528 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



and pages, would need to be restrained from too much use of 

 books. Instead of taking months to master a rudimental text- 

 book, it would be done in a few weeks and with much less con- 

 finement each day — for all that would be undertaken would be 

 entered upon with the energy of positive desire. This is not 

 merely theory or speculation. In a great measure I speak what 

 I do know, and testify what I have seen. 



I anticipate the ready utterance of the conservative mind, that 

 children will not take sufficient interest in the garden to lead 

 them to make the necessary effort, and that it will entice them 

 from their books. I grant that it will entice them from their 

 books in a measure; but only as they come into habits of active 

 and vigorous thought. Having tried the experiment partially, 

 when my own ideas were crude, immature, and without plan, I 

 aver that the voluntary use of books will be far greater than in 

 ordinary schools. 



As to the interest they would take in the garden, my own 

 experience establishes the conviction that they would all rejoice 

 to labor if the garden was made sufficiently attractive. Twenty 

 years ago, when my own views began to take form in this direction, 

 I erected a seminary, and surrounded it on every side with 

 flowers. For four years, these flowers were loved and cherished 

 by a school of from thirty-five to fifty pupils, and in no single 

 instance, to my knowledge, was any theft committed by the 

 children, or did any serious injury result from carelessness or 

 play. And though this was my garden, and not the students' 

 own, they would not only tender their services, morning and 

 evening, to keep it in order, but on Saturday afternoons they 

 would vie with each other in efforts to put it in perlect trim for 

 Sunday. As the garden fronted the church common, the grass 

 borders of the side-walk were regularly trimmed, and the whole 

 carriage path smoothed and raked over each Saturday afternoon 

 for years, by the voluntary efforts of city boys. 



The subject of the day was now called up, viz : 



THE GRINDSTONE— ITS USES AND ABUSES. 



Solon Robinson — Mr. President, I rise to a question of privilege. 

 I believe that is the term for which greater men than I claim the 



