cision, and that, consequently, I ought not to have
reversed it, as I did, afterwards?"

"Yes sir;" "yes sir;" they replied.

"Do you suppose it would be safe to leave the decision of important
questions to the scholars in this school?"

"Yes sir;" "No sir." The majority were, however, in the affirmative.

Thus far, only those who were standing, had answered. I told them, that
as they were divided in opinion, they might sit, and I would put the
question to the whole school.

"You know," I continued, addressing the whole, "what sort of persons the
girls, who compose this school are. You know about how many are
governed, habitually, by steady principle, and how many by impulse and
feeling. You know too, what proportion have judgment and foresight
necessary to consider and decide independently, such questions as
continually arise in the management of a school. Now suppose I should
resign the school into your own hands, as to its management, and only
come in to give instruction to the classes, leaving all general control
of its arrangements with you; would it go on safely or not?"

As might have been foreseen, there was, when the question was fairly
proposed, scarcely a solitary vote in favor of government by scholars.
They seemed to see clearly the absurdity of such a scheme.

"Besides," I continued, "the Trustees of this school have committed it
to my charge; they hold me responsible; the public hold me responsible,
not you. Now if I should surrender it into your hands, and you, from any
cause, should manage the trust unfaithfully, or unskilfully, I should
necessarily be held accountable. I could never shift the responsibility
upon you. Now it plainly is not just or right, that one party should
hold the power, and another be held accountable for its exercise. It is
clear, therefore, in every view of the subject, that I should retain the
management of this school in my own hands. Are you not satisfied that it
is?"

The scholars universally answered, "Yes sir." They seemed satisfied; and
doubtless were.

It was then stated to them, that the object in asking them to vote, was,
in some cases, to obtain an expression of their opinion or their wishes,
in order to help _me_ decide; and only in those cases where it was
expressly stated, did I mean to give the final decision to them.

Still, however, if cases are often referred to them, the feeling will
gradually creep in, that the school is managed on republican princi