o pieces. Every toy should be a mine of discovery. The only
good toys that I know of are Meccano and Primus, but there is much need
for constructive toys for younger children.

"Mac," I said, "if you were even a passably good husband you would be
making Montessori apparatus for your offspring."

We have many arguments like this. Mrs. Mac's problem is that of a
million mothers; she has to fit the child into an adult environment.
Yesterday she was painting in oils. The baker whistled outside and she
ran out to get the bread. On her return she found that Helen was
busily painting the pink wall-paper a prussian blue.

Wealthy mothers solve the problem by employing nurses, but the solution
is a poor one. Few nurses know enough about children, and many do
positive harm by frightening the child. Nor can the hired nurse give
the infinite amount of love that a child demands. If she could it is
probable that she would be sacked, for no mother likes to see her child
lavish his love on another. On more than one occasion I have
discovered that the parents of children who loved me were hostile to
me. That is natural. If a father is continually hearing his daughter
say: "Mr. Neill says this; Mr. Neill says that," I have every sympathy
with him when he growls: "Damn this Neill blighter!" On the other hand
I have no sympathy with him if he expects me to ask his little Ada how
her dear charming papa is.

* * * * *

A book of ten volumes might well be written on the subject of parents
and teachers. If a teacher were the author no publisher would look at
it, for the language would be unprintable.

To the teacher the parent is an enemy. When Mrs. Brown comes to school
she and the dominie chat pleasantly about the weather, while the
children look on and marvel. Little Willie is amazed to see his mother
smile as she talks, for it was only last night that he heard her say:
"That Mr. Smith is by no means a gentleman. Did you see his nails?"
Poor little Willie does not know that his mother and the dominie are
using fair smiles to cover a real hostility. Mrs. Brown will talk
agreeably all through her visit, but as she is shaking hands on the
doorstep she will say, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Smith, Willie came home
last night saying that he wasn't allowed to play hockey yesterday. I
want him to play every Wednesday."

"But," says Mr. Smith deferentially, "I--er--well, Wednesday is the day
when the Seni