Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

ON EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

THE Customs which fashion has established, when not in opposition to what is right, should unquestionably be pursued in the education of ladies. Piety maintains no natural war with elegance, and Christianity would be no gainer by making her disciples unamiable.

Religion does not forbid, that the exterior be made, to a certain degree, the object of attention. But the admiration bestowed, the sums expended, the time lavished on arts, which add little to the intrinsic value of life, should have limitations. While these arts should be admired, let them not While they

be admired above their just value. are practised, let it not be to the exclusion of higher employments. While they are cultivated, let it be to amuse leisure, but not to engross life. But it happens unfortunately, that to ordinary observers, the girl who is really receiving the worst education, often makes the best figure. The outward accomplishments have the dangerous advantage, of addressing themselves more immediately to the senses, and of course, meet every where with those, who can in some measure appreciate as well as admire them, for all can see

and hear, but all cannot scrutinize and discriminate. External acquirements too, recommend themselves, the more because they are more rapidly, as well as more visibly progressive; while the mind is led on to improvement by slow motions, and imperceptible degrees; while the heart must now be admonished by reproof, and now allured by kindness, its liveliest advances being suddenly impeded by obstinacy, and its brightest prospects often obscured by passion-it is slow in its acquisitions of virtue, and reluctant in its approaches to piety. The unruly and turbulent propensities of the mind, are not so obedient to the forming hand, as defects of manner or awkwardness of gait.

Often when we fancy, that a troublesome passion is completely crushed, we have the mortification to find, that we have "scotch'd the snake, not killed it." The subduing hand cannot cut off the ever-sprouting heads, so fast as the prolific Hydra can reproduce them; nor fell the stubborn Antoeus so often as he can recruit his strength, and rise in vigorous and repeated opposition.

HANNAH MORE.

ON THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER.

If we want to render a child courageous, we shall effect it, not so much by urging and compelling him to feats of hardihood, as by guarding him from all impressions of terror, or from witnessing a weak and cowardly spirit in others.

MRS. HUNTINGTON.

ON THE ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED

IN THE

INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION

OF CHILDREN.

ON THE MISUSE OF THE MEMORY.

IT is to be regretted that the common mode of teaching has more to do with the memory than the understanding. With many children whose innumerable "tasks are painfully learnt and darkly understood," the memory is exercised, not to say burdened, whilst the real cultivation of the mind, the improvement of the reasoning powers, and the formation of good intellectual habits are overlooked. MRS. HUNTINGTON.

In the modern systems of education, attention is indeed exercised from a very early period, but it is exercised upon objects which cripple its powers. Words are forced upon it, while it ought to be attaining strength and quickness, by examining what the senses present to it. I should have much greater hopes of a child, who at three or four years old, could distinctly tell me the names of all the flowers in the garden, or of all the trees in a hedge, than of one, who at the same age, could repeat a Greek or Latin ode. This latter, would nevertheless be regarded as a prodigy; and high and great would be the expectations, formed of such an extraordinary genius. HAMILTON.

ON THE SUBSTITUTION OF WORDS
FOR IDEAS.

PERSONS having been accustomed, from their cradles, to learn words before they knew the ideas for which they stand, usually continue to do so all their lives; never taking the pains to settle in their minds, the determined ideas which belong to them. This want of a precise signification in their

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »