6 APRIL 1929, Page 18

EDUCATION.

Education is, in fact, as it is commonly conducted, the .art of exhibition—a branch of the art -of -catching. - This is as regards the feniale sex ; in the case of boys- it is 'really less intelligible, more objectless.- - What is it that the highly-educated can do- either for themselves of others ? . The girls can indeed generally. play -upon a harp or a pianovery, indifferently in nine cases out of ten, And not at all unless a very large sum is expended Upon therfarchitse of an instrument, the interest of Which the Funds would- bring in 'five pounds a year. They are supposed to learn French ; we never met with ,one of these boarding-achool French scholars who could support a conversation in the language fOr five minutes. They draw'; is there olio WhO could-take a portrait of a tree Or altamlet, or more than one in a hundred 7 - And is not every one of these accomplishments, that have post some money, abandoned as .soon as the accomplished person is married ? The bait it consumed when the animal is caught. Then come scandal, dress; gossiping; slattern- lineas, extravagance, waste, ill4emper, and misery. It is somewhat different with men, who, if they learn nothing at school, are generally put to some profession, or trade ; and though they have learned nothing before, are obliged to learn something at laid. The gentle- men, however—the numerous` class • of individuals who live upon the income of their property—rarely learn -anything at all except the art of venery. .The skill and dexterity with which many practice this art only proves- the steady hand and eye they could have applied to other pursuits, far more calculated to produce happiness— more constant, more pure and elevating sources of nleasure.