i>4 



This iie^v language has powers and beauties inconceivably great : — 

 we are assured that in times to come all intercourse with Nature 

 will be carried on by means of it alone, and that those who are not 

 practised in its use must of necessity fall absolutely behind in the 

 race of life ; and it is only in this language that the laws of healtli 

 can be properly studied, no translation existing or being possible. 



Why, then, is this not generally recognised — why is this new 

 language not universally taught ? Enquiry into the habits of the 

 nation affected by tliis change of language, I think, would bring to 

 light many peculiarities. A\'e should find, probably, that they are 

 too confident, owing to past success, due to the possession of great 

 natural stores of wealth and to their having had amongst them 

 many great men — ^whose genius, in fact, has brought into existence 

 tlie new language ; but for the most part they are not aware, or 

 will not recognise, that their leaders have invented this new 

 language : indeed, they have a most peculiar habit, almost every- 

 one believing that he is able to give an opinion, and that his 

 o])inion is worth having, upon any subject whatsoever, and hence 

 they pay little attention to what is said by their wise men, which 

 perhaps is not surprising, as they fail to grasp the full meaning of 

 the words used. Then — most serious of all — they entrust the 

 education of their youth to men who, with very few exceptions, 

 are absolutely ignorant of the new language : some few, indeed, 

 tliinkiiig that it is likely to become fashionable, ostensibly make 

 provision for teaching it, but, as a rule, place the assistant-masters 

 they have chosen for the purpose, in the most unfavourable position 

 possible as compared with that of those teaching other subjects — 

 especially languages of Avhich no single word is ever used in 

 ordinary daily intercourse ; moreover, being themselves ignorant, 

 they are unable to judge if those to whom they commit the 

 teaching are doing their duty. The system prevailing at the chief 

 schools may almost be termed the cattle-show system, the object being 

 to compete for prizes at the Universities and elsewhere, very very 

 few of tliese prizes, be it rememliered, lieing ofl'ered for proficiency 

 in the new language. Their Universities, in fact, are too much 

 under the control of men Avho are without knowledge of, and 

 therefore of necessity destitute of synqiathy with, the new 



