Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12

VI ] Tits lakes and the white snow of it's noun tains were saturated with the blood oi | innocent victims. Hearing of the ex- Itfefpe misery of the people in the Canton | Nieewalden, Pestalozzfs soul was | stirred; his heart went out towards the | poof orphans that wandered about, with | outishelter, without refugei At once he made an offer to the government to go to Stantz and there gather the poor, un- fortpnate waifs, to care for them, to in- struct them. His work at Stantz is the most beautiful chapter in this great mans life. He gathered the fatherless and motherless around him; united them by means of the great love he bore them; made the school happy home. The task he had undertaken was a difficult one; his seh-sacrifcing spirit his devotion to the cause. his enthusiasm alone made it possible. He lived among his pupils like father; in fact. he was to them Father Pestalozzi;' no labor was too great. He reioiccd with them and sorrowed with them. He studied and played with them. In short, he was at once to them father, mother, teacher. friend.
 He began his educational work by in- educating into their minds the necessity of cleanliness and order His instruc- ton was based entirely upon the child' s own observation. He made the idea pre- cede the word, the number the figure.
 Though he was successful in his teach ing, had gained the love and confidence of his pupils, he was, through adverse circumstances, again doomed to disap- pointment. He was forced to give up his school, but did not lose hope nor faith. His experience had proved to him that his method was good. and he did not despair. For time the scene of his &C., tivity was at Burgdorf. to which place belongs also the honor of having first recognized the efforts and work of this fott ft,In Tv, hf at dorf he was extremely successful. Some friends and admirers had associated themselves with him and assisted him in his teachings. For some reason he was compelled to vacate the building occupied at Burgdorf and moved his school at Yverdene, at the extremity of the lake of Neufchautel Here, amid the most beautiful surroundings, assisted by few ardent friends and earnest disci- ples, he founded the Institution, whose fame attracted students, philosophers and crowned heads from all Europe The relation of pupils and teachers in his school was ideal.
 Men, young and old, of all nationalities and religions, crowded around him to benefit by his instruction, or to study his system. He tried to combine physical with intellectual education. The infiu- ence of music he considered invaluable in the schoolroom, and induced Naeg- geli, one of his associates, to arrange a systematic course of music for the school room, Even now we are singing some of these songs arranged for the pupils at Yyerdene in our schools They are per vaded by high feeling of patriotism and high, lofty moral sentiment.
 His school was for a time in flourish ing condition. Still owing to its cos mopolitan composition, difficulties pre- scented themselves; weaknesses became noticeable. Gradually it degenerated. Envy among his teachers-his own weak ness-hastened the decline. His heart ached, and he wrote to a friend: Tt seemed to me as if the closing of the in- stitution was the closing of my life." n He lived for a while In retirement at Neuhof among the family of his grand sond The angel of death called him after a most eventful useful life, on the 27th of February, 1S27 He was buried at Birr. in font of the old school house. Later the School house was rebuilt, with an in scription to the deceased, a most fitting monhment to this great teacher. His last; works were Events of My Life" and3'The Song of the Dying Swan"
 PeStalozzi had hfs faults and weak nesses; yet considering the great love he bore the children of men, his noble work, his devotion to the sacred cause, his pro- found reverence and humility, do these faults not disappear? We only remem- aber -the tender. affectionate father, the benevolence of the man, the champion of the poor and oppressed, the benefactor of humanity.
 BERTHA H. GELDERS