the carpenter may be
frequently seen using the saw and hammer in either hand, and
thereby not only resting his arm, but greatly facilitating
his work. In all the fine arts the mastery of both hands is
advantageous. The sculptor, the carver, the draughtsman, the
engraver, the cameo-cutter, each has recourse at times to the
left hand for special manipulative dexterity; the pianist
depends little less on the left hand than on the right; and
as for the organist, with the numerous pedals and stops of
the modern grand organ, a quadrumanous musician would still
find reason to envy the ampler scope which a Briareus could
command."--Dr. Daniel Wilson, _Left-Handedness. A Hint for
Educators_.

Abuse of Eighth Gift.

No materials of the kindergarten (save the beans, lentils, etc., which
serve to represent the point) have been so over-used and so abused as
the sticks. When no other work was prepared for the children, when
helpers were few, and it was desirable to give something which needed
no supervision, when inexperienced students were to take charge of
classes, when the kindergartner was weary and wanted a quiet moment to
rest, when everybody was in a hurry, when the weather was very cold,
or oppressively warm, when there was a torrent of rain, or had been a
long drought, the sticks were hastily brought forth from the closet
and as hastily thrust upon the children. These small sufferers, being
thus provided with work-materials in which it was obvious that
superior grown people took no interest, immediately lost interest
themselves. In riotous kindergartens the sticks were broken, poked
into pockets, and thrown on the floor; in the orderly ones they were
gazed at apathetically, no one deeming it worth while to stir a hand
to arrange them, save under pressure. Sticks had been presented so
often and in so tiresome a manner that they produced a kind of mental
atrophy in the child,--they were arresting his development instead of
forwarding it.

Such an abuse of material is entirely unnecessary in the kindergarten,
where so many ways are provided of presenting the same truths in all
sorts of different and charming guises. It is unnecessary and most
unfortunate, for it has frequently thrown undeserved contempt on an
innocent and attractive gift, which, when properly treated, is one of
the most pleasing and useful which Froebel has bequeathed to us.

READINGS FOR THE STUDENT.