TTE speaks of the " wretched superstition," and the
*' utter incapacity for piety " in the people. of
the Roman States.
Superstition, and the want of piety go together ;
and the combination is not peculiar to the Italians,
nor to the Roman Catholic faith.
29.
TN speaking of the education of his son, he depre-
Qates the learning by rote of hymns. " To a
happy child, hymns deploring the misery of human
life are without meaning." (And worse.) " So
likewise to a good child are those expressing self-
accusation and contrition." (He might have added,
and self-applause.)

I am quite sure, from my own experience of
children who have been allowed to learn penitential



224 NOTES FROM BOOKS,

psalms and hymns, that they think of wickedness as
a sort of thing which gives them self-importance.
30.
" /^NI-'Y what the mind takes in willingly can it
assimilate with itself, and make its own, part
of its life."

A truism of the greatest value in education ; but
who thinks of it when cramming children's minds
with all sorts of distasteful heterogeneous things P

31.
" TT7HEN reflection has become too one-sided and
too domineering over a deeply feeling heart,
it is apt to lead us into errors in our treatment of
others."

And all that foUows — ^very wise ! for the want
of this reflection leaves us stranded and wrecked
through feeling and perception merely.
32.
