vi] LONDON WORKERS, SECULARISTS, ETC. 99 



No books were to be used ; but the children " were to be 

 taught the uses and nature or qualities of the common things 

 around them, by familiar conversation when the children's 

 curiosity was excited so as to induce them to ask questions 

 respecting them." The schoolrooms were furnished with 

 paintings of natural objects, and the children were also taught 

 dancing, singing, and military evolutions, which they greatly 

 enjoyed. The children were never kept at any one occupa- 

 tion or amusement till they were fatigued, and were taken 

 much into the open air and into the surrounding country, 

 where they were taught something about every natural 

 object. Here we see all the essential features of the educa- 

 tional systems of Pestalozzi and Frcebel, worked out by his 

 own observations of child-nature from his own childhood 

 onward, and put into practice on the first opportunity with 

 a completeness and success that was most remarkable. 



He tells us that his numerous visitors, latterly numbering 

 two thousand every year, were more amazed and delighted 

 with the schools than with any other part of the establish- 

 ment ; and that during the visit of " a lady of the highest 

 rank of our own nobility — after inspecting the dancing, 

 the music, and all the other lessons and exercises out- 

 of-doors, of the infants and children in their playground, 

 while attentively witnessing their kindness of manner to each 

 other, their unaffected, unrestrained, joyous happiness, and 

 remembering their efficiency in their indoor exercises — this 

 lady said to me with tears in her eyes, ' Mr. Owen, I would 

 give any money if my children could be made like these.' 

 And truly those who were trained from infancy through these 

 schools were by far the most attractive, and the best and 

 happiest human beings, I have ever seen. Their manner 

 was unaffectedly graceful, and, when spoken to by strangers, 

 naturally polite, with great innocent simplicity. The total 

 absence of all fear, and full confidence in and affection for 

 their teachers, with the never-ceasing expression of perfect 

 happiness, gave these children of working cotton-spinners a 

 character for their age superior to any I have yet seen." It 

 was also noted how this training improved the physical 



