ly, in the juvenile stage, as economically as the small
part of it now taught imperfectly on recruiting or in the adult stage;
and that, for teaching the drill, the services of retired
drill-sergeants and naval as well as military officers and pensioners
may be had economically in every part of the country."

It seems that in these English schools the military training is not
confined to the boys. "The girls go through the same exercises, with the
exception that they do not use the musket, but supply its place with a
cane." As to the age required, the "infantile and juvenile stages"
appear to be dated back tolerably near the cradle. Mr. William Baker,
drill-master at St. Olave's Grammar School, testifies as follows:--"From
his own experience in drilling children, he would say that they might be
taught to work and practise motions at from five to six years of age;
that they may be taught the sword drill at eight years of age; that they
may be taught the rifle drill at about ten years of age. He finds that
they can handle a light rifle very well at that age. He expects that a
prize, given for the best rifle drill, will be gained by a boy of that
age against older boys. If there were a proper place, with space, he
could practise them in firing at from thirteen to fourteen years of
age."

The most favorable results are stated to follow, in regard to school
discipline, among these English boys. Such, for instance, is the
testimony of Mr. William Smith, Superintendent of the Surrey District
School.

"'You have had experience of the effect of the military drill on the
mental and bodily training of young children in this establishment?'

"'Yes; but the effect of the military drill was most shown by the effect
of its discontinuance.'

"'In what way was it shown?'

"'In 1857, the drill-master was dismissed by the guardians, with a view
of reducing the expenditure. The immediate effect of the discontinuance
of the drill was to make the school quite another place. I am sure that
within six months we lost about two hundred pounds, in the extra wear
and tear of clothing, torn and damaged in mischievous acts and wild
plays, in the breakage of utensils from mischief, and damage done to the
different buildings, the breakage of windows, the pulling up of
gratings, and the spoiling of walls. A spirit of insubordination
prevailed amongst the boys during the whole of the time of the cessation
of the drill. In the workshop they were i