instruction been established, and more will undoubtedly be soon opened. Every State is under a sacred obligation to provide for all its dependent members. It is one of the terms of the social contract; and were it true that education, and the elevation of their moral and religious character, would make the blind to be greater burdens upon the public charity, by creating in them greater wants; still should that burden be cheer

fully borne: but, so far from this, even motives of worldly prudence would dictate their education, and true political economy would be practised by paying for a few years education of those, who, untaught, would be dependent for life upon public charity.

It would, however, be almost an insult, to an enlightened and Christian community, to urge the claims of the blind one moment after it had been demonstrated, that they are capable of receiving an education. But there is one part of the subject, which regards not particular states, or sections, but the whole country; we mean the supply of books in raised letters, for the use of the blind of the whole United States.

It has been proved than the blind can read; little children have been taught at home by their mothers to read in the books sent from an Institution; already have many blind children read the scanty number of volumes printed for them. They call earnestly for more. It is a call that must not be unanswered. To give them alms in return for it, would be worse than to give them a stone. It is light, it is knowledge, that they cry for, and not for alms. It be. hooves every Christian to hear and answer this cry. It behooves our country to set a noble example to the world of ample provision for the wants of the blind.

ART. IX. REVIEW OF TICK NOR'S PHILOSOPHY OF

LIVING.

By ANSEL W. IVES, M. D., New York.

The Philosophy of Living, or the way to enjoy Life and its comforts. (A man's own observation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health.-BACON.) By Caleb Ticknor, A. M., M. D., New York. 12 mo., pp. 334, (No. 77, of Harper's Family Library.)

It is not the design of this article to exhibit a critical analysis of Doctor Ticknor's book, so much as to point it out as a current publication containing much valuable information, and worthy of general circulation. It is not a work of high pretensions to originality of thought or of doctrine; but, for the most part, it is a judicious compendium of the art of preserving health, maintaining a respectful regard for well established principles on the subjects of which it treats, and opposing, in a laudable spirit, many of the innovations and extravagant notions of the present day. We would not endorse all the minutiae of Doctor Ticknor's physiology, or commend his taste in every passage; but, taken as a whole, the practical bearing of his book we believe to be decidedly good. The evils he complains of are real, and vitally important; and the remedies pointed out by him, practicable; at least, so far as any course of living is practicable, which is contrary to the prevailing fashion. These remarks, however, are intended to apply only to what relates to the subject of diet and regimen. The author treats of many moral evils, that are less tangible, and not so easily eradicated. Still were it not that, in maladies of the mind, the patient is always confident of his own rationality, we should hope that the medicine here administered, might be salutary even to persons subject to these moral distempers. If the adage is true, that a disease discovered is half cured, we should expect to see many of our modern reformers, themselves in a process of reformation, by soberly perusing the "Philosophy of Living."

The following will present a fair specimen of the author's style and manner, as well as of the general cast of sentiment which pervades the book.

"It is a trait in the mental character of man to run into extravagances, to be led astray by the wild vagaries of a wayward fancy, uninfluenced by the sober dictates of common sense. This frailty of our nature has been manifested in all countries and in all ages, from the most remote antiquity; and there has not been in any place, at any time, the most ridiculous or the most absurd notions in politics or religion, but have found their advocates and abettors among the most enlightened of the age. We have but to peruse the history of our own country, to be made acquainted with the proneness of our species, to embrace the most fanatical, and foolish, and inconsistent notions, that ever entered the mind of man. And for this we need not go back many years-the events of our own times, in our own day and generation, are fraught with superstition and phrenzy; and what is very singular, every deluded sect claims to be Divinely inspired, and to derive its doctrines from the same blessed volume. Fanaticism seems to be contagious, and those who have uniformly led a life of consistency, and been noted for their good sense, no sooner enter the charmed circle, than the wildest enthusiasm takes possession of their minds and governs all their actions. Generally, however, they who are fanatics in one thing, are fanatics in whatever else their minds become earnestly engaged; the same individual will be factious in politics, and exclusive in diet, and a zealot in religon. Every principle by them must be pushed to extremes: they are the ultra reformers of the age, the radicals of the nineteenth century; they would have a man confine himself to a diet of bread and water, devote his whole time to the benevolent operations of the day, and literally "pray without ceasing." Such are to be commended for their philanthropy-for their honest desire to benefit mankind; but they are to be pitied for their lack of discretion. Their arguments and examples operate upon all, who do not become their disciples, like negative electricity driving each other farther asunder." p. 242.

To the general truth of the humiliating sentiment of this extract, we are constrained to give our assent; at the same time we must be allowed to make one or two qualifying remarks. We are not disposed to gainsay the statement, that the trait of character here described, is natural to man in every age. It is however true, that from a concurrence of circumstances, it acquires a peculiar, developement at certain periods. And for the honour of past ages, and the safety of those to come, we believe and hope, that a reckless and fanatical spirit was never, and never will be, more prominent than at present.-Nor can we deny the statement of the author, that the same spirit has been manifested in the cause of religion. It is not, however, in the excess of religious effort, as the author seems to intimate, that this spirit is to be discovered; but in the kind of efforts which are made, and the temper and manner in which they are conducted. The entire consecration of our whole being to God, is our reasonable service. Nothing less than this, can answer the claims of religion upon us.

And we should guard against letting down this high standard of duty, in resisting, as we are called to do, the perverse methods of religious action. The evil which is so justly complained of, in many of the reformers of our day, is by no means that their religious zeal is excessive, but that it is distempered, passionate, reckless,-in short, that it is defective in all those attributes by which religious zeal should be characterized. It is an evil of quality and not of quantity.If the extraordinary excitement and zeal which possess all classes of the community, and give an erratic impulse to almost every good enterprize, are to be continued, there will be ere long, we cannot doubt, a commensurate, controlling spirit of wisdom or grace, that shall give a proper character and direction to these energies, and make them, what at present they are not, subservient to the best interests and highest happiness of

man.

Without multiplying remarks on Doctor Ticknor's book, we would recommend it to the candid examination of all who love long life, and would see good days, while we devote a few pages to one or two topics connected with the "Philosophy of Living."

During the last half century great improvements have been made in medical science, and in every department of knowledge which tends to preserve health and prolong life. The small pox, one of the most destructive maladies that ever afflicted mankind, has been well nigh exterminated by a mild and harmless substitute. Antidotes have been discovered to many of the poisons. The causes, location and character of diseases have been more accurately defined, and their treatment is better understood. By the improvements in chemistry and botany, many new and valuable remedies have been introduced. Malignant epidemic diseases are less frequent and fatal than they used to be. The means of subsistence are abundant, and of the best quality, among all classes of the community. And yet, life is as short, and diseases are as prevalent, as they were fifty years ago; at least it does not appear that, in our own country, the average of human life has been greatly prolonged during this period.

It would be interesting to know, why this is so-why it is that the physical constitution is not improved, health more universal and perfect,and the aggregate of human life greatly