8 THE NEW METHOD 



culture which commences "with the study of language, thence 

 proceeds to gather thoughts, and at last reaches objects only 

 to hurry over and slight them leaves the mind wanting in 

 the vital elements of truth. — Russell. 



The natural inquisitiveness of the child's mind, 

 every one must have observed. How early he begins 

 to investigate the objects about him, asking number- 

 less questions. But how few of those whose work it 

 is to rear and foster the young mind, heed the 

 promptings of nature How often is the great book 

 of nature sealed to the little inquirer, and his atten- 

 tion turned to objects of less interest. And how few 

 there are who retain to mature years the innate 

 desires for knowledge which were so apparent in 

 early childhood. How many there are whose minds 

 become perverted, benumbed, and degraded by mis- 

 management, all desire for knowledge obliterated, all 

 taste for the pleasures of a rational life utterly de- 

 stroyed. Yet their young minds were fitted by their 

 Creator to study his visible works and rise higher 

 and higher in the scale of being, until they could 

 read in the stars that nightly shine above their heads, 

 in the rocks beneath their feet, and in the plants and 

 flowers that deck their way, the thoughts impressed 

 upon them by the Great Author of all. 



There has been much discussion upon the system adopted 

 in the high school, of entrusting the hearing of the recita- 



