1874.] 223 [Emerson 



One of the secrets of his success as a teacher was, that he 

 brought in nature to teach for him. The young ladies of a 

 large school were amused at his simplicity in putting a grass- 

 hopper into the hand of each, as he came into the hall; but 

 they were filled with surprise and delight, as he explained the 

 structure of the insect before them, and a sigh of disappoint- 

 ment escaped from most of them when the lesson, of more 

 than an hour, closed. He had opened their eyes to see the 

 beauty of the wonderful make of one of the least of God's 

 creatures. What a lesson was this to young women prepar- 

 ing to be teachers in the public schools of the Commonwealth, 

 showing that in every field might be found objects to excite, 

 and, well explained, to answer, the questions, what? and 

 how ? and why ? which children will always be asking. 



He had all the elements necessary to an eloquent teacher : 

 voice, look and manner, that instantly attracted attention ; 

 an inexhaustible flow of language, always expressive of rich 

 thoughts, strong common sense, a thorough knowledge of all 

 the subjects on which he desired to speak, a sympathy with 

 others so strong that it became magnetic, and a feeling of the 

 value of what he had to say, which became and created en- 

 thusiasm. He thus held the attention of his audience, not 

 only instructing and persuading them, but converting them 

 into interested and admiring fellow students. 



His mode of teaching, especially in his ready use of the 

 chalk and the blackboard, was a precious lesson to teachers. 

 He appealed at once to the eye and to the ear, thus naturally 

 forming the habit of attention, which it is so difficult to form 

 by the study of books. Whoever learns this lesson will soon 

 find that it is the teacher's part to do the study, to get com- 

 plete possession of what is to be taught, in any subject, and 



