OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 39 



ones together in Switzerland, about the year 1798, about whom 

 he speaks as follows: — 



"I was from morning till evening almost alone in their 

 midst. Every thing that was done for their body or soul pro- 

 ceeded from my hand ; my hand lay in their hand, my eye 

 rested on their eye, my tears flowed with theirs, and my laugh- 

 ter accompanied theirs ; their soup was mine, their drink was 

 mine ; I had nothing ; I had no house keeping, no friends, no 

 servants around me ; I had them alone; were they well, I stood 

 in their midst ; were they ill, I was at their side ; I slept in the 

 middle of them ; I was the last who went to bed at night, the 

 first who rose in the morning ; even in bed I pra3'ed and taught 

 with them until they were'asleep ; they wished it to be so." 



Based somewhat on this idea of Pestalozzi, Fredrick 

 Froebel instituted, in 1837, what he called a Kinder-garten or 

 children-garden, an institution which, as we see it in our 

 midst, has much to recommend itself to that portion of humani- 

 ty which recognizes the importance of studying the habits and 

 wants of children. 



And, even on scientific grounds, why should not this be re- 

 cognized ? If men bring science to bear upon improving 

 breeds of cattle, horses and dogs ; if treatises are written in- 

 quiring into their habits and giving recommendations as to their 

 proper care and training ; if colleges are established where 

 matters in connection with them are minutely discussed, lectur- 

 es given, experiments made, — and all to produce fine breeds of 

 dumb brutes, why should not similar labor be expended upon 

 improvements which might be wrought upon the human race 

 itself. It seems then in a high degree reasonable that this 

 science of dealing properly with children for the purpose o 

 elevating and improving humanit}^ should be instilled into the 

 minds of children themselves. Absurd as it may seem that 

 children should be trained to bring up children (a point for 

 which, as I have mentioned, Herbert Spencer pleads) it is after 

 all beginning at the right end to work a useful and needful re- 

 form. 



The child, "the father of the man" as Wordsworth well puts 

 it, should be taught how to be a good and proper father. All 



