ART AND OBJECT-LESSONS. 95 



the last few years by an experienced hand, who has addressed himself to 

 the task with an energy and a zeal which deserve public encouragement 

 and support. Mr. T. E. Dexter, of the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, 

 now prepares cabinets of Natural History, specially intended for educational 

 purposes and object-lessons. These cabinets, which, from close examina- 

 tion we can heartily recommend, are now in use in the normal, model, 

 regimental, and garrison schools of the British army in this country and in 

 India ; in various training institutions of Great Britain and Ireland ; in 

 many commercial and elementary schools, and private families. 



Accompanying these are special volumes intended as text books, of which 

 new editions have just been issued.* 



Object-lessons, it is well observed, powerfully develope the mental facul- 

 ties of the young, afford correct ideas of the properties of articles, both rare 

 and common, and show whence such articles are obtained. 



Object-lessons are applicable to children of all ages. The world of 

 nature, so full of the highest and most ennobling lessons, is too often a 

 sealed book to those who attend our elementary schools. Such should not 

 be the case. There is no class of persons, high or low, rich or poor, 

 learned or ignorant, but may derive some advantage from the study of 

 these natural substances. 



The Great Exhibition of 1851 was an object-lesson upon a world-wide 

 scale. The Museum of Economic Geology, in Jermyn- street; that of Eco- 

 nomic Botany, at Kew, and the Museum of Animal and Food Products at South 

 Kensington, are intended to convey instruction to all classes of the com- 

 munity by means of objects. And while the visitor to these splendid col- 

 lections gazes upon and admires the curiosities, the wonders, and treasures 

 of the three great kingdoms of nature, and feels himself deficient in know- 

 ledge with regard to the greater part of what he observes, yet what plea- 

 sure is felt on recognising a substance with which he is more intimately 

 acquainted, and connected with which may be some pleasing associations. 

 The study of these objects is not only important and instructive to the 

 mind of the adult, but is peculiarly so to the minds of the rising genera- 

 tion, and ought, therefore, to form an important part of the daily routine 

 in all schools. 



The little works referred to, which contain a large amount of useful, 

 descriptive commercial, and statistical information, have been compiled 

 with a view of affording a certain amount of information respecting some 

 of the most important substances known in commerce. They are intended 

 as useful class reading books for young persons, and afford materials for 

 a series of entertaining and instructive lectures upon the branches of Natural 

 History, illustrated by the specimens found in the cabinets. 



* "Animal and Vegetable Substances used in the Arts and Sciences." Second 

 edition, revised and improved. 



" Mineral Substances : being an Explanatory Text-book of the Minerals and Metals 

 used in the Arts and Manufactures," &c. By T. E. Dexter, of the Royal Military 

 Asylum, Chelsea. Groombridge and Sons. 



