Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-27
PESTALOZZi.

Pestalozzi was born al Zurich, 1745.
He lost his falhel, a physician, very
early, and was edusated by plous rela-
tives.-His ~InteutiOn Of entering the
church was given up after an unsuccess-
ful attempt at preaching, and he applied
to the law. A disease, brought on by
excessive and %immodcrate study, indu-
ced him TO turn his attention to agricul-
ture, He bought "a small estate, where
q frequent intercourse with tho common
people opened his eyes to The distress
Jog condition OF the lower classes. Pes
taiozzi was not the man who could wit
ness misery without a correspondent Fee
ling OF comparisons; he could not pass a
wretcaed cottage without stretching Out
a friendly hand to the poor inmates, nor
see a %shivering orphan without taking 1t
to his fire-siGe. He began to feel con-
tempt for tho s~plendor of cold-hearted
opulence, and indifference to all the
knowledge which can BIO acquired from
books;-he proposed to himself to study
life; and the happiness of wiping offthe
tear from the orphans cheek seemed Of
more value to him than all the glory Of
authorship. There were at that time in
the canton of Bcrno, where PestaIozzi
lived, many poor and neglected children
PestaIozzi took "A number Of them into
his h and became their guardian
and instructor. But the expenses of
this undertaking soon made him poor,
for he was more benevolent than pru-
dent, and the kind disposition of his he, 1T
rendered him an easy prey to every de-
signing villain, The loss of property
did not depress his spirits; nor did the
sneering of worldly men at his folly
damp his ardour for improving the state
Of the lower orders.
He was invited in 1893, by :be gov
eminent Of Untsrwalden, to establish a
schoo! at Stantz, lately ravaged by fire
during the revolutionary war, and he at
once accepted the proposal, though he
had neither the means Of accomplishing
the plan at his W command, nor was
furnished with them by the state. The
children came IN crowds, hocking for
relief and nurture, as well as instruction.
! The successful issue Of his experiment
made under these difficult circumstan-
! COS is thus described NY first task
was to gain the condolences Of my pu-
| pills, aud to attach them TO me. The
deserted state in which | found myself,
ell painful as il was, and the absolute
want Of assistance, were precisely what
J contributed the most to the success Of
my enterprise. Cut off from the rest OF
mankind, ! turned all my affectiocs 10
the children; to me they were indebted
! for ell the relief thoy received. par
took alike Of their pains and their pleas
ures.
sln 1899 my school contained eighty
pupils. Study was to them quite a nov-
! city, and they attached themselves to
Il with interchangeable -zcal' as soon as
they began 10 perceive their own prog
fress. When ! have asked them after
suvper,-1My children, which had you
sstssr do, 20 40 bad, or learn a ,littls
ioneers' theywossd genersty rcply,, that
they would rather learn The impulse
vas given, !s1fd theif dsveiopemsnt be-
gan 10 take place 9th q rapidly that
snspawed. my most ssuguins hopes.
Wbsn Abort wse reduced 90 ashes. I
spssnblsafth sossd ~, end said to
'thssh, -ASsrf trdesNcyeS md pestsps