to resign themselves to so regular a life, or capacity to accomplish the task imposed upon them. He was therefore obliged to dismiss a great number, but their places were soon filled by more resigned, more devoted, and more capable persons. It was not till then, that is towards the end of the year 1681, that the institution could be considered as organized. Thus renewed, and directed by all the wisdom of the virtuous prebendary, it grew rapidly, and improved every day, so that great hopes were conceived of it. After being an object of contempt and disdain, the establishment and its founder acquired great reputation, and attracted the attention of all the cities in the kingdom. So true it is that good institutions triumph at last over the efforts of malevolence and prejudice. What a noble recompence, after such great sacrifices! What a noble recompence for the worthy founder to have several cities ask him for masters to establish schools in them! In less than two years, schools were formed, by missionaries from the original establishment, at Rethel, Guise, and Laon. Yet M. de La Salle was extremely circumspect and prudent in replying to the many demands he received. He felt how many disadvantages there would be in sending people who were unqualified; and he was very careful in the choice he made of the masters who went from the community.

Notwithstanding so much precaution and wisdom, such happy success was not obtained without obstacles and opposition; but the cause of humanity always triumphed. M. de La Salle, not satisfied with the sacrifices he had already made, wished to give his disciples an example of that humility which was so necessary in the exercise of their pious and difficult office. He parted with his prebend, sold his estate, and distributed the profits to the poor; descended to the poverty of his disciples, and joined with them in all their privations. This was but little : he laid down his authority, stooped from the rank of superior, and obliged his disciples to choose another in his stead. But it was not without great difficulty that he succeeded in making them consent to this change. All his eloquence, and even a little address were required to induce them to determine upon it. But if self love commonly employs so much art to deceive, humility is sometimes not less ingenious to attain its ends. He succeeded in his design; and brother Henri L' Heureux was chosen to fill his place.

Having descended to an inferior rank in a society whose founder and father he had been, M. de La Salle, became an

example of submission, humility, and sublime virtue. But this action drew upon him the sarcasms of the world and even of the clergy, who, shocked with the subordination of a priest in the presence of mere brethren, required him to resume his rank, which he was obliged to do, to the great joy of brother L' Heu

reux.

It was about this time, that M. de La Salle conceived the idea of establishing a seminary for children who were destined to enter into the community of the brethren. A little while after, he made a journey to Paris; and the good he was tempted to do there, drew new persecutions upon him. Having sought to introduce a little more regularity into the schools of Saint Sulpice, he became an object of hatred to their superintendent. Exposed to the most odious calumny from that suspicious man, he came near being sent back to Rheims with his brethren. But he, always undisturbed in the midst of such storms, sustained and guided by the love of goodness, succeeded in opening the eyes of the curate of this parish, and in destroying the dangerous effects of calumny. He even obtained permission to establish new schools in the parish; and this was another cause of trouble. The schoolmasters regarded

him as a man who had come to complete their ruin, and sued him at law. But his zeal and courage enabled him to rise triumphant above this unjust and shameful persecution.

Thus, till his death, he had all kinds of obstacles to struggle against, in the execution of his charitable work.

Continually employed in confirming his institution, enlightening authority, securing particular interests, opposing purity. of intention to calumny, elevation to contempt, and light to prejudice, his whole life was devoted to make sure the success of an establishment which has since had such happy results and extensive influence. We will not follow him farther in his

apostolical career. We only wished to make the principal circumstances known, which brought about the creation of an order to which society is under such obligations. All we could say upon the further progress of this religious association, would add no interest to the history of its foundation. We send those of our readers who desire to have more circumstantial details upon this subject, to the source whence we drew those we now offer them.

It was just to pay a tribute of praise to this respectable society, and to point out the name of its virtuous founder to public

gratitude. And where could this homage, rendered to the virtue and philanthropy of this hero of humanity, be more properly placed, than in a work designed to make public the labours whose design is to perfect and improve the important work of education?

ART. IV.-Education of the Female Sex.-Self Observation.

[Resumed from last No.]

If the characters of young women were formed on the christian model, if their minds were enlightened on the important subject of self control, if their piety induced habits of self examination, and religious principle imposed due restraints on the language and conduct;-in short, if they zealously and habitually sought to bring the temper and feelings into orderand proper subjection, and tasked themselves to the daily and hourly duty of acting out the beauty and symmetry of the precepts of our Saviour; even though they might not extend their views so high or so wide in search of duty as to look forward to the maternal state, and consequently might continue ignorant and prejudiced on the subject of infant education; yet the evils caused by these deficiencies would be greatly mitigated, and counteracted, if not subdued. Passion would not then, as is too often the case, impel to a revengeful infliction of chastisement, even if prejudice should persuade them that chastisement was necessary: it would be done by such persons temperately; and the pain it would give the parent, would be evident to the child, and take from it half its agony and all its anger, from the conviction that would be produced of the punishment being inflicted from a sense of duty, and not from inclination. Impatience would not induce such persons, to snatch in haste and violence from the infant, what was deemed hurtful, or too precious to be handled; nor would angry vehemence be manifested on every trivial instance of disobedience, though ignorance of the true methods of mental development might cause a failure in regularly conducting it. In a word, that gentleness, patience, forbearance, kindness, generosity, sincerity, order, and indeed every christian quality which should be inculcated by example as well as precept, being in constant exercise, half the business of infant education,

and the best half, too, would be performed without any philosophy about the matter, but merely in uniformly acting on established principles of personal duty. When we consider that infants and young children are ignorant of every thing, and that being so, they naturally believe those older than themselves, ,do always what is right and praiseworthy it follows of course, that they studiously imitate all they see done, and repeat all they hear said,-with a very, close adherence to the voice and manner, and even exciting themselves to feel the passions which accompany the actions and language they witness.

It appears evident, then, that we should say and do, and exhibit in manner, what we wish to have copied by our children, and enforce the observance of this rule, on those to whom we entrust them. And while we instruct them by direct rules and precepts, we should deepen the impression on their minds, and engrave it on their hearts, by obserying in our conduct and language, the principles we wish to give them. It is equally evident, also, that if what is done and said before the child, is always the dictate of right principles and corrected feelings, the same effects will follow, in kind, if not in degree, whether such words and actions were expressly intended for the child's good, or were the effect of habitual correctness without any reference to duty. Thus it not unfrequently happens that young mothers of very moderate capacity and limited knowledge, but naturally of a calm and gentle temperament of mind, whose passions are not easily excited, nor violent on any occasion, by virtue of this native constitution of mind are enabled to bring up their little ones, with much less trouble to themselves or their children, than is experienced by many parents of much finer intellect, and more ardent desire to conduct the education of their children in a perfect manner. This different success in family management has been very generally observed, and also that to excel in the art does not always accompany superiority of mind, or intensity of interest on the subject; and the general conclusion therefore is, that the successful management, and correct government of children, is a gift of nature, enjoyed as often by inferior as superior minds; and that if there is no genius for it,—if nature has denied the power, it is in vain to aim at it. But if those instances were critically analyzed, I am bold to say, that in every case the only genius, or special gift of nature, would be found to consist in that habitual moderation and gentleness of feeling, that inexcitability of the nerves, and steadiness of temper, which

some people are blessed with by constitution, and which always having the full use of what reason and experience is possessed, and moderating the wishes and expectations respecting children; while it tempers the conduct towards them, ensures success in the preservation of peace and good order, and in promoting domestic happiness. Though the powers of mind are circumscribed, and knowledge is not possessed on the subject, nor prejudice overcome; yet the designs of nature are not meddled with in the children; their tempers are not irritated, nor the original and individual powers of development interrupted or frustrated; and the result is delightful to the Teelings, if not entirely satisfactory to the desires, of minds of a high order. If the education of children, under such circumstances, is not all that we can wish, at least it is correct as far as it goes; and if they enjoy fine natural powers, it affords them the best chance of self improvement.

It is a mistaken notion that superior talents, or very high attainments in knowledge, are requisite to govern and instruct young children successfully and correctly. This persuasion induces many to abandon the attempt as unattainable, or to give up the object as too laborious. It is an error of timid minds which are perhaps even better endowed in other respects, than those of many who make greater pretension, and feel well qualified for the task; but whose ignorance and prejudice constantly lead them wrong.

As we see no animal in creation which is not gifted by God with the the skill necessary to rear its young, and to instruct it in all its appropriate actions; so it is believed few human beings are denied talents sufficient for the purposes of al! needful control and tuition of those helpless and devoted creatures whom providence throws into our arms for guidance and instruction, as well as for shelter and protection. Let no parent, then, be discouraged; especially let every young mother, though timid and solicitous, be enlivened by hope, and strengthened by faith, that she will succeed in her efforts for duty. Let every young woman exert her mind and awaken her zeal, however humble her talents and confined her previous education may have been, and whatever be her station in life; still let her be encouraged to a devoted study of her own character, a thorough examination of her temper, and habits of thought, and course of conduct, with a pious wish and determined prupose, of reforming all she finds wrong, confirming all that is right, not alone for her own sake, but also to prepare