SUPERIOR EDUCATION IN FRANCE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3603, 14 July 1880, Page 3

SUPERIOR EDUCATION IN FRANCE.

The new Council of Superior Eduction has had its first meeting for the despatch of business, and is grappling with the reform of classical studies. Happy boys of the future, who will not be chained to break their heads orer Latin and. Greek, but will be taught living languages, and above all, compelled to devote much attention to physical education. The want of this latter has preyed fatally on French youth, by making them nervous men. People may live a few years longer now than heretofore, but it is by almost artificial means, and by a reliance on mind rather than on the body. Jt is observed that inability to smoke, to drink, or eat pork, are signs of physical decadence, or of highly strung nervous constitutions. The French never smoked more than at present, but the tobacco is not strong; they drink "more beer and absinthe relatively than wine; they have long been accustomed to the morning draw— tver te ver ; but of late they are commencing to appreciate the " night-cap," in the form of beer, hot grogs, coffee or chocolate. They patronise no drugs such as morphine laurel waters, chloral, opium, or potassium preparations, indeed, Parisians sleep well, with this difference that if they go to bed later, they rise later. As for the pork test, never was the great friend of St. Anthony held in greater reverence; every day some new preparation of pig is offered for sale, and Charles Monselet in his collected edition of poems, had added some fresh stanzas to his " dear in gel, of whom every thing is good."—Our Paris Letter. T 'V „ ,-. .;.•■•■ ', ■■■':..•■