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TUR i ‘N

i \f rT) M tien sas been drawn tothe cond- tion of “it hool life, for it is in the scho i ge part of the young life of the present day is hved. The generations now growing up arecom- ing towards an age of large desires and most uncertain issues, and with them, the clear eye, the sound mind, the right sudement, must all be backed by the healthy body, or they will not come under the head of “the fittest ” who survive I take it, that in education

they need the power of “ knowledge making” rather than the knowledge itself. It were a vain task to try to give all knowledge in an age of special- ism this. (Give the knowledge making power; the power of putting ¢wo and two together; the power of evolving an idea from known facts ; the power of generalizing, and back it wp with a healthy body, and we have the man or women best equippied for the struggle of life

But what do we find? Education, as come to mean of the mind of the arge part of which it cannot remember, and which would be of no earthly use to it if it did. In | striving to give knowledge, which is so vast and varied, there is no time left to train the mind ; to teach the child how ¢o find out things for itself, how to use its judgment, and how to gain self- control. I do not cry out against the imparting of knowledge within a reason- able limit, but it ought not to be allow ed to use up so many precious hours of a child’s life.

Then the physical training of the child is deplorao! f It true,there may be gymnasium exercises, but they are not in any way elevated to the importance of the mental exercises. Physical training is consid- ered only as a side issue in school life, if it is considered at all, and to it is given the lowest seat in the synagogue. While we are cfter called upon to wit- ness the ease with which the school- children solve a mathematical problem, or recite an incident in history, the tcacher is rare who could call our at- tention to the fine physical condition of her pupils, the result of their gym- nastic training. Yetthis lack in their training might be remedied by the simple measure of shortening school hours, and giving the children more time out of doors But from morning until night they are in the school room. Then there are lessons to prepare for the next day, so that there is only an hour or two of each school day spent out of doors.

Yet, in the adult, eight hours of steady brain work is felt to be trying. How much more ‘so must it be to the sensitive, quick-growing brain of the child. Such an amount of time spent by the child in brain work must be injurious. It is truc that children, asa general rule, resem!le Old King Cole, in that they ‘‘ scorn the fetters of the four and twenty letters,” and that they may not spend all their time in study. In that case they are wasting time in- doors which ought to be spent outside. Girls particularly are reprehensibly treated in this respect. Between the ages of twelve and sixteen “ when the vital energies are absorbed in therapid development of the body” they are eften cooped in a cose school room six hours of the day, in addition to apending several hours at home in study preparing for the next day’s work. The natural result is a bright mind and an enfeebled body. Tlogive an instance among my patients there is a young girl of fifteen. She is very tall and very light, a delicate anemic girl. She rises at eight a. m. and gets to school by one, where she remains, with the ex- ception of the dinner hour, yntil four o'clock. It she has any recreation it is between that time and = six o’clock After tea she studies until ten, eleven and sometimes twelve. There is an eld quotation which says “ Death has many doors to let life out,’ and I sometimes think a modern school door one of these. The present system of education may give to the world large numbers of well real men and women, but it also sows the seeds of consump- tion, hysteria, neurasthenia and imsani- ty ; in addition to such minor affections as eye strain and nervous headaches.

Eye strain among school children may result from over-heating, poor lighting and badventilation. The seeds of consumptien may be sown through lack of knowledge on the part ef those in charge as to the manner in which it is spread, through poor ventilation, lack 4 sufficient outdoor exercise, and im-

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DATT VY RYAMINER |

THE DAILY EXsSMINER, unaRLOITETOWN, MARCH 3 1900.

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BRITISH SCOUTS RECONNOITERING

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proper construction of the desks, per- mitting the child to lean forward and so intertering with the full expansion of the chest. A school desk should pro- ject a little over the edge of the seat, and should be a very little higher than the child’s elbow. Then he cannot lean forward and the expansion of the chest is not interfered with. The school room should have a north light as that is the steadiest and is without a glare. The light should not shine di- rectly in the face as that is hurtful to the vision, but should shine ovér the left shoulder. If it shines from the right the hand casts a shadow over the work, and if from behind the body shades that which is directly in front of the child. (Rohe.) The child’s feet should rest on the floor and should be in stout heavy-soled boots, not only as a protection from the cold and wet, but to give the arch of the foot proper sup- port. The condition of flat foot is be- coming, of late years, very common even in children. I wonder also if the beginning -of some cases of spinal sclerosis, could not be traced tothe con- tinual jarring imparted to the spinal, cord by walking in thin soled shoes.

Now as regards school hours—they should not be longer than three hours at first, and up to the age of sixteen, six hours should be the limit. A child should not be compelled nor allowed to study longer, and this includes not only school hours but study hours as well. I cannot see why achild upto the age of twelve years, cannot be taught all it needs to know in school hours. It seems to me that from 9 a. m. to I p. m. ought to give the child sufficient brain work, even allowing a half hour out of this for recreation. With prop- er teaching three and a half hours daily from the ages of eight to sixteen, should work wonders. ‘The shorter the hours, within a certain limit, the better the work which can be done, and if from the ages of twelve to sixteen it is neces- sary that lessons be prepared at home, the schoel hours I have mentioned, would leave the afternoon free for study and recreation. There is something radically wrong with the present school system in that it absorbs to itself all the best hours of the day, leaving for the recreation hours of the child only the poorest, especially at this season of the year, when the sun is almost, if net al- together down, when school is dis- missed.

We meet with a great many cases of hysteria in girls, yet we can scarcely wonder at this when we consider that there has been no time in the girl’s life when attention has been paid to the development of her physical nature, and that at all times French has been

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TO THE NATIONS BY ALFRED H LOUIS,

Rise to your need, ye nations ! ye peoples, rise to your need !

For your vision is shot with blodd, while the blood of your hearts grown thin The fruits of the Life ye reject, on husks with the swinefolk feed.

So ye cumber ye with the flesh, reck not of decay within.

Ye array for the world-wide slaughter, ye prate of the world-wide peace; Ye halt ’twixt the poison-cup and tne cup of the sacrament wine.

Ye hold the soul immortal as though ona moment's lease,

And fain weuld a compact seal ‘tween Demoniac and Divine !

Surely, O Nations of Men, ye are clad in rags outworn, Crouching in Fear unfaithed, father of ruthtess deeds.

The glories that strain to the birth ye will not that they be born; The soil ye suffer to thirst, the flowers to be choked with weeds.

Yet they are straws that bind ye, shadows that hold in thrall; One stroke of the hand Almighty, they vanish, they break, ye are free ! The Almighty Hearing awaits! One deep, strong, agonized call, And your dreams shall have blood in the veins, take glorious Form, and Be,

One splendid and selfless cry—such cry as Motherhood makes

When the babe’s breast quivers and pants, clutches the failing breath !— Lo, the gates of the Heavens fly open, the New Day rapturous breaks, And Life is a hundredfold Life, and Death is no longer Death !

Behold, O Nations of Men, I set in your Thought’s foreground Allthat hath holiest claim ye trample in dust and forget— Clasping of soft sweet arms, murmurs of passionate sound, When the eyes find home in the eyes, and the hearts with the hearts are met

Cast them with scurn away—your purse fed panoplied pride, Hideous cries of the mart, ratlings of weapons that slay!

Tis the spirit that calls with these—the Mother, the Babe, and the Bride, And the household Angel great—demanding absolute sway.

With their cry, ’tis the cry going up to the yearning, listening skies Of Prophet, of Poet, of Sage, by the age-long fierceness crushed ! Tis the cleaving power that appeais of their age-long agonized sighs, That the storming of Conflict at last be shamed and forever hushed.

Ah! Ye will hear! They shall break—the ruthless words that have slain ! There shall be no sword to pierce save the sword of the Spirit alone! Healed is the wound ancestral, cleansed the ancestral stain. Descend from your crosses and live! From the graves roll every stone!

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considered a more important thing rangements of them, and to see tha} than common sense and self control. right hygienic conditions prevailed, so Her mental attitude toward others has | that the generations now’ growing up never been questioned. She has not} shall become healthy men and women, been taught that there is sufficient pain } well fitted physically and mentally fcr in everyone’s life without trying to simu- | the battle of life.

late it, and that the pity and sympathy so gained are of no value. But what teacher of young girls would consider such a lesson necessary? I venture to say not one, though the value of it would be beyond compare.

That the site, heating, and ventila-| tion should all be carefully considered, in building the school room, ought to go without saying. That numbered among the school commissioners should be a physician, is alsoa_neces- sity. Besides this, I would advocate that there should be a health inspector of schools—a physician, paid to inspect the schools, and endowed with power

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“ Catch the opportunity.” by tskin- Hood’s Sareaparilla now you may 'uild up yourhealto and prevent serious ill nese.

A great chance to secure Boot Bargains at our big sale. 20 to 33 per cent discount.— R. K, Jost,

20 to 33 per cent discount an all Boots & Shoes at our big sale-—R. K, Jost.

Big snaps in all Boots & Shoes at our big sale,—R. K, Josts.

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Brahmin Tea

Now that this delicious Tea has become widely kuown in nearly every home in Prinze Edward Island, and is also a great .avorite in many places in Canada and the United States I have decided to seli it at whdlesale only.

Is now sold by the foll wing :

J.D. McLEOD & CO., BEER & GOFF, HNKINS & ON,

J.R WARREN,

R. J, WOOD,

R. F. MADDIGAN & CO., R. H. MASON, | J. H. MYRICK & CO,

Horace Haszard

Agent for Canada 2eod.a w

YOU WANT TO REPLACE

— SOME OF YOUR——

BLUE DISHES.

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We are selling the balance stock of | Blue Ware at 25 per cent discount. Call and get u bargain at

W. P. COLWILL’S

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Charlottetown Feb’y 12th

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all styles and = sizes suitable tor fall and wiater wear — for the lowest possible prices, at McQUAID’S, LOWER QUEEN!STREER

“S Boot and Shoe'Store.

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Nlaughter Prices ——Still Continue

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Great Fire Sale

And Until Everything is Sold

The rush since the saie opered has been tremendous and we have been unable to wait on half the people who thronged our store, and everyone is delighted with the bargains they get

If you have not visited us, COME now and get your share of the snaps from 25 to 50 p. c, on everything,

Ready-made Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Gents’ Furnishings, Rubbers and Overshoes, [weeds and Flannels, Mats and Caps Underclething, Shirts, Collars, Cuffs, Neckwear, Blankets, Trunks, Valises aud Wraps.

Everything Must Go, and Go at Once.

Come and share the bargains at the Great Fire Sale. Will be ofen till 8 every evening.

R. H. Ramsay % Co

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