OUR concluding subject is Education; and some attempt is made to describe its various seminaries, from that of the poor widow who pronounces the alphabet for infants, to seats whence the light of learning is shed abroad on the world. If, in this Letter, I describe the lives of literary men as embittered by much evil; if they be often disappointed, and sometimes unfitted for the world they improve; let it be considered that they are described as men who possess that great pleasure, the exercise of their own talents, and the delight which flows from their own exertions: they have joy in their pursuits, and glory in their acquirements of knowledge. Their victory over difficulties affords the most rational cause of triumph, and the attainment of new ideas leads to incalculable riches, such as gratify the glorious avarice of aspiring and comprehensive minds. Here, then, I place the reward of learning. — Our Universities produce men of the first scholastic attainments, who are heirs to large possessions, or descendants from noble families. Now, to those so favoured, talents and acquirements are, unquestionably, means of arriving at the most elevated and important situations; but these must be the lot of a few: in general, the diligence, acuteness, and perseverance of a youth at the University, have no other reward than some College honours and emoluments, which they desire to exchange, many of them, for very moderate incomes in the obscurity of some distant village: so that, in stating the reward of an ardent and powerful mind to consist principally (I might have said, entirely) in its own views, efforts, and excursions, I place it upon a sure foundation, though not one so elevated as the more ambitious aspire to. It is surely some encouragement to a studious man to reflect that, if he be disappointed, he cannot be without gratification; and that, if he gets but a very humble portion of what the world can give, he has a continual fruition of unwearying enjoyment, of which it has not power to deprive him. - Day-Schools of Schools of every Kind to be found in the Borough - The School for Infants- The School Preparatory: the Sagacity of the Mistress in foreseeing Character the lower Kind - A Master with Talents adapted to such Pupils: one of superior Qualifications - Boarding-Schools: that for young Ladies: one going first to the Governess, one finally returning Home School for Youth: Master and Teacher; various Dispositions and Capacities - The MiserBoy The Boy-Bully - Sons of Farmers: how amused -What Study will effect, examined— A College Life: one sent from his College to a Benefice; one retained there in Dignity The Advantages in either Case not considerable Where, then, the Good of a literary Life? Answered Conclusion. THE BOROUGH. LETTER XXIV. SCHOOLS. : To every class we have a School assign'd, Aided by these, and spells, and tell-tale birds, To Learning's second seats we now proceed, Where humming students gilded primers read; Or books with letters large and pictures gay, To make their reading but a kind of play – "Reading made Easy," so the titles tell; But they who read must first begin to spell: There may be profit in these arts, but still Learning is labour, call it what you will; Upon the youthful mind a heavy load, Nor must we hope to find the royal road. Some will their easy steps to science show, And some to heav'n itself their by-way know ; Ah! trust them not, - who fame or bliss would share, Must learn by labour, and must live by care. Another matron, of superior kind, For higher schools prepares the rising mind; (1) "In every village mark'd with little spire, For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are sorely shent." SHENSTONE. She early sees to what the mind will grow, Nor abler judge of infant-powers I know; (1) She sees what soon the lively will impede, And how the steadier will in turn succeed; Observes the dawn of wisdom, fancy, taste, And knows what parts will wear, and what will waste: She marks the mind too lively, and at once Long has she lived, and much she loves to trace Her former pupils, now a lordly race; Whom when she sees rich robes and furs pedeck, 'Twas but by anger he display'd a mind: A Merchant passes, (1) 66 "Yet, nursed with skill, what dazzling fruits appear! E'en now sagacious Foresight points to show A little bench of heedless bishops here, And here a chancellor in embryo, Or bard sublime, if bard may e'er be so."-SHENSTONE. |