i8 MORE POT-POURRI 



can shake off this incubus of duty, she and I are so happy 

 together. I suppose there is some similarity in our 

 minds and tastes that makes her very responsive to me. 

 I cannot bring myself, owing doubtless to my own defec- 

 tive bringing-up, to stand at a distance, as it were, and 

 criticise severely. As M. has no classes this afternoon, 

 we are off to the British Museum a sort of treat we both 

 thoroughly enjoy. But, as you know, I am given to 

 misgivings ; the question arises sometimes whether the 

 companionship of my mature mind is the best. " Child- 

 hood ought to be with childhood " is constantly being 

 repeated to me.' 



This letter seemed to me so touching that I sent it to 

 a friend of mine much interested in the subject. She 

 returned it with the following remarks, which express in 

 strong terms very much what I feel myself : ' I quite 

 agree one of the most interesting letters you've had. 

 But it is harrowing to me the way this poor mother 

 won't let herself benefit by your advice, although she 

 seems to approve of it. You ask for my comments. I 

 should say she gives the receipt of what her line of con- 

 duct should be in the sentence " When I can shake off 

 this incubus of duty she and I are so happy together. I 

 suppose there is some similarity in our minds and tastes 

 that makes her very responsive to me." Just fancy a 

 mother having that opportunity and not using it ! There's 

 hardly a parent in fifty could boast as much. Personal 

 contact and sympathy with an older person means hot- 

 house growth to the mental capabilities of a child. The 

 one fear is lest it should overforce them. What do the 

 geography, history, arithmetic, and all the details of 

 early education matter ? The child's general intelligence 

 and power of acquiring knowledge from her own observa- 

 tion, which is the only true educator, will develop much 

 more fully and rapidly in the mother's company than 



