NOTKS ON THE ilUtCx. 6") 



tioii. I often tliiuk tliat both parents and sclioolmastcrs might obviate much 

 of that cruelt}-^ shown by youth to dumb animals, if they oul}' went the right 

 way about it. So far as I may judge, it seems of little use inflicting corporeal 

 punishment on a lad for torturing flies, "blowing" frogs, and suchlike tricks. 

 Example, fraixght with kindness, is better than the I'od. There are, I believe, 

 some few educational establishments with sensible men at their heads, who 

 adopt many very laudable plans. During one half day in a week, the master 

 gives his pupils readings from a selection of good sound authors. If the 

 subject selected appertains to Natural History, perhaps a microscope is put 

 in requisition, and a world of wonders opened to view. A poor fly is shewn 

 to be a marvellous compound of divine ingenuity, and perhaps to pain as 

 sensitive as even mortal man. Their cruel propensities are gradually con- 

 quered — they learn to admire and hold sacred the varied forms of creation, 

 I'egarding 



" the meanest things that are,* 

 As free to live, and to enjoy that life. 

 As God was free to form them at the first, 

 Who in his sovereign wisdom made them all." 



A I'amble of this sort is never taken but fresh sources of delight arise 

 from it ; the mind expands at every step, and learns to find some " good in 

 everything." A fig for all your scientific classifications and barbarous nomen- 

 clatures. It is absolute nonsense to attempt cramming a lad with a jargon 

 of jaw-breaking Latinity, which not one person in fifty thousand understands. 

 It is this alone which retards the study, and prevents it from becoming 

 deservedly popular. 



What is it that constitutes the main charm of such good books as White's 

 Selborne, Waterton's Essays, or Jesse's Gleanings — why because they are 

 delightful " round unvarnished " I'eminiscences of actual observation, midst 

 sunny fields and shady groves ; — in their perusal, we are almost led to fancy 

 ourselves treading the soft turf and listening to the joj^ous strains of caroling 

 birds; — we make a companion of our book — its language is pure homely 

 English unadorned. 



Now we are all gifted with that power of observation which leans us to 

 admire the beautiful in nature, and have only to exercise that gift to become 

 respectable, and what is better, truthful naturalists The most supei-ficial 

 among us may be able to hold converse with nature in her thousand varied 

 forms, and to record some new facts or pleasing reminiscences of hapj)y hours 

 Avell spent. By instilling into the mind the spirit of observation, many evils 

 are conquered and prejudices overcome. There are still people who regard 

 the frog and many other harmless creatures as enemies, saj^ what we will. 

 The poor frog is charged with eating strawberries, simply from the fact of its 

 being seen hopping about the beds ; now a little quiet observation would 



• Co\\'per. 



