OF EDUCATION 33 



Soon after this meeting in Berlin, Nicholovius, the 

 Prussian minister of education, wrote to Pestalozzi 

 as follows : "At last my venerable, unforgotten 

 friend, I have the pleasure of seeing some rays of thy 

 light penetrate into the schools of my fatherland. 

 What I have dreamed at thy side, what we have dis- 

 cussed in letters, will soon become realized as a work 

 of absolute necessity. With us the march of events 

 has ruined everything, yet courageous men are already 

 bent upon reconstruction. Oh help us to foster the 

 work which thou hast founded. May thy life be spared 

 in order to complete thy work as far as possible." 



Carl Ritter, soon after a visit to Pestalozzi's school, 

 wrote to him thus : "I cannot tear myself away from 

 the mountain scenery of Helvetia without devoting 

 to thee, O Father Pestalozzi a silent tear. May it 

 tell how deeply I feel what thou art to humanity. 

 How could I ever forget the time I have spent amidst 

 thy new creations. Even had I gained nothing by it 

 but a renewed faith in humanity, I would consider 

 myself amply repaid. 



" My ardent desire to see the champion and martyr 

 for truth and love, and to be refreshed at the living 

 source of his life and example, has been granted ; and 

 I return with enlarged feeling into this cold vortex 

 of life. I thank thee venerable father, for thy affec- 

 tion. It has taught me a warmer and purer love : It 

 has strengthened my arm for the struggle with the 



