Pot-pourri from a Surrey garden

I remember a boy who was once foolishly talked to by his mother for not being so clever or so industrious as the little A.'s, some neighbour's children. The boy instantly answered, ' But, mother, are you and father the least like Mr. and Mrs. A. ? ' There is a good deal in the answer; the first essential is to be ourselves, our best selves certainly, but no imitation of others, and never wishing to be so as regards our children. Even when we strive to be original, we often only end in being affected. Mr. Euskin says : * That virtue of originality that men strive after is not newness, as they vainly think (there is nothing new) ; it is only genuineness/ Every form of training has its merits and its defects, both in the present and the future. On looking back myself, I can honestly say that what was least usual, least conventional, and most criticised by others is what I regret the least in the education of my own sons. To continue what I have to say about little girls ; the moment they are what doctors call delicate — that is to say, have any constitutional or hereditary weakness — still more, if there is any organic disease — no sacrifice on the Y2 324 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN part of parents is, to my mind, too great, and no neglect of education is to be thought of compared to improving the child's state of health. Nothing is so likely to do that as high country air or sea air for a great part of the year. Girls may grow up healthy and strong, though they live in London nearly all the year round, but it is un- doubtedly a risk which should never slip out of the mother's mind, especially if the remaining in London is associated with any selfish purposes of her own, either as regards pleasure or expense. In France the teaching of Rousseau still unconsciously influences society, and fashionable doctors insist on delicate children being sent right away into the country, to lead almost peasants' lives. This plan I never can feel is kind or even wise, though it ensures the advantages of no excitement, country air, and liberty to run in and out — so necessary an element in child-life. But it rather resembles turning thin-skinned stable-horses, with their tails cut, into a green field full of sunshine and flies. Delicately born and nurtured children must suffer from the rough life. In England, on the contrary, I think we often sacri- fice our girls' good to the selfish pleasure of keeping them with us, making the girls' education the excuse. Broadly speaking, it is far better for a woman to be strong, healthy, intelligent, observant, and, above all, adaptable to the changes and chances of this mortal life, than that she should be well educated. Intelligence is no doubt inborn, a gift that belongs to no class; bad health may injure it, but no higher education will ever give it to those who are without it, nor will it ever make what I consider the ideal woman. The longer I live, the more I believe that a woman's education, if she has not to learn some special trade, should be awakening and yet superficial, teaching her to stand alone and yet not destroying her adaptability for a DAUGHTERS 325 woman's highest vocation, if she can get it — which is. of course, marriage and motherhood.