238 STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
imagination so soon as to the works of the Great Artist, who 
“Divinest use in beauty lias conceived; 
Divinest beauty in all use achieved.” 
The first moral advantage, then, gained through the embel¬ 
lishment of school-house grounds would come by virtue of 
those improved conditions, assisting perceptions of truth, 
goodness, beauty, followed by corresponding emotions. That 
which is seen clearly will be felt deeply. 
A second, and one which lies at the very foundation of moral 
improvement, is that of promoting self-respect. Whatever has 
a tendency to detract from this degrades; and by what means 
it may be increased, the same elevates the moral being. As 
the individual approaches maturity, this depreciation or eleva¬ 
tion may be the result of an indefinite multiplication of cir¬ 
cumstances; as the state of the health; success or failure in 
business; the doctrines believed; the thoughts, feelings, aims, 
and to some extent, the externalities of the daily life. But to 
children, who are ignorant of the value of pursuits, the dignity 
of the soul, the uses of discipline, or The quality of either 
action or emotion, that sentiment known as self-respect comes 
almost wholly of their surroundings. What do they know of 
the compensations in reserve for a life of virtuous sacrifice and 
toil, or how it is that a high moral sense and style of thought 
can elevate above the materialities of circumstance? The sum, 
as well as the end of life, to them seems to be 
“To live, just to exist; to breathe, and be 
A part of all the wondrous things they see,” 
Thus they feel worthy of what they have, just that, no more. 
So if what they look at, touch, taste, possess, be mean or 
wanting in fitness for the uses of the three-fold person, it must 
thereby be debased. Is it conceivable that any elevation of 
this moral sentiment, as flowing from an idea of the uses of 
life and the woith of being, could result from associating 
them with 
“A bed of straw, 
A crust of bread—and rags! 
A shattered roof, a naked floor, 
A table, a broken chair, 
A wall so blank that shadows were thanked 
For sometimes falling there!” 
