"The Influence of Climate on the Mental and Physical
Constitution of Man," Composition of
Eli W. Hall
, June 1, 1846
1
Hall, Eli West, 1827-1865
Page 1
The influence of Climate on the mental and physical constitution
of Man.
To be convinced of the existence of a great diversity in the mental
and physical constitution of various nations, we have but to look at the
swarthy and obtuse
African– the bronzed and enervated
Asiatic– and the fair and astute
European. We
are naturally led to enquire into the physical causes of this difference, And
the solution of this question is at once difficult and interesting.
That there exists an intimate connexion between the body and mind,
is an assertion which we presume none will attempt to controvert. If the body
be in a sound and healthful state, the mind will perform its functions with
proportionate ease and facility, whilst if the body be diseased or debilitated,
the mind is relaxed, and becomes incapable of its former exertion. We presume
that it will be also admitted that climate exerts a material influence upon the
physical constitution of man. To sustain this position we have only to refer to
facts. Let us but look at those living under the sunny skies of
Italy. Before
the eye of the
Italian, Nature
has lavishly spread out those treasures, most calculated to ravish and entrance
the senses. Here, reclining upon some vine-clad hill, his brow fanned by gentle
zephyrs pregnant with perfume, and bearing upon their bosoms the melody of
minstrelsy and song, he gazes with rapture upon the rays of the declining sun,
as they sweetly sleep upon the bosom of the
Mediteranean– gild the summits of the lofty
Alps–
Page 2
impart nourishment
to the bright flowers and green herbage carpeting
Campania
s plains– and blend the hue of the rose with that of the
lily on the cheek of
Italia
s daughters, and under all these influences we find him a being
weak, effeminate, and enervated. Viewing the climate of
France, we find
it somewhat more bracing, and discover a corresponding change in the physical
constitution of the people, from being weak and effeminate we find them imbued
with more vigor, activity and spirit. Next we refer to
Germany, and
find that as the climate becomes more rigorous, the body is better developed,
and more capable of enduring hardship, until arriving at
England, we
discover a race exhibiting in perfection a vigorous and healthful state of
body. Then if there be, as has been stated, an intimate connexion between the
body and mind; the physical constitution of man being effected by the influence
of climate, it must follow that the mental constitutions, will to some extent
be affected in like manner.
Climate effects the soil. If the climate be genial, the soil will
be fertile; the growth will be spontaneous, and man [will be supplied]
2 with
not only the nescessaries but even the luxuries of life, with but a very small
amount of labour. The natural result of all this is a state of idleness, and
idleness produces effeminacy and vice. The converse of this proposition holds
equally good. If the soil be unproductive, the people will be industrious.
Industry promotes a healthful state of the body, and hence of the mind.
Observation proves that in warm climates, the sensual
Page 3
passions predominate, the sensibilities are rendered
more exquisite, and Imagination usurps the throne of Reason. It is here that
thrilling eloquence is most often heard, kindling upon the alters of congenial
hearts flames that overleaping the feeble barriers of judgment, ignite man
s fiercest passions– here, the bright spirit of Poesy
loves to enchant the soul with her bewitching lays– and 'tis here that
man is emphatically the creature of impulse.
The
congress
of the United States presents a fine theatre, whereon may be exposed the
validity of our theory. There are congregated men who have been expsed to the
influence of varied climates, and to the mind of the most superficial observer,
by their methods of speaking, would be conveyed the knowledge of their
"local habitation" if not of their "names". The passionate
appeals, gorgeous imagery– and vehement action of one class evincing that
theirs is the land of the 'sunny south', while the cogent argument, cautious
declarations, and calculating views of the other testify that if the snows of
their northern homes have frozen the fancy, they have also strengthened the
judgment.
It has been believed that climate exerts but little influence, from
the fact that we frequently find races and individuls living in the same degree
of latitude possessing totally different manners customs and habits. This
seeming anomaly can however be explained, without invalidating our theory. We
do not contend that climate is omnipotent, but will admit that its influence
may be weakened and even counteracted by the influence of other causes. Thus in
warm climates where the body becomes enervated and disposed to languer, it
Page 4
ought to be, and is the object of wise legislators to
frame institutions and laws which will counteract the influence of climate, and
it frequently happens that their efforts are attended with such success, as to
change the very nature of the people– and thus climate acting as an
indirect cause
tends to by indicating
the necessity of such institutions, tends to produce an effect upon the
physical and mental constitution of man, totally at variance with what we would
be at first led to suppose.
Eli W
Hall
University of NoCa
June 1st 1846
Endnotes:
1.
Senior and Junior Orations (1842-46),
NCC. In Spring 1846 thirty-seven juniors wrote compositions on the topic,
"The influence of climate on the mental and physical constitution of
man." A draft of
Hall's
composition is housed in the
Eli West
Hall Papers, SHC; approximately a dozen changes in wording differentiate
the draft from the final version. Drafts of compositions on the same topic also
appear in the
Pettigrew Family Papers, SHC, and the
Manly Family Papers, SHC. They are the work of
James Johnston Pettigrew
(1828-63), a member of the
Philanthropic Society, and
William Henry Manly (1827-48), a member of the
Dialectic Society.
Hall
,
Manly, and
Pettigrew
all entered the
University in 1843 and were juniors when these
compositions were written. Some of the drafts show corrections that appear to
be the work of
Charles Force Deems
, adjunct professor of rhetoric from
1842 to 1848.
Hall
(1827-65?) graduated in 1847, became a lawyer, and
was several times elected to the
NC Senate (1860, 1862, and 1864)
.
2. "will be supplied" appears in
Hall's
draft, but
Hall
dropped the phrase when he recopied the
essay.