CHILDREN OF MY TRAIL SCHOOL 179 



tioned. They had sympathies — universal feel- 

 ings. They were developing democratic actions 

 and habits. 



Above all, we try to develop the imagination, 

 which has been called "the supreme intellectual 

 faculty" — an imagination based on realities. This 

 kind of imagination deals ever with cause and ef- 

 fect; it touches cold facts with fancy; gives the 

 poetic interpretation — that is to say, with cause, 

 effect, and vision, it shows possibilities of develop- 

 ment. 



A tree seed touched with imagination becomes 

 a forest full of wilderness life in a natural manner, 

 without enchantment or magic. A prospector 

 dreams of gold and glory. He seeks it with a pick; 

 never does he look for it at the foot of the rainbow, 

 or expect it as a reward from a king, or wait for a 

 fairy to bring it. 



Most legends and fairy stories mislead the mind 

 and betray the imagination. Such magic ever 

 dreams of castles in Spain. Mental mirages 

 waste many a life. 



The normal imagination hitches its wagon to a 

 star or a mule, and the team travels merrily, 

 whether it arrives or not. This imagination is 

 based on realities; it is one that sees the logical and 

 natural results or developments in advance and 

 pictures glorious changes through natural growth 

 or evolution, and never by magic or enchantment. 

 This normal imagination is a combination of in- 



