ully
edifying manner imaginable. And although I may fail to reproduce the
exact substance of his remarks upon that highly important occasion, I
think I can at least present his theme in all its coherency of detail.
Addressing more particularly the primary department of the school, he
said:--

"As the little exercise I am about to introduce is of recent origin,
and the bright, intelligent faces of the pupils before me seem rife
with eager and expectant interest, it will be well for me, perhaps, to
offer by way of preparatory preface, a few terse words of explanation.

"The Object Lesson is designed to fill a long-felt want, and is
destined, as I think, to revolutionize, in a great degree, the
educational systems of our land.--In my belief, the Object Lesson will
supply a want which I may safely say has heretofore left the most
egregious and palpable traces of mental confusion and intellectual
inadequacies stamped, as it were, upon the gleaming reasons of the
most learned--the highest cultured, and the most eminently gifted and
promising of our professors and scientists both at home and abroad.

"Now this deficiency--if it may be so termed--plainly has a beginning;
and probing deeply with the bright, clean scalpel of experience we
discover that--'As the twig is bent the tree's inclined.' To remedy,
then, a deeply seated error which for so long has rankled at the very
root of educational progress throughout the land, many plausible, and
we must admit, many helpful theories have been introduced to allay the
painful errors resulting from the discrepancy of which we speak: but
until now, nothing that seemed wholly to eradicate the defect has been
discovered, and that, too, strange as it may seem, is, at last,
emanating, like the mighty river, from the simplest source, but
broadening and gathering in force and power as it flows along, until,
at last, its grand and mighty current sweeps on in majesty to the vast
illimitable ocean of--of--of--Success! Ahem!

"And, now, little boys and girls, that we have had by implication, a
clear and comprehensive explanation of the Object Lesson and its
mission, I trust you will give me your undivided attention while I
endeavor--in my humble way--to direct your newly acquired knowledge
through the proper channel. For instance:--

"This little object I hold in my hand--who will designate it by its
proper name? Come, now, let us see who will be the first to answer. 'A
peanut,' says the li