98 BDtJCATlON OF THE WORKING CLASSES. 



this admirable mode of teaching is in operation in this town, no in- 

 ducement is strong enough to keep the scholars from school on that 

 day, and it is looked forward to with the greatest pleasure. The best 

 works in poetry as well as in prose should be placed in their hands ; 

 a study of the beautiful in nature and in art should be induced ; the 

 beauties of creation should in early years be pointed out. They 

 should be taught to look upon the stany heavens — the wide-spread- 

 ing sea — the foaming cataract — the green-clad mountain — the un- 

 folding blossom, in a far different manner than their fathers had. 

 Each sense would then contribute to their delight, from habitual 

 converse with the beautiful in nature ; the wild rose and the dew-drop 

 would possess an interest in their minds, the contemplation of which 

 would be a source of pure delight; and as its awakened faculties 

 were brought into exercise, the sunlight of Mind would burst upon 

 them ; they would be led to trace effect to cause — to look, in the 

 beautiful words of the poet, *' from nature up to nature's God " — and 

 would feel conscious, that when surrounded by the works of nature, 

 they stood, as has been beautifully expressed, " in the immediate 

 presence of their Creator." 



In connection with these means in towns like Hull, galleries for 

 paintings, statuary, and works of art, should be provided, with free 

 admission to all ; courses of lectures, in all the branches of science 

 should be given by men qualified by their learning to do so, with 

 the least possible charge for admission. Thus the minds of all would 

 not only be cultivated, but refined ; even in adults of the present 

 day, much might be done if this was set about immediately. The 

 duties of domestic life would be discharged in a very different man- 

 ner from what is the case in the present day ; the education of all 

 would be carried on at home as well as at school ; the better feelings 

 of our nature would be constantly in exercise. The force of example, 

 all know, acts most powerfully upon youth. The mother, it has 

 been stated, teaches more than the schoolmaster. If, then, the 

 parent is properly qualified for her important task, a race would 

 speedily spring up, totally different from what had two generatioE . 

 before preceded it. 



To conclude, it is no stretch of imagination to say — for what has 

 been accomplished fully warrants the inference — that instead of it 



