A common mistake.-Emulation.-Perplexity. in the pursuit of knowledge ever after the living teacher has closed his labors. The higher principles of our nature being aroused with difficulty, are too apt to be neglected by the teacher, and thus they remain in their original feebleness; while he contents himself with appealing to our lower characteristics,-thus doing a lasting injury by unduly cultivating and strengthening them, at the same time that he awakens after all but a temporary interest. In view of the importance of the subject, and the difficulty of judging aright upon it, I shall make no apology for devoting a few pages to the consideration of SECTION I.-INCENTIVES TO STUDY-EMULATION. THE teacher will find in a greater or less degree, in the mind of every child, the principle of EMULATION. It is a question very much debated of late, What shall he do with it? Much has been said and written on this question, and the ablest minds, both of past ages and the present, have given us their conclusions respecting it; and it often increases the perplexity of the young teacher to find the widest difference of opinion on this subject among men upon whom in other things he would confidingly rely for guidance. Why, asks he, why is this? Is there no such thing as truth in this matter? or have these men misunderstood each other? When they have written with so much ability and so much earnestness,-some zealously recommending Experimenting. Its evil consequences. emulation as a safe and desirable principle to be encouraged in the young, and others as warmly demuncing it as altogether unworthy and improper,have they been thinking of the same thing? Thus perplexed with conflicting opinions, he is thrown back upon his own reflection for a decision; or what is more comnon, he endeavors to find the truth by experimenting upon his pupils. He tries one course for one term, and a different one the next; repeats both during the third, and stil finds himself unsettled as he commences the fourth. Meantime some of his experiments have wrought out a lasing injury upon the minds of his pupils; for, if every teacher must settle every doubt by new experiments upon his classes, the progress that is made in the science and art of teaching must be at the untold expense of tach new set of children;-just as if the young doctor could take nothing as settled by the experience of his predecessors, but must try over again for himself the effect of all the various medical agents, in order to decide whether arsenic does corrode the stomach and produce death,—whether cantharides can be best applied inwardly or outwardly,-whether mercury is most salutary when administered in ounces or grains, or whether repletion or abstinence is preferable in a fever! When such is the course of a young practitioner in a community, who does not confidently expect the churchyard soon to become the most populous district, and the sexton to be the most thrifty personage in the village, unless indeed he too should become the subject of experiment? Two senses.-Define the terms.-The good sense. But is there not a good sense and a bad se associated with the term Emulation;-and have these eager disputants fallen into the same error, this matter, that the two knights committed, when th immolated each other in a contest about the questi whether a shield was gold or silver, when each h seen but one side of it? I incline to the opinion th this is the case,-and that those who wax so warm this contest, would do well to give us at the outset careful definition of the term EMULATION, as the intend to use it. This would perhaps save themselve a great deal of toil, and their readers a great deal of perplexity. Now it seems to me the truth on this question lies within a nutshell. 1. If emulation means a desire for improvement, progress, growth,-an ardent wish to rise above one's present condition or attainments,or even an aspiration to attain to eminence in the school or in the world, it is a laudable motive. This is self-emulation. It presses the individual on to surpass himself. It compares his present condition with what he would be-with what he ought to be; and "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those which are before, he presses towards the mark for the prize." "An ardor kindled by the praiseworthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal, or even excel them, without the desire of depressing them," is the sense in which The bad sense.-Characteristics.-Ambition. the apostle uses the term [Romans xi. 14] when he says: "If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them." If this be the meaning of emulation, it is every way a worthy principle to be appealed to in school. This principle exists to a greater or less extent in the mind of every child, and may very safely be strengthened by being called by the teacher into lively exercise; provided always, that the eminence is sought from a desire to be useful, and not from a desire of selfglorification. 2. But if emulation, on the other hand, means a desire of surpassing others, for the sake of surpassing them ; if it be a disposition that will cause an individual to be as well satisfied with the highest place, whether he has risen above his fellows by his intrinsic well-doing, or they have fallen below him by their neglect; if it puts him in such a relation to others that their failures will be as gratifying to him as his own success; if it be a principle that prompts the secret wish in the child that others may miss their lessons, in order to give him an opportunity to gain applause by a contrast with their abasement, then, without doubt it is an unworthy and unholy principle, and should never be encouraged or appealed to by the teacher. It has no similitude to that spirit which prompts a man to "love his neighbor as himself." It has none of that generosity which rejoices in the success of others. Carried out in after-life, it becomes ambition, such as fired the breast of a Napoleon, who sought a throne for him -- The two views of emulation compared. self, though he waded through the blood of millions to obtain it. It is to this principle that the apostle, before quoted, alludes, when he classes emulation with the "works of the flesh," which are these: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, EMULATION, wrath, strife, seditions, &c.,—of the which things, I tell you before, as I have told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." It is of this principle that the commentator, Scott, remarks:-" This thirst for human applause has caused more horrible violations of the law of love, and done more to desolate the earth, than even the grossest sensuality ever did." Thus Emulation is a term which indicates a very good or a very bad thing, according to the definition we give it. In one view of it, the warmest aspirings to rise are consistent with a generous wish that others may rise also. It is even compatible with a heartfelt satisfaction in its possessor, at the progress of others, though they should outstrip him in his upward course. It is the spirit which actuates all true Christians, as they wend their way heavenward, rejoicing the more as they find the way is thronged with those who hope to gain an immortal crown. In the other view of it, we see men actuated by selfishness mingled with pride, inquiring, in the spirit of those mentioned in scripture, "Who among us shall be the greatest?" "We everywhere see men violating these sacred injunctions of divine wisdom: "Let no man |