XV THE SCHOOL BOARDS 401 



time during which the children will remain at 

 school ; and, secondly, that even if this objection 

 did not exist, it would cost too much. 



I attach no importance whatever to the first 

 objection until the experiment has been fairly 

 tried. Considering how much catechism, lists of 

 the kings of Israel, geography of Palestine, and the 

 like, children are made to swallow now, I cannot 

 believe there will be any difficulty in inducing 

 them to go through the physical training, which 

 is more than half play ; or the instruction in 

 household work, or in those duties to one another 

 and to themselves, which have a daily and hourly 

 practical interest. That children take kindly to 

 elementary science and art no one can doubt 

 who has tried the experiment properly. And if 

 Bible-reading is not accompanied by constraint 

 and solemnity, as if it were a sacramental operation, 

 I do not believe there is anything in which 

 children take more pleasure. At least I know 

 that some of the pleasantest recollections of my 

 childhood are connected with the voluntary study 

 of an ancient Bible which belonged to my grand- 

 mother. There were splendid pictures in it, to be 

 sure ; but I recollect little or nothing about them 

 save a portrait of the high priest in his vestments. 

 What come vividly back on my mind are remem- 

 brances of my delight in the histories of Joseph 

 and of David ; and of my keen appreciation of the 

 chivalrous kindness of Abraham in his* dealing 



