286 



Fellenherg School at HofinjI. 



Vol. X. 



ment at the close of each month ; the 

 amount sold, the amount fed to calves, the 

 butter and cheese made, amount consumed, 

 and quantity sold, &c. The day-book con- 

 tained a record of each day's work, with 

 what, and by whom. The other books, and 

 there were several, were not less interest- 

 ing, or tiie system of record less perfect. 

 All purchases, outlays, productions, and 

 losses, were displayed in the inventory 

 sheet, and the absolute condition of the es- 

 tablishment shown by the balancing. 



After inspecting those things we went to 

 dine. A spacious hall with high ceilings, 

 lighted on three sides, contains a table, 

 chair, and a sliding cupboard, communi- 

 cating with the kitclien below. Instead of 

 a single cupboard carried up by cords and 

 weights, this is double, one ascending and 

 the other descending, the movement being 

 effected by a cog wheel revolving in a 

 chain connected at the extremes with the 

 cupboards. A simple sentence of prayer 

 for blessing upon the repast, and we were 

 seated, IM. Fellenberg at the head. The 

 young gentlemen served the soup, rich 

 boiled beef, cabbage, potatoes and bread, 

 which constituted the whole dinner. At 

 its close there was half an hour of relaxa- 

 tion ; then all the young gentlemen assem- 

 bled in the drawing-room, to receive an 

 hour's instruction from their noble teacher. 

 They were seated about two long tables, 

 with their note-books, and in the apparel in 

 which the potatoes had been dug. 



It seems that the little republic of pupils 

 had by an election of their own, appointed 

 individuals of their number to the charge of 

 each particular department of the matters 

 to be cared for about the farm. One to the 

 cow stables, one to the working cattle, an- 

 other to the swine, another to the horses, 

 another to the fruit, another to the rooms of 

 study — the sleeping apartments — each a spe- 

 cific trust. One was elected to be leader in 

 all kinds of work. Each had been required 

 to draw up a scheme for conducting his own 

 department of supervision. These schemes 

 were successively called for, read and dis- 

 cussed ; and here it was I felt the real 

 greatness of M. Fellenberg. He elicited 

 the warm but honest discussion of all the 

 little points to be considered in these 

 schemes, and found means to introduce a 

 plain, easily to be comprehended, but deep 

 and sound lecture upon the political econo- 

 my, if I may so call it, of an agricultural 

 community. 



The first scheme was that of the leader 

 in all work. It was well drawn up for a 

 lad. Each article was read and discussed, 

 or assented to without inquiry, as it seemed 



to impress the infant council. One topic I 

 recollect particularly. " Should each mem- 

 ber of a party engaged in the same labour, 

 judge of the excellence of the mode em- 

 ployed^ and should he express his judg- 

 ment! and if so, before the work w^as com- , 

 menced, while going forward, or when 

 concluded ?" At first there was a little re- 

 serve; then came a variety of opinions. All 

 thought that each should exercise his facul- 

 ties to discover the best mode. Some thought 

 that if a different mode would be better it 

 sliould be made known before the work was 

 commenced, as after its conclusion the dis- 

 covery would be of little service. Others, 

 again, that afler its commencement, one 

 would be better able to judge of the rela- 

 tive excellence of the employed and pro- 

 posed plans, and that the time for expressing 

 an opinion, would be in the progress of the 

 labour. Others still had dif!erent views, all 

 of which showed that they have learned to 

 think. The various opinions gave M. Fel- 

 lenberg an opportunity to present the promi- 

 nent features of a republican government — 

 the necessity of obedience to some head, and 

 confidence therein — the duty of investiga- 

 tion, and the proper time, as men and as 

 gentlemen, for the expression of differing 

 opinions when deliberately formed. His ex- 

 tempore alternate inquiry, reply, and dissei'- 

 tation, was one of the finest exhibitions of 

 what a teacher may attain, I have ever 

 known. 



Each officer in the republic holds his 

 place fourteen days, and each has the strong 

 stimulus of M. Fellenberg's approbation, of 

 personal review, and of the consciousness 

 that he will be succeeded by one whose 

 highest wish will be to excel his predeces- 

 sor, to make him perform his service faith- 

 fully. 



At the close of this exercise, which con- 

 tinued about an hour and a half, a storm had 

 set in, and the labour out of doors could not 

 be resumed. The study was continued. A 

 book of agricultural problems was taken 

 down, and several estimates for the con- 

 sumption of fodder, fattening of cattle, &c., 

 made. At length a problem to determine 

 the number of cows they should be able to 

 winter, feeding them so many pounds of 

 roots, so much hay, and so much clover, per 

 day. Last of all, how much land they 

 would be obliged to devote for the whole 

 coming year, in order to the requisite supply 

 of grass, hay, potatoes, beets, &c., necessary 

 to the niainlcnance of the stock, i. e., keep- 

 ing in tlieir present flesh, and how much 

 more to furnish them with all they can eat- — 

 allowing each cow to weigh eight hundred 

 pounds, so much hay, clover, and roots being 



