Historic Periods, etc.
“plastic stress” during childhood and early youth, education in languages should begin early enough to be finished at the tenth or twelfth year of the child’s age. Afterward only practice is necessary to maintain the cerebral habits and to retain the artificial changes wrought in nervous substance. For although the young brain is readily fashioned to perform new functions, also it readily lapses. Rigidity of nervous substance increases rapidly with the years, whilst the powers of reflection increase until at some period after middle-age when the zenith is reached. Until this point is passed, the judgment grows keener and the poise more stable.
Whatever the mysteries of words may be, there is no mistaking their ethical meanings. A man’s language is a very important part of his conduct. He is as obligated to clean speech as he is to clean raiment. He is as morally responsible for his words as he is for any other of his acts. No amount of orderly care directed toward his immediate environ-
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