CORRESP ONDENCE. 



699 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



EDUCATION FOR M0THEK3. 



Editor Popular Science Monthly : 



MR. GEORGE L. GUY, in his address 

 quoted from in one of the " Notes " 

 of the April " Popular Science Monthly," 

 asserts that " our bookish education " does 

 not " in any sense fit our young people to 

 enter upon the practical duties of life." 



"Why should it not ? If a physician be 

 called to attend a very ill child when per- 

 haps the nursing is most important, which 

 ■will give him the greatest sense of strength 

 — the ignorant mother blindly striving to 

 ease present pain regardless of future con- 

 sequences, or the woman accustomed to use 

 her reason ? The first perhaps can not even 

 read the labels on his bottles, the second 

 can take notes of all he directs and give him 

 on his return a faithful account of what has 

 passed during his absence. 



Often a mother's daily wish is that her 

 education had been better, that she might 

 more easily keep pace with her sons, who de- 

 mand her sympathy in their intellectual pur- 

 suits, knowing that she can not share in their 

 rough play. There are many rainy days, 

 times of sickness or ennui, when the boys 

 want occupation that can satisfy their grow- 

 ing minds, and yet not savor too strongly of 

 the school-room. If their mother can make 

 history interesting from her own full knowl- 

 edge, which enables her to select a good book 

 or to embellish a rather dull one, even quite 

 little fellows will turn from childish stories 

 with delight to listen. Another child longs 

 to know something of the great forces about 

 him. Why does an engine go ? What is a 

 compass ? Endless are the questions, and 

 happy the mother who can keep her sons 

 about her while together they find the an- 

 swers. If she can draw, again there is a 

 pleasure in the lessons she can give in odd 

 moments, and, almost without a thought on 

 the child's part, he finds he can use a pencil, 

 enjoying it in untold ways. It is the same 

 with music, with the languages, botany, and 

 many other studies. Children can not learn 

 all they need at school, neither can we give 

 them too many extra hours for lessons. 

 Their afternoons and holidays must be as 

 free for pure play as possible ; but when, 

 owing to circumstances, that can not be had, 

 do not let them be idle ; help them to the 

 habit of employing their minds or hands 

 usefully. How can a mother do that, espe- 

 cially for boys, if she only knows how to 

 sew, to keep a house in order, and attend to 

 the younger children ? The baby needs her 

 care for its frail bodily life — do not the 



minds and souls of her older children also cry 

 out to her ? Mrs. William F. Jenks. 

 Philadelphia, Pa., March 27, 1888. 



THE UNITY OF TRUTH.* 

 Editor Popular Science Monthly : 



We still hear from time to time of sad 

 examples of dogmatic utterances of the 

 Church on subjects pertaining wholly to 

 science. The last of these occurred only a 

 few weeks ago at Baltimore. It seems im- 

 possible for most people to learn from ex- 

 perience unless the experience be personal. 

 Only the reflective learn wisdom from his- 

 tory. 



It is for this reason that we hail with 

 pleasure the work before us. Its liberal 

 spirit is as rare as its Christian fervor is 

 deep. When clergymen have the boldness 

 to write such books, and congregations the 

 liberality of thought to receive such instruc- 

 tion, surely the traditional conflict between 

 theology and science is nearing its end. 



The writer assumes throughout the truth 

 of evolution, and strives with great learning 

 and eloquence to show that it does not de- 

 stroy but only confirms all that is most es- 

 sential in Christian belief. 



We most heartily recommend the book to 

 all truth-seekers, and especially to clergymen 

 of all denominations. 



Joseph Le Conte. 

 Bekkelet, Cal., June 12, 1S88. 



MORE ILLS OF CITY LIFE. 

 Editor Popular Science Monthly : 



The article by Walter B. Piatt, M. D., on 

 " The Injurious Influences of City Life," in 

 the August *' Monthly," suggests a mention 

 of the mental and nervous irritation caused 

 I by the petty annoyances and trespasses on 

 individual rights constantly being inflicted 

 by the jostling throng of a city. We are 

 elbowed and nearly upset, our toes are 

 trodden upon, and our sides are punched 

 with umbrellas and market-baskets by the 

 crowd in cars and ferry-boats, which are 

 crowded because the corporations that own 

 them take our money without giving us 

 proper accommodations in return. At places 

 of amusement, our view is cut off by persons 

 who stand up or sit with large hats on in 

 front of us. At home, dwellers in flats re- 

 ceive various disagreeable sounds and smells 

 from their too close neighbors. In hardly 

 any place are we secure from being pestered 



* " The Unity of Truth." By Rev. Max Hark. 



