EDUCATION AS A SCIENCE. 311 



submitting in turn to be victimized, a party of children can secure, at a 

 moderate cost to each, the zest of the malevolent feeling ; and this I 

 take to be the quintessence of play. 



The use of this close analysis is to fix attention upon the precarious 

 tenure of all these enjoyments, and to render a precise reason for the 

 well-known fact that play or fun is always on the eve of becoming 

 earnest ; in other words, the destructive or malevolent element is in 

 constant danger of breaking loose from its checks, and of passing from 

 fictitious to actual inflictions. The play of the canine and the feline 

 kind often degenerates in this fashion ; and in childish and youthful 

 amusements it is a perpetual rock ahead. 



It is no less dangerous to indulge people in too much ideal gratifica- 

 tion of the vindictive sentiments. Tales of revenge against enemies 

 are too apt to cultivate the malevolent propensity. Children, it is 

 true, take up this theme with wonderful alacrity ; nevertheless it is 

 a species of pampering supplied to the worst emotions instead of 

 the best. 



One other bearing of irascibility on education needs to be touched. 

 When disapproval is heightened with anger, the dread inspired is much 

 greater. The victim anticipates a more severe infliction when the angry 

 passion has been roused ; hence the supposition is natural that anger is 

 an aid to discipline. This, however, needs qualifying. Of course, any 

 increase of severity has a known deterrent effect, with whatever draw- 

 backs may attend the excess. But anger is fitful ; and, therefore, its 

 cooperation mars discipline by want of measure and want of consisten- 

 cy ; when the fit has passed, the mind often relapses into a mood unfa- 

 vorable to a proper amount of repression. 



The function of anger in discipline may be something very grand, 

 provided the passion can be controlled. There is a fine attitude of in- 

 dignation against wrong that may be assumed with the best effect. It 

 supposes the most perfect self-command, and is no more excited than 

 seems befitting the occasion. Mankind would not be contented to see 

 the bench of justice occupied by a calculating machine that turned up 

 a penalty of five pounds, or a month's imprisonment, when certain facts 

 were dropped in at the hopper. A regulated expression of angry feel- 

 ing is a force in itself. Neither containing fitfulness, nor conducting to 

 excess of infliction, it is the awe-inspiring personation of justice, and 

 is often sufficient to quell insubordination. 



