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Talent lay too frequently dormant and uncultivated,* or was found in that sphere the least favourable to its active exertion. Genius, neglected genius, pined in obscurity; the most valuable physical and mental powers were therefore wholly lost to society."

"You have," rejoined Saadi, "without being conscious of it, drawn a faithful picture of the existing state of Persia. I am no longer surprised at the result of moderate employment when aided by scientific machinery, and directed by intelligent and comprehensive regulation; and I even perceive that there is something analogous in the superiority of your combination, to that of a small army over an undisciplined multitude. Although you could produce by many degrees a greater quantity of articles than were formerly manufactured, still you have no motives to create a superfluity, or more than is really desirable having effected that object with ease and pleasure to yourselves, and in a very short period, you devote the remainder of your time to public embellishments, to literary and philosophical pursuits, to gymnastic exercises, music, and other recreations, When Almured dilates with enthusiastic delight

ideoque brevi collapsâ aliam alibi impensis non minoribus exstruit."-Sir Thomas More.

* "Yesterday evening the question was proposed, Why great men are so rare, and only appear at intervals? The debate on it continued a long time. Chrysophilus denied the fact, and maintained that Nature does not favour one age or country more than another. Would fame,' added he, 'ever have celebrated a Lycurgus, if he had been born a slave? or Homer, if he had lived at a time when the language of his country was not yet formed? Who can affirm, that in our time, among civilized or barbarous nations, we might not find other Homers or Lycurguses employed in the discharge of the vilest functions? Nature, ever free and ever rich in her productions, scatters minds endowed with genius over the earth, but circumstances alone can expand and perfect their powers.'"-Anacharsis.

upon the adequacy of his theories, to accomplish the happiness of mankind, it is retorted by his opponents that his scheme will destroy all motive to exertion; but your members, so far from being indolent, are the most active and cheerful race I ever beheld :you must inform me whence they derive these energies."

"Most willingly," replied Douglas. "But the moon appears obscured and a shower is coming on; let us seek shelter in this cottage, and while partaking of some refreshment I will endeavour to answer your inquiries.."

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CHAPTER IV.

"Whence also but from truth, the light of minds,
Is human fortune gladden'd with the rays
Of virtue? with the moral colours thrown
On every walk of this our social scene
Adorning for the eye of gods and men,
The passions, actions, habitudes of life,
And rendering earth like heaven."

Akenside.

UPON the terrace were three cottages eqidistant: they were conveniently furnished, with the addition of a select library and a complete collection of instruments applicable to astronomy and natural philosophy. In the principal room were sofas, chairs, and a table with a handsome gas tube rising through the centre. In a small room adjoining were dried fruit, wine, cake, and apparatus for preparing coffee. Each library was composed of books of a distinct character,-botanical, geological, and works on education and history: the cottages were thus furnished during the summer months only. Our

young Persian and his friend entered that containing the library on education: it was covered with ivy, and a profusion of wild roses was blooming in front and at the sides. Douglas took from the window a small phosphorus-box, and having obtained a light, applied it to the gas tube. He brought from the inner room some coffee, and warmed it over the gas, the strength of which could be increased or diminished at pleasure. In a few minutes they were seated together upon a sofa, enjoying their refreshing beverage.

"I cannot, observed Saadi, "but admire the ingenuity of your contrivances, and the good taste displayed in all your arrangements. Had I not already spent some days with you, I should have expressed apprehension that these cottages, unprotected would be stript of their valuable contents.'

Douglas.-"Should I ask you to assign a reason why the nobles of Persia were not addicted to theft, you would naturally observe that they could have no motive to steal, being at all times superabundantly supplied; and had not this been so, their education alone would restrain them. Already you have expressed surprise at the overflowing abundance of our stores, and borne testimony to our superior mode of education;-are not the inhabitants of these communities deprived of every motive to steal equally with your nobles?"

Saadi. "I freely admit it. But now for the motives that are deemed so difficult to sustain ; those which prompt to action for the general good. How you contrive to extirpate that formidable obstacle, self-interest?"

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Douglas.-"So far from extirpating self-interest, which would perhaps be impossible, the constitution of our societies is built upon that principle. It is

true that mutual co-operation gives it a direction widely different from that which it receives from individual competition: for under the latter, each member seeks his own gratification, regardless, and generally at the expense, of others. In our community, self-interest prompts me to promote the health, the activity, the good habits, intelligence, and happiness of all my fellow citizens,—and why? "1st, The pleasures of sympathy are thereby enjoyed and considerably heightened.

"2nd, The more generally the qualities I have enumerated prevail,the more will order and good conduct in all the departments occasion less exertion to be required from each individual.

"3rd, As I feel conscious that both the body and mind require exercise for the preservation of health, and as my early associations and acquired habits are connected with utility, I am influenced by the union of powerful motives to an active promotion of the general welfare.

"4th, As I am desirous of amiable and intelligent companions, I am deeply interested in

the improvement of the rising generation. Parents must be doubly anxious that other children should partake, equally with their own, the benefits of instruction; since they would mutually assist each other, and the characters of their children might be deteriorated by intercourse with inferior minds."

Saadi." There is an important principle of education which in Persia is deemed indispensable, but I do not find it adopted in your colleges;-I mean that of emulation, or an ambition to excel others.."

Douglas.-"Your remark reminds me of a manu

script volume in this library, in which a youth of our community, about ten years since, inserted all the valuable principles of education that he could find in the works composed prior to the introduction of the co-operative system and it is curious to observe how long each principle was recognized as true before it was reduced to practice. In this vo

lume are some admirable remarks by St. Pierre, upon the principle of emulation, which I will read to you, as conveying our own opinions upon that subject.

"Emulation, we are told, is a stimulant; for this reason precisely it ought to be reprobated. Men without art and without artifice, leave strong spices to those whose taste is weakened: present not to the children of your country any aliments but such as are gentle and simple, like themselves and like you. The fever must not be thrown into their blood, in order to make it circulate: permit it to flow in its natural course; nature has made sufficient provision to this effect at an age of such restlessness and activity. The disquietude of adolescence, the passions of youth, the anxieties of manhood, will one day excite an inflammation but too violent to admit of being cooled by all your efforts. "Emulation fills the whole career of life with solicitude, uneasiness, and vain desires; and when old age has slackened all our movements, it continues to stimulate us by unprofitable regret.

"Had I any occasion in infancy to surpass my companions in drinking, in eating, in walking, in order to find pleasure in these? Wherefore should it be necessary for me to learn to outstrip them in my studies, in order to acquire a relish for learning? Have I not acquired the faculty of speaking and of reasoning without emulation? Are not the functions of the soul as natural and as agreeable as those of the body? If they sadden our children, it is the fault of our mode of education, and not that of science. It is not from want of appetite on their part. Behold what imitators they are of every thing which they see done, and of every thing which they hear said! Do you wish then to attract children to your exercises; act as nature does in recommending hers; draw them with words of love.

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