The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-12-15


the educational processes Learning to recognize
printed words and to spell, getting the multiplied
ton table and doing fractions and the square root
are all very we'll and very necessary and as mat
ter of course. These text books are excellent
teachers Rules and definitions and exercises have
their proper place, and schoomasters must look
well 10 thoroughness of drill in these things. But
they are not all. Much of souldevelopment-and
that is what education is-comes otherwise Much
of it cannot be set down in the book, nor used as
means of class drill.
The avenues to the soul are not all through Ian
guage Harsh sounds affect the conscious human
being more than harsh words, gentle sounds than
gentle words. The atmosphere OF vice is worse
lnan the witnessing of a crime Moral precepts
fall upon listess while a righteous life
awakens the life that it touches to better things
All this is commonplace enough and the only won
der is that it finds little place practically in the
education of our children. l could well wish for
my child, as a part of his souldevelopment-tha
is his education-that he might stand In the pres
ence of the worlds masterpieces OF sculpture.
would not care particularly to explain to him the
history of the sculptors the statuary ITSELF nor
to discourse to him on the rise and decline of the
art I would rather wish the silent power OF the
truth and beauty there portrayed to fall upon him
as the dew from heaven. I would not doubt for
an instant the transformation OF his soul under
such an influence. Or let it be similarly the edu
cational value of the masters in painting or the
power of noble and truthful architecture to edu-
cate or, soul-compelling music. These educational
agencies in the realm of art are all too taruily be-
ing recognized such.
But what has all this to do with the Inland EN-
pire Horticultural Association or the Spokane
Floral Society? This. One side of your work has
a broader and higher significance than the COM
mercial one and more permanent effect than the
immediate object of your activities, as nave sa1d
The educational purposes of your organization are
not the least important. If music, and painting
and statuary, and architecture are educational
agencies of high value, much more flowers and
plants for to the beauty and grace and proportion
of those you have added the significance and the
mystery of the life of these. Teachers dwell much
on the value of the geometrical forms IN element
airy work. and the primary colOrs, as for example
in the kindergarten gifts. Similarly, the forms
and coors and life movements and transforma
lions of plant life elementary in fitting the
mind to comprehend and manipulate nature. am
not now speaking of the value of nature study
part of the school curriculum but of the educa
tiona effect in the home and upon the community
of plants and flowers, green lawns and gay borders
and masses of foliage parks and landscapes ana
forests. The advent of pretty blossoms on the
dining table is an era in the history of a house
hold just as the discovery of America by Column
bus, or the Declaration of Independence an era in
American history. little BOY, in the public
schools said to my brother, then a little boy be-
side him. describing the family Thanksgiving din
nsr 1--WE had chicken and pumpkin pie and-and-
bread on two plates" That family had arrived at
the era of bread upon two plates, but had not yet
arrived at the era of dining with satisfaction upon
a beautiful bouquet. Kindly people send flowers
to the sick in hospital and tenement. But the
well need it as much. A man and woman whom L
knew had the windows of their fine house filled
with plants the blossoms all turned to the win