Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-06-03
LETTER OF REV. DIR. LORD.

80 large as that OF Bonn or Halle, and my
time did not permit me to become conyersant
with its system Of study. | find Germany
has a system of public education more perfect
than exists ia any other European country.
In fact no other country has any system Of
universal public instruction. The system
which prevails here provides By law for the
education of children to the age Of thirteen
years Children Of both sexes can thus OBJ
tain the rudiments of an education, aud can
do but little more than learn to read and
write, aud secure mathematics enough for the
ordinary business of life At this point the
provision for the instruction Of girls ceases,
and their education is completed so far as the
public school is concerned 1t must be con.
tinued, if at all, under private teachers and
| learn that such instruction is very defective.
But boys eau pursue a course of instruction
in the trade schools, IN order to acquire
knowledge fitting them for the practical ayo-
cations Of life or, if deemed competent, may
be trained for the university aud the profess
sions The universities are well endowed, and
furnish instruction at small cost to the stu
dent. | think that the tendency of the Ger
man education is decidedly to free thinking
There is no despotism Of public sentiment here
to prevent or to punish the most liberal thought
and discussion The reaction of Romanism in
this country is Rationalsm, the admitted free
dom of thought on all subjects, without any pre-
judice to the thinker There are no watchers
for hcresy here.
The New England or American system of
education is far more complete and extensive
than this 1t carries the scholar much furth-
er, and it provides as well for the instruction
Of girls as Of boys in the highest grades. In
these two respects we are greatly in advance
Of any other country. And so long as our
/ political integrity must rest upon the diffusion
Of knowledge and virtue, our system Is the
only one compatible with the safety and
/ growth of our institutions. The great differ
ence which exists between our country and
these old world countries, and the great adj
vantage which We have over them is not in
wealth, or splendor Of the arts aud magnf-
ccnco of external civilization nor in the cul-
/ turc and learning Of the educated classes nor
/ in the universities and schools Of science ;
not in the decorations and equipage Of life
but it is in the general elevation of our peo-
pie; in the higher level to which our system
Of religion and education has brought the
mass Of minds. What we lose in the one way
We gain in another. Nor is it % doubtful
gain. Every where in Europe we see what
we never see at home the lower classes-
iotrer, in every sense Of the word, depressed
morally, socially politically. The fields are
full of women engaged in all the outdoor
drudgery Of life. In the rural communities
the people live together in herds like their
own cattle, with but little regard for the ordi-
nary decenccs of life The agricultural pop
ulation of Europe, so far as | car Judge, can
hardly be better off than were our slaves.
The mark of servitude to caste, TO their con-
dtion, is fixed indelibly upon their faces.
There is no hope of their elevation, but in ex-
patriation to some more favored region. The
middle classes will compare well with the
same classes in our country. The higher
classes are more corrupt
There is one noticeable popularity in Eu-
ropean countries. The government is omni-
present and omui-actve We can hardly
move but in the channels which il directs.
Every trade is hedged in by law Every
business of life is controlled by il. There is
no freedom to change ones calling. There is
but one way in which to 90 into all trades,
I professions, callings, industries, schools, uni
versities, picture galleries and depots. There
/ is but one way out of them all. Over every
thing in life government writes its ingresSo" "
and its ,lscita." This is the way in, and
this is the way out And soldiers and officials
stand at every door to see that you 20 in the
way. As the engineer on the Baden road
said to me, We have great freedom of
| thought here, but no freedom of action. Gov
ernment controls the whole course of mans
| life"
Yesterday | was desrous of little fishing
in one of the beautiful trout streams which
runs through the Black Forest We took a
carriage over TO the Mork, about six miles,
where we were assured that / could find per-
mission to fish, rod and lines and fine fishing
ground. Full Of the excitement of the gentle
sport, | hastened to the scene Of expected
pleasure and victory. | brayed all the jcsts
of my companions, who laughed at the idea of
Yankees catching German trout, and finally
reached the III Dorado Of my hopes. But,
alas the proprietor must send to town to get
me permission, aud when | should have got
it could only fish certain very small dis
tance, and must pay ten francs for the doubt
full sport, and fish with fly and pole that
could not throw fly any more than David
oo"'u Sea, u oau' ar'nol' 20 uo sPJp. nas
Ip' p, anu sutnou % alseonSou.e ,h o~. p'IN ~'ue"
pu' oo"i.nS INV" 'ne n'ou","i"' "a" gen-
s'e',"n nsnns " WV s'r1a 1 "ian iI -, as.et, e
uau' carrying sooonp Pole' Ju",Peu rom
fisherman is not friend of all others of the
gentle craft,) and by signs and happily chosen
words made known my wishes. BY that free
% mason" ""'Sn SaAaa sA's,' r'"o's a'l ,osess VI ..
.lou'' nS . u"us's,vGu SS,, 10y 3"'s.,on' wy
9 1gne, anu mus u'riIu'' 81 an, Wy "Sru
nc gI'o me auo Po'o ol nls as.e"u'n. iur,
,isheu llo We'n me- ro"' @ n,s J"' pgoA, a ari
w,'a wTIns rms ',o'S h'S o"% pU"o" '%u on',eu ,
lhe .ne 'rooS 20 "sn H. "SS IA AZ ~, 'as5 ~ nl
eienen,; "au ior an nou' wv e no' urs'rus'
my aDillty 10 prlhg some OF my hhhy rlenus