On the Educational Uses of Museums. 351 
erment institutions. Money grants would do in many cases more 
harm than good, destructive as they are of a spirit of self-reliance, 
and apt to induce a looseness of expenditure and habits of ex- 
travagance. 
At the same time, every shilling granted judiciously by the 
State for purposes of education and instruction, for the promotion 
of schools, libraries, and mnseums, is a seed that will in the end 
generate a rich crop of good citizens. Out of sound knowledge 
spring charity, loyalty, and patriotism—the love of our neighbors, 
the love of just authority, and the love of our country’s good. 
In proportion as these virtues flourish, the weeds of idleness, 
Viciousness, and crime perish. Out of sound knowledge will 
_ arise in time civilization and peace. At present it is folly and 
self-conceit in nations to claim to be civilized, otherwise than as 
contrasted with savage barbarity. The admiration of physical 
prowess, the honoring of tinsel and pomp, the glorification of 
martial renown, are yet far too deeply inrooted in the spirit of the 
Most cultivated nations to permit of the noble epithet “civilized,” 
being appended to their names. The nobility of industry in all 
its grades,—first soul work, the labor of genius—then head-work, 
the labor of talent,—then hand-work, the honest labor of the 
body striving in the cause of peace—must be honored by state 
and people, before either can with truthfulness claim to be civil- 
ized, e are at best as yet but enlightened barbarians. Think 
how all Europe and half Asia st or months, and are 
€ven now standing, on the verge of foul and barbarous war; how 
Christian nations have girded on their armor, and, with mutual 
distrust and well-grounded suspicion, have stood with hand on 
Sword-hilt ready to guard or to strike; think of what is worse, of 
the crime and ignorance that fester in the byways of Christian 
Cities, and then boast of civilization if you can. The arts, the 
Sciences, taste, literature, skill, aud industry seem to have thriven 
among us in spite of ourselves—to have come among mankind 
like good spirits, and by main force to have established themselves 
Sn earth. They struggle with us and conquer us for our welfare, 
but are not yet our rulers. Sent from Heaven, aided by the few, 
not by the many, they have made firm their footing. If the 
Monarchs and presidents of the states of the earth knew wherein 
the best interest of themselves and their people lay, it is in these 
intellectual invaders they would confide. The cost of armaments 
and the keep of criminals would cease in time unproductively to 
drain their treasuries. But ambition and strife are sturdy demons 
yet, and the educator, who dreams of their enchainment, 
“cipates the speedy approach of a peaceful millenium, has but a 
mited acquaintance with the condition of mankind, and the 
hearts of its governors. oe ' 
[ cannot help hoping that the time will come when every Brit- 
town even of moderate size will be able to boast of possessing 
e 
