Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-05
Influence of Example.

In certain viIIage in Switzerland, some
years ago there were heavy complaints
among all who possessed trees that no fruit
was safe; that the children pIundered it per-
Petualy before it came to maturity; and not
only that, but that The green sapling had no
security against them. Another serious
complaint was The barbariry of the children
towards all living creatures in their power.
The clergyman, teacher and elders, often
laid their heads together, TO find some retne-
dy for this inbuman spirit, by which every
child in the place was more or less affected.
They could not conceive why such spirit
should prevail SO specially in this village -
but they could find neither cause nor remedy;
all exhortation, III punishmeDts, were in vain.
The clergyman Of the village was changed
and the new minister was great friend to
schools. His first walk was 10 the school
house. The vice of the scholars had been
made known TO him and the failure of all
preventive measures hitherto applied. But
determining within himself to watch the
whole course of proceedings in school, he
soon perceived that the teacher had habit,
and had acquired singular dexrerity in it,
of knocking down and killing flies with his
cane, to the end OF which he has fastened
piece of leather. The windows were all
on one side, and being exposed TO the morn.
ing sun OF summer, they were continually
full of hies The teachers path lay along
them, in front of his scholars and while
talking TO the latter, he struck down the
flies as they showed themselves al the win-
dow. This manRuvre amused The children
infinitely more than his instruction did, and
they followed bis example. They were in
cessantly OIL the watch for flies that buzzed
through the room, caught them in their
hands and showed as great dexteriy in this
kind OF chase as their teacher in his. But
their amusement did not end here they had
learned to play with their captives, treat them
with deiestable cruelty, and seemed to find
wicked delight in observing the shiverIDg OF
their victims.
! On observing these curious and far from
pleasing peculIariIies o: the school, the inrel>
| lIgent and humane clergyman easily ne
counted for the spirit Of desirucrivsness
among the children; and bis first step was
| 10 induce the teacher TO take his leather from
the end Of his cane; and next, 10 turn the
! desks so thai The boys sat with their backs 10
| the windows, and the teachers path lay on
| the other side Of tie room. Then the minis
ter went frequently into the school, and ex.
amined so severely, that both teacher aud pu-
L
| lion TO the flies. As this was not yet entire
| ly satisfactory in It's results, the minister
took advantage Of the hot summer weather,
TO have instruction given only ia The afternoon
when the school was not so full Of flies, aud
thus he gradually banished the insects from
the thoughts OF teacher and children. But
lie knew that IL was Of litle avail solely 10
pull ihe weed out OF the young mind. lie
obtained an unOccupied piece of land fit for
planning, and, not far from the school, laid
out school-garden.
This pleased the teacher, and the children
willingly took part in The task, for they had
soon learned TO like their new minister, who
came and worked amongst them. The gar
den was surrounded by hedge planted with
trees and shrubs, and each child had tree
or shrub given him to take care Of. A nur-
sery was soon laid out, and provisions made
for plenty Of larger gardens and orchards in
the village. And behold the spirit of des.
trucllveness among the children soon passed
away; and every mans fruit and garden he.
came safe, the youths even begging their pa
rents that trees might be planted in the fields
for them to take care of. The new spirit
was communicated from children 10 pa
rents, Till il spread throughout the entire viii
lage; every family had It's pretty little gar
den an emulation in cultivating flowers
sprang into existence idle and bad habits
disappeared and gradually the whole place
was a scene of moral as well as of physical
beauty.
This incident, the truth of which can be
vouched for, has been communicated to us
bya lady Of rank who happens to have lately
become acquainted with the circumstances
: and has thought their publicity may be ad-
vantageous. We have no doubt of the fact
that the practice Of amateur gardening is
never associated with evil, but is always 8
token of advanced tastes and correct habits
We would further say, lei every school, so faI
as it can conveniently be done, have its gar
den, so far only for purposes Of amusement,
but as an important engine of educaliou.-
Chambers Journal.