130 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
LANGUAGE: THE CONTEAST IN ITS DEVELOPMENT 
IN MAN AND BEUTE. 
ABSTRACT OF PAPER BY REV. J. ERSKINE RISK, M.A. 
(Read February 22nd, 1877.) 
It treated of the various kinds of language, different modes of 
action of the mind, origin of concepts and abstract terms. Question 
as to the reality of roots and concepts ; Miiller's examples of roots. 
The three stages of language ; two theories as to its origin ; the 
bow-wow and ding-dong theories. Eoots and interjections dis- 
tinguished, and origin of roots. The real barrier between man 
and brute. Different opinions as to the seat of articulate language ; 
their bearing on Darwin's theory. Are there any well-authenticated 
cases of savages without language ? The infant's mode of acquiring 
speech, and relation of this to the present subject. Steinthal's 
theory of conditions of development of rational articulate language. 
Final contrast of manner of development of human and brute 
language. 
THE KINDEEGAETEN. 
ABSTRACT OF PAPER BY THE REV. F. E. ANTHONY, M.A. 
(Read March 1st, 1877.) 
The lecturer treated of the principle of the kindergarten ; the 
speciality of its method. Meaning of the term. Froebel's purpose 
in the establishment of kindergartens ; age at which a child should 
be placed there ; reasons for this. The philosophy of play ; its 
relation to Eroebel's method. Nature taken into partnership. The 
practical working of the kindergarten. Froebel's six " gifts 
additional gifts; stick- work, paper- work, clay-modelling. Objec- 
tions to the kindergarten : (1) Its sameness and tendency to 
repress mental growth. (2) Children not usefully employed nor 
prepared for school. Testimony from schools in Germany. (3) The 
difficulty of getting suitable teachers. 
