herland(她乡)-第31节
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environment calculated to allow the richest； freest growth； they had
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deliberately remodeled and improved the whole state。
I do not mean in the least that they stopped at that； any more
than a child stops at childhood。 The most impressive part of their whole
culture beyond this perfect system of child…rearing was the range of
interests and associations open to them all； for life。 But in the field of
literature I was most struck； at first； by the child…motive。
They had the same gradation of simple repetitive verse and story
that we are familiar with； and the most exquisite； imaginative tales； but
where； with us； these are the dribbled remnants of ancient folk myths and
primitive lullabies； theirs were the exquisite work of great artists； not only
simple and unfailing in appeal to the child…mind； but TRUE； true to the
living world about them。
To sit in one of their nurseries for a day was to change one's
views forever as to babyhood。 The youngest ones； rosy fatlings in their
mothers' arms； or sleeping lightly in the flower…sweet air； seemed natural
enough； save that they never cried。 I never heard a child cry in Herland；
save once or twice at a bad fall； and then people ran to help； as we would
at a scream of agony from a grown person。
Each mother had her year of glory； the time to love and learn；
living closely with her child； nursing it proudly； often for two years or
more。 This perhaps was one reason for their wonderful vigor。
But after the baby…year the mother was not so constantly in
attendance； unless； indeed； her work was among the little ones。 She was
never far off； however； and her attitude toward the co…mothers； whose
proud child…service was direct and continuous； was lovely to see。
As for the babiesa group of those naked darlings playing on
short velvet grass； clean…swept； or rugs as soft； or in shallow pools of
bright water； tumbling over with bubbling joyous baby laughter it was a
view of infant happiness such as I had never dreamed。
The babies were reared in the warmer part of the country； and
gradually acclimated to the cooler heights as they grew older。
Sturdy children of ten and twelve played in the snow as joyfully
as ours do； there were continuous excursions of them； from one part of the
land to another； so that to each child the whole country might be home。
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It was all theirs； waiting for them to learn； to love； to use； to
serve； as our own little boys plan to be 〃a big soldier；〃 or 〃a cowboy；〃 or
whatever pleases their fancy； and our little girls plan for the kind of home
they mean to have； or how many children； these planned； freely and gaily
with much happy chattering； of what they would do for the country when
they were grown。
It was the eager happiness of the children and young people
which first made me see the folly of that common notion of ours that if
life was smooth and happy； people would not enjoy it。
As I studied these youngsters； vigorous； joyous； eager little
creatures； and their voracious appetite for life； it shook my previous ideas
so thoroughly that they have never been re…established。 The steady level of
good health gave them all that natural stimulus we used to call 〃animal
spirits〃an odd contradiction in terms。 They found themselves in an
immediate environment which was agreeable and interesting； and before
them stretched the years of learning and discovery； the fascinating； endless
process of education。
As I looked into these methods and compared them with our
own； my strange uncomfortable sense of race…humility grew apace。
Ellador could not understand my astonishment。 She explained
things kindly and sweetly； but with some amazement that they needed
explaining； and with sudden questions as to how we did it that left me
meeker than ever。
I betook myself to Somel one day； carefully not taking Ellador。 I
did not mind seeming foolish to Somelshe was used to it。
〃I want a chapter of explanation；〃 I told her。 〃You know my
stupidities by heart； and I do not want to show them to Ellador she thinks
me so wise！〃
She smiled delightedly。 〃It is beautiful to see；〃 she told me；
〃this new wonderful love between you。 The whole country is interested；
you knowhow can we help it！〃
I had not thought of that。 We say： 〃All the world loves a
lover；〃 but to have a couple of million people watching one's courtship
and that a difficult onewas rather embarrassing。
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〃Tell me about your theory of education；〃 I said。 〃Make it
short and easy。 And； to show you what puzzles me； I'll tell you that in
our theory great stress is laid on the forced exertion of the child's mind； we
think it is good for him to overcome obstacles。〃
〃Of course it is；〃 she unexpectedly agreed。 〃All our children
do thatthey love to。〃
That puzzled me again。 If they loved to do it； how could it be
educational？
〃Our theory is this；〃 she went on carefully。 〃Here is a young
human being。 The mind is as natural a thing as the body； a thing that
grows； a thing to use and enjoy。 We seek to nourish； to stimulate； to
exercise the mind of a child as we do the body。 There are the two main
divisions in educationyou have those of course？the things it is
necessary to know； and the things it is necessary to do。〃
〃To do？ Mental exercises； you mean？〃
〃Yes。 Our general plan is this： In the matter of feeding the
mind； of furnishing information； we use our best powers to meet the
natural appetite of a healthy young brain； not to overfeed it； to provide
such amount and variety of impressions as seem most welcome to each
child。 That is the easiest part。 The other division is in arranging a
properly graduated series of exercises which will best develop each mind；
the common faculties we all have； and most carefully； the especial
faculties some of us have。 You do this also； do you not？〃
〃In a way；〃 I said rather lamely。 〃We have not so subtle and
highly developed a system as you； not approaching it； but tell me more。 As
to the informationhow do you manage？ It appears that all of you know
pretty much everythingis that right？〃
This she laughingly disclaimed。 〃By no means。 We are； as
you soon found out； extremely limited in knowledge。 I wish you could
realize what a ferment the country is in over the new things you have told
us； the passionate eagerness among thousands of us to go to your country
and learnlearnlearn！ But what we do know is readily divisible into
common knowledge and special knowledge。 The common knowledge
we have long since learned to feed into the minds of our little ones with no
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waste of time or strength； the special knowledge is open to all； as they
desire it。 Some of us specialize in one line only。 But most take up
several some for their regular work； some to grow with。〃
〃To grow with？〃
〃Yes。 When one settles too close in one kind of work there is a
tendency to atrophy in the disused portions of the brain。 We like to keep
on learning； always。〃
〃What
