method, which remains the same throughout, not teach-
ing, in the ordinary sense, but leading ithe children! to
learn — exciting their, interest till ithey wish to observe,
compare, and note results for themselves ; when some
new thing is to be learnt,, so arranging the lesson that
it shall bring thefact to view in such a manner as will,
lead the child .to observe it himself. It: thus becomes
his- owns discovery, and precious to him henceforth as
nothing merely committed to. his memory will ever be.
Thechild is placed by the teacher in such a relation to
external objects, that he naturally questions them ; he
goes through the process of selfreducation, but is saved
from the mistakes; of the self-educated by walking un-
consciously in the groove .carefully prepared for him.
It is evident that with the addition of circles and
other curved lines, the variety of symmetrical figures
that can be constructed is immensely increased. It is
impossible without; plates to give any idea of what that
variety really is, and what the beauty of , the ; designs
produced by the simple juxtaposition and interlacing of
curves. When we look at some of the<plates in such a
work as Mde. Delon's, and learn, that the patterns given
were the independent invention of .little children under
eight years:of :age,iwe gain a truer idea than we other-
wise could do of the extent to which this system de-
velopes the sense of beauty, and the feeling of harmony
and. symmetry as essential; to -beauty; .and this is not



20 frobel's gifts [sec. III.
