a new view of society-第10节
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food； how to arrange their dwellings with neatness； and to keep them always clean and in order； but； what was of infinitely more importance； they had not been instructed how to train their children to form them into valuable members of the community； or to know that principles existed； which； when properly applied to practice from infancy； would ensure from man to man； without chance of failure； a just； open； sincere； and benevolent conduct。 It was in this stage of the progress of improvement； that it became necessary to form arrangements for surrounding them with circumstances which should gradually prepare the individuals to receive and firmly retain those domestic and social acquirements and habits。 For this purpose a building； which may be termed the 'new institution'； was erected in the centre of the establishment； with an enclosed area before it。 The area is intended for a playground for the children of the villagers； from the time they can walk alone until they enter the school。 It must be evident to those who have been in the practice of observing children with attention； that much of good or evil is taught to or acquired by a child at a very early period of its life； that much of temper or disposition is correctly or incorrectly formed before he attains his second； year' and that many durable impressions are made at the termination of the first twelve or even six months of his existence。 The children； therefore； of the uninstructed and ill…instructed； suffer material injury in the formation of their characters during these and the subsequent years of childhood and of youth。 It was to prevent； or as much as possible to counteract； these primary evils； to which the poor and working classes are exposed when infants； that the area became part of the New Institution。 Into this playground the children are to be received as soon as they can freely walk alone； to be superintended by persons instructed to take charge of them。 As the happiness of man chiefly； if not altogether； depends on his own sentiments and habits； as well as those of the individuals around him； and as any sentiments and habits may be given to all infants； it becomes of primary importance that those alone should be given to them which can contribute to their happiness。 Each child； therefore； on his entrance into the playground； is to be told in language which he can understand； that 'he is never to injure his playfellows； but that； on the contrary； he is to contribute all in his power to make them happy。。 This simple precept； when comprehended in all its bearings； and the habits which will arise from its early adoption into practice； if no counteracting principle be forced uPon the young mind； will effectually supersede all the errors which have hitherto kept the world in ignorance and misery。 So simple a precept； too； will be easily taught； and as easily acquired； for the chief employment of the superintendents will be to prevent any deviation from it in practice。 The older children； when they shall have experienced the endless advantages from acting on this principle； will； by their example； soon enforce the practice of it on the young strangers： and the happiness； which the little groups will enjoy from this rational conduct； will ensure its speedy and general and willing adoption。 The habit also which they will acquire at this early period of life by continually acting on the principle； will fix it firmly； it will become easy and familiar to them； or； as it is often termed； natural。 Thus； by merely attending to the evidence of our senses respecting human nature； and disregarding the wild； inconsistent； and absurd theories in which man has been hitherto trained in all parts of the earth； we shall accomplish with ease and certainty the supposed Herculean labour of forming a rational character in man； and that； too； chiefly before the child commences the ordinary course of education。 The character thus early formed will be as durable as it will be advantageous to the individual and to the community。 for by the constitution of our nature； when once the mind fully understands that which is true； the impression of that truth cannot be erased except by mental disease or death； while error must be relinquished at every period of life； whenever it can be made manifest to the mind in which it has been received。 This part of the arrangement； therefore； will effect the following purposes： The child will be removed； so far as is at present practicable； from the erroneous treatment of the yet untrained and untaught parents。 The parents will be relieved from the loss of time and from the care and anxiety which are now occasioned by attendance on their children from the period when they can go alone to that at which they enter the school。 The child will be placed in a situation of safety； where； with its future schoolfellows and companions； it will acquire the best habits and principles； while at mealtimes and at night it will return to the caresses of its parents； and the affections of each are likely to be increased by the separation。 The area is also to be a place of meeting for the children from five to ten years of age； previous to and after school…hours； and to serve for a drill…ground； the object of which will be hereafter explained； and a shade will be formed； under which in stormy weather the children may retire for shelter。 These are the important purposes to which a playground attached to a school may be applied。 Those who have derived a knowledge of human nature from observation know that man in every situation requires relaxation from his constant and regular occupations； whatever they be： and that if he shall not be provided with or permitted to enjoy innocent and uninjurious amusements； he must and will partake of those which he can obtain； to give him temporary relief from his exertions； although the means of gaining that relief should be most pernicious。 For man； irrationally instructed； is ever influenced far more by immediate feelings than by remote considerations。 Those； then； who desire to give mankind the character which it would be for the happiness of all that they should possess； will not fail to make careful provision for their amusement and recreation。 The Sabbath was originally so intended。 It was instituted to be a day of universal enjoyment and happiness to the human race。 It is frequently made； however； from the opposite extremes of error； either a day of superstitious gloom and tyranny over the mind； or of the most destructive intemperance and licentiousness。 The one of these has been the cause of the other； the latter the certain and natural consequence of the former。 Relieve the human mind from useless and superstitious restraints； train it on those principles which facts； ascertained from the first knowledge of time to this day； demonstrate to be the only principles which are true； and intemperance and licentiousness will not exist； for such conduct in itself is neither the immediate nor the future interest of man； and he is ever governed by one or other of these considerations； according to the habits which have been given to him from infancy。 The Sabbath； in many parts of Scotland； is not a day of innocent and cheerful recreation to the labouring man； nor can those who are confined all the week to sedentary occupations； freely partake； without censure； of the air and exercise to which nature invites them； and which their health demands。 The errors of the times of superstition and bigotry still hold some sway； and compel those who wish to preserve a regard to their respectability in society； to an overstrained demeanour； and this demeanour sometimes degenerates into hypocrisy； and is often the cause of great inconsistency。 It is destructive of every open； honest； generous； and manly feeling。 It disgusts many； and drives them to the opposite extreme。 It is sometimes the cause of insanity。 It is founded on ignorance； and defeats its own object。 While erroneous customs prevail in any country； it would evince an ignorance of human nature in any individual to offend against them； until he has convinced the community of their error。 To counteract； in some degree； the inconvenience which arose from the misapplication of the Sabbath； it became necessary to introduce on the other days of the week some innocent amusement and recreation for those whose labours were unceasing； and in winter almost uniform。 In summer； the inhabitants of the village of New Lanark have their gardens and potato grounds to cultivate； they have walks laid out to give them health and the habit of being gratified with the ever…changing scenes of nature … for those scenes afford not only the most economical； but also the most innocent pleasures which man can enjoy； and all men may be easily trained to enjoy them。 In winter the community are deprived of these healthy occupations and amusements； they are employed ten hours and three…quarters every day in the week； except Sunday； and generally every individual continues during that time at the same work： and experience has shown that the average health and spirits of the community are several degrees lower in winter than in summer； and this in part may be f
