RUSKIN

saying he had made a stupid mistake in writing to you, thinking of another friend, who first named Mr Liefchild to me and who is interested in his obtaining the commission for the Shakespeare memorial at Melbourne. Indeed those are difficult questions which you are putting to yourself about your little son's education - Have you Mrs Sherwood's 'Henry Milner'. It is a book which if children will at all take to it, is I think wholly good for them. It seems to me impossible to decide on general systems, or successions of teaching; the disposition of the child must decide everything as you see things affect him & turn out for him. This only I should think your parental care might ensure:- that he should be prevented from thinking much about himself or from contending with others; but should get into the early habit of learning however little, that little with absolute accuracy, and putting to some helpful use, as soon as he could - what he learned. If I had a son, I would make him use his arithmetic as soon as he has learned it – in keeping accounts for somebody; his chemistry in ascertaining the nature of substances – the commonest first. He should know good sugar from bad as well as a grocer; and be able to pronounce on flour and butter like baker or cook. His natural history should be learned in the fields, the poultry yard, the furshop and so on: and the one aim before him should be to make himself true and useful; not to be thought clever, nor take prizes, nor get on in the world. I think no system will do him much harm, if your influence is always clear & simple. No system on the other hand, will be of much use, if it alone be trusted to. I hardly ever write letters no; nor have I experience enough to make it in this case a matter of regret that I have got into this negative habit. I send this chiefly to with you a Happy New Year..., 4 sides 8vo., no place, no date, circa