.21 6 
NATURE NOTES. 
PICTURES FOR SCHOOLS. 
T is open to question whether Selbornian principles are 
Kg’ SmI ma ^ing as much way as they ought to do in a quarter 
where their promulgation would be attended with the 
1 happiest results. We are aware that certain high and 
middle-class schools are fortunate in possessing on their staff 
members of the Selborne Society, and that, in some cases at 
least, the Society’s objects are known and appreciated by the 
pupils. But in elementary schools especially, where the Sel- 
borne teachings are perhaps most needed and would bear most 
fruit, we fear that little is done. In towns, it may be said, the 
study of nature is difficult, if not impossible, and in country 
places it is not easy to arouse any special interest in the sights 
and sounds of every day. 
There is, however, one means by which even dwellers in 
towns can be familiarised with Nature and her teachings, and 
that is by the use of pictures. As a rule, there is no dearth of 
pictures in our elementary schools, although it can hardly be 
said that the selection is in all cases such as commends itself to 
those who rightly think it of great importance that the sur- 
roundings of the young should be as far as possible beautiful. 
But there is a too little known Society which takes upon itself 
the work of selecting and publishing good pictures for schools, 
and we think that some of the readers of Nature Notes may 
like to know something about it and its work. 
The Art for Schools Association, of which klr. Ruskin is the 
President, was founded in 1883 with the object of supplying an 
educational basis for the good work already being done by Loan 
Exhibitions of Pictures in poor districts of London and other 
large towns. Such exhibitions, and the teaching of which they 
become centres, impart much pleasure of a refining and elevat- 
ing kind, but they appeal for the most part to persons who have 
passed the years especially given- up to education ; and many 
who might benefit b}^ them, had their artistic instincts been 
awakened at school, miss their influence because they have 
never been taught to find pleasure in pictorial art, and have 
therefore no motive for visiting an exhibition of pictures. The 
idea of the founders of the Art for Schools Association was that 
much might be done to educate and feed the taste of children 
by simply placing in the class-rooms of elementary schools a 
few good prints and photographs of beautiful and interesting 
works of art, such as most people of taste take care to have in 
their own houses. With this view they put themselves in 
correspondence with the principal art publishers of London, 
and obtained permission to sell to elementary school ssuch of 
their publications as seemed most likely to interest the }T>ung, 
at rates much below the market prices. The catalogue of 
the works supplied in this way through the agenc)^ of the Art 
for Schools Association comprises upwards of 300 photographs, 
