Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-06

look he turns lrom the slate to the one
with which lie has been scratching it.'.-
Hc secs that they are not exactly alike,
and he marks the difference. No dam
ger of his calling the latter slate. lie
called them both stones, but he is now
learning that there is difference be-
tween stones; and he eagerly inquiries
"what stone is this, as no holds up the
Little sctaicher. "Quariz," is perhaps
the reply. The next day, as the chill |
drcn come from the brook, Mary has
her opron full Of slates," and John has
his pocket, filed with "Guarz;' but his
specimens Of quartz are any thing which
is not slate. Now hcahas 10 learn that
there are other kinds of stone besides
these two. But we must stop or we
will make mineralogisi Of John be.
fore we get him 10 school. Aud so we
might with the same ease, make him
and his little sister bo'anists. 1t is re-
ally dcligh,ful to see with what interest
quite small children will pursue these
and kindred studies, ami what rapid ad.
vancement they will make in them
They readily become familiar with what
is addressed to the eye, ana remember
names with great facility.
3. Another argument in favor Of
these studies, is their usefulness. They
are well calculated 10 develope the
mind; their moral influence is undoubt.
ely sa!ut,ry, and the knowledge they
AFFORD is highly valuable.
This knowledge is important to per.
. So If all callngs--to none more so
thar the cultiva,ors of the soil, who
constitute the great mass OF those bcno.
fitted by the common schools. They
are cminenlly useful also in furnishing
10 ell an unfailng source of rational
:, enjoyment. HIc who can read in,clli
:. gently the hook of nature will alway,
find its pages full Of inviting truths
Here the pleasant and the useful ar
most happily blended. Let the you'll
of our Ian acquire a relish for scien
- tfc stu lies, and there would be ia
H. less demand for sickly romance. Les
!. leisure time would be spent in Crivoli
to and dissipation. Communion with ma
!. rurc wouhl be preferred 10 ,ri1ng COS
-, sin. Manly ,houaht and action wouI
:" often be substituted for ideness an
Nv rcvcry.
y. The mos' common objections to tn
n. Introduction Of these studies into con
:, mon schools, by those who have give
l.. attention TO the subject, is the want {
'o suitable text books, AMI teachers qua
'c' fed. to give instruction in them. ~
u. the demand be made, anl teachers wi
,il uualiry themselves; and, If QualIhc'
10 text books wouli hardly be needed.
49,. used, it should always be as far as po
~ siblc in connection with natural spec
- mems. Every neighbcrhood furn,s es
! a sufficient variety of plants for elcme'
tary stu ly of botany. The same is tfu
~. though not to the same extent, Of mi
-, erals; and when they cannot be conv
e' , nion,y collected, they can be oblain
The by exchange, OF at a trilling expense
t." Small school cabinets, containg most
is the common minerals, can be purcha
II. ell at from one to five doIlars.
. Iimpy be objected by some, that Il
general stu uly Of the natural sciences
the common schools would favor the tie
his dencv to materalism, which is at pre-
ro. cnt so widely mani(estug itself The
~, is force in this objection, for much
~" the matcrialism Of the present age
md undoubtedly to be attributed to t
OBJ. engrossing attention which has be
cAy given to physical science. This, ho
Ter. ever, mi sht be prevented by mo
~. truthful, and therefore more scentll
'"' mode of instruction than has usua
5eS' been adopted. Let the young sludt
the of nature learn to recognize in the pre-
M pcrlies, relations, aud laws Of natu
objects, the exhibitions of wisdom a
skill which everywhere abound.
ned him understand early The relation
he second causes to the center and sou
re. oral causation-,ho great First eau
verv Let all nature be to him. as il is in Ia
~ a text book on Natural Theology. w
~ ~ God has joined together, let him not
lei' taught to put assunder by stu lying mai
sees ont of i,s relation to mind; and thou
will studies will perhaps, be more likely
..oo. preserve the mind from the cxirel
upon which it is always more or
w, "e' exposed.
l. niat and ninrsier Oh The Gent