burden of them thrown off the shoulders of the rich
squires on those of the often ill-paid clergyman.

The education should be as simple as possible,
and taught by dictation, and by writing and
diagrams on the black board, with questions upon
every sentence of the lesson. The great
fundamental truths of religion would be soon learnt in
this way by the elder children, and then would
follow the first rules of grammar and arithmetic,
a little simple English geography, and English
history, writing, spelling, and reading. At
present, too much time is taken up with
unintelligent reading, often a mere excuse for the
schoolmaster's idleness. Against the en masse
singing I have nothing to object. Two improvements
I would, however, suggest. One is that
every child should be taught the rudiments of
drawing, and be allowed, with white chalk on the
black board, to copy the master's outlines of
houses, gates, pillars, and animals. It would
amuse the children, and give a fresh zest to the
re-continued studies, and it would be very useful
to many in after life, and render them more handy
as painters, masons, gamekeepers, or any trade
that requires an education of the eye and hand.
Drilling should be also insisted on in village
schools, if not every day, at least three times a
week. It would make the labourer smarter and
more alert, less leaden-footed, more brisk, less
torpid, and less boorish. It would render him a
better workman, and would prepare him for
military service if he should chance to become a
soldier or volunteer. Where the village is rich,
or the proprietors are liberal, bars and other
gymnastic apparatus should be provided for the
children's playground. But, above all, every
schoolmaster who really wishes to educate a wiser
and better generation, should abandon routine
lessons as much as possible, and should frequently
explain to the children the origin and uses of
common objects—as sugar, rice, pitch, or tea. Let
him tell them where each is found, where it
grows, how it grows, when it was first used, its
use and abuse. Then question the classes, and
when they do not understand, explain by rude
drawings whatever can be reduced to simple
outline. Whenever abstract ideas could be
reduced to shape and form, they should be so
reduced; by aid of the Swanpan or Chinese counting
apparatus, formed of coloured beads, strung
on wires, the dullest child would then soon
master simple addition and the first part of the
multiplication table. Knowledge cannot be made
too amusing for children, for, do what we may,
there will still remain some tough bones to pick,
even at Pipeton-cum-Tabor school.

The younger children should be drafted off into
a separate room, under charge of a pupil-teacher,
or a younger mistress. They can be taught little
but obedience, and their gambols and irrestrainable
restlessness interfere with the steadier and
older children.

The ventilation of most schoolrooms needs great
improvement, and should be so contrived as that
no valetudinarian schoolmaster could prevent its
operation, or sow the seeds of disease among the
children to save himself from what he would call
"a draught." In these days of illumination, the
young ladies of a parish could not do better than
illuminate good proverbs and wise rhymes to
hang round the schoolroom in rotation. This is
an excellent Chinese custom, for the sayings get
imprinted in the minds of the children, without
any sense of pain in the learning.

As advisers and reformers are often called
unpractical, let me, in conclusion, sum up my
Pipeton-cum-Tabor suggestions.

I contend that no man has a right to bring up
his children without education, which implies
also religion; because, by neglecting that duty, he
tends to increase the number of thieves and
other vermin of society, at once dangerous and
chargeable. It should, therefore, be compulsory
on a father to educate his children. There should
be more teachers in village schools, and more oral
teaching from objects, less learning by rote, and
less unintelligent reading. Schools should be
better ventilated, and drilling and drawing
universally taught. Writing should be taught
through drawing, the pupil copying the master's
large letters on a black board.

If Pipeton-cum-Tabor does not take these
practical hints, so much the worse for
Pipeton-cum-Tabor, and consequently for all of us: not
forgetting either the reader or myself.

          On the 25th of March will be published the commencement
                      of a New Serial Work of Fiction, entitled
                                    VERY HARD CASH.
                           By CHARLES READE, D.C.L.,
             Author of "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."
        To be continued from week to week, until completed in
                                    about eight months.

             Now ready, bound in cloth boards, price 5s. 6d.,
                                THE EIGHTH VOLUME,
        Containing from No. 177 to 200, both inclusive; and, in
            addition, SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE, being the
                   Extra Double Number for Christmas.

                  MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S READINGS.
   HANOVER SQUARE ROOMS. On Friday Evening, March 6,
                           MR. CHARLES DICKENS
                                      Will read his
                              DAVID COPPERFIELD,
                               In Six Chapters, and
            MR. BOB SAWYER'S PARTY FROM PICKWICK.
                      On Wednesday Evening, March 11, his
             NICHOLAS NICKLEBY AT MR.SQUEERS'S
                                            SCHOOL,
                                               AND
                       BOOTS AT THE HOLLY TREE INN.
                     And on Friday Evening, March 13, his
                 LITTLE DOMBEY, AND THE TRIAL FROM
                                          PICKWICK.
              Stalls, 5s. Centre Seats, 2s. Back Seats, 1s.
  Tickets to be had at Messrs. CHAPMAN and HALL'S, Publishers,
193 Piccadilly; at AUSTIN'S Ticket Office, St. James's Hall; and at
PAYNE'S Ticket Office, Hanover Square Rooms.
          Doors Open at Seven.     Commence at Eight o'clock.
                                                 THOMAS HEADLAND, Secretary.