"The simplest electricities are often meet to discover the most
precious."
The Amusement Gallery constitutes an interesting feature in the child's
education, and so admirable have been its results, that the opening of
the first institution of the kind--recorded, as I have said, in one of
the great pictures in my summer palace--is regarded as a memorable
event, and is celebrated by the people in a yearly festival.
In a very long gallery, attached to each college, is a collection of
instructive toys adapted to all ages and dispositions. Amongst these are
harps and other musical instruments, made on a small scale to suit the
capacity of children, materials for drawing, painting, modelling, and
sculpture; maps, in relief, of cities and other parts of our world, and
all kinds of small birds and dwarf animals. I should not omit to state
that we have living horses and deer _in miniature_: they are about the
size of an ordinary lap-dog, though in many other respects resembling
the larger species. These with their little clothes and harness are
placed in the gallery, which likewise contains fresh fruit and flowers,
indeed almost everything that can be imagined for the recreation and
enjoyment of the child.
In the Girls' Amusement Gallery there are various kinds of fancy-work,
lace-work, and basket-work. Our basket-work is very beautiful, the
baskets being elegant in form and elaborately painted. Indeed, elegance
of form and harmony of colour are studied in all the objects selected.
Boys, being trained by manly recreations, necessarily have their
Amusement Gallery separate from that of the girls, though many of the
more elegant and refined amusements are to be found in both. The girls
attend their gallery, whatever may be their age, until they leave
school. On the other hand, the boy ceases to attend when the Character
divers and Judges think his attendance no longer desirable.
At each of the stalls in the gallery is stationed an intelligent person
skilled in some particular art. Of these some play on musical
instruments, some paint or model, others give oral instruction,
according to the nature of the compartment or the wishes of the child.
There are also "Walkers," who perambulate the gallery, encouraging the
child to amuse herself with what she likes, explaining the use of
different objects, answering the young inquirer's questions, and noting
in her any particular qualities or peculiarities. The results of these
observations are drawn up in the shape of reports for the use of the
Judges.
No restraint is put upon the children when in the gallery, but they are
allowed freely to follow the bent of their own inclinations. I have
often observed some of these little creatures ardent for amusement
responding to their own predilections; others taking interest in
frivolous things; others, again, listless, and interesting themselves in
nothing. Whilst many would examine with breathless attention, others
would ask questions, more or less intelligent, of the persons at the
head of each stall.
I have seen some children with an engrossing taste for painting, music,
and sculpture, who would rush straight to their favourite pursuit,
without being diverted by anything else, and who, if they found the
desired place already taken, would show disappointment, and perhaps
refuse any other occupation. Many, on the other hand, as soon as they
entered the gallery, would simply play with the little animals and
birds, or perhaps do nothing but eat fruit till the last minute, when
the bell announced that the time allotted for recreation was ended.
Some would do nothing but talk, and, in their simplicity, would find
fault with everything, after the too frequent fashion of adults, either
imagining they could do most things better than the rest, or
depreciating pursuits which they knew were beyond their ability.
Natures of this kind, where vanity is so predominant, require the
greatest care, for the failing is difficult to eradicate and would, if
not cured, be a source of great unhappiness in after life. To prevent
such a result, generally, means are taken to refine the taste of the
patient (if I may use the word), and call out the quality most opposed
to the infirmity, viz., that of looking out for beauties instead of
defects.
I have seen a little one change her amusements several times during the
hour. When a child, particularly a girl, continues to do this during
many weeks, it is regarded as a sign that if the disposition be not
checked she will grow up a capricious woman, and a treatment is
therefore adopted to stop the growth of the infirmity. Many a girl, who
would otherwise have proved a misery to herself and to others, has, by
the precautions taken, become a reasonable and meritorious woman.
However, children of a capricious temperament, even when seemingly
cured, require constant watching during some time, since they are very
prone to return to their old inclination for incessant change.
Versatility, it should be understood, is not confounded with caprice,
the difference between them being easily detected by the Character
divers. I have seen children show a love for seven or eight different
things and go from one thing to another, not from caprice, but to
satisfy the natural yearnings of their genius. I recollect a girl, and
she was but one amongst many, whose versatility was marvellous. One day
music would occupy her, and, although untaught, she would give promise
of becoming a brilliant performer; another day she would commence
sculpture, and at once go readily to work. She first made a ball with
the plaster, and then, on the second or third attempt, she would execute
something really well. So was it with painting and other arts. This love
of variety would formerly have been called caprice, and strenuous
efforts would have been made in a wrong direction to the discouragement,
perhaps to the ruin of the pupil; but I acted on a contrary principle,
knowing, as I did, that in giving varied talents Providence intended
that they should be exercised, and that, therefore, it would not be
decorous "to care for one part of the garden, and leave the others
overgrown with weeds." The girl was treated in accordance with this
view, and taking the highest honours and position, became a very
remarkable woman.
Judges are not expected to form an estimate of the child's character
until a certain time has elapsed and the reports of the different
officers have been examined and compared. Their decisions are then
registered, to be again examined and compared with subsequent reports.
The results obtained through the medium of the Amusement Gallery greatly
aids the Character-divers and others occupied with education, in rightly
directing the child's steps. The imposition of useless tasks, fatiguing
to the children and perhaps injurious to the young intelligence, is thus
avoided.