separating and classifying, heaps of miscellaneous blocks,
bearing the names of the sciences and the key-words belonging thereto.
They are silent, absorbed, contented, thoroughly interested and happy.
So intense is the interest displayed, that after the fourth or fifth
game, every child can correctly classify the blocks, by quickly placing
them in the groups to which they belong. They rapidly learn to call the
name at sight, which is printed on any block they may happen to pick up.
Those who have not learned to read by playing word-building games with
the alphabet blocks, only need to have an unfamiliar name, repeated to
them three or four times by the director, and it is fixed. Size, shape
and color of block, with length of name and shape of its letters, soon
serves to make the little ones, perfect masters of the most difficult
names.

These children have learned the value of time. They have learned to
appreciate the joyousness of useful amusement. They have no desire to
clog their minds, with the untruthful trash of fairy tales and Mother
Goose stories, which played such an important part in nineteenth century
methods. They no longer need such silly things, as a source of
amusement. They seem to realize, that they only have mind-room, for the
truthful, the useful and the practical.

The value and significance of figures, is taught by the game of forming
the pyramid. On badges of broad, blue ribbon, are printed large gold
figures, from one to ten. Inside the oval, in the center of the large
room, ten rows of seats are arranged: with one seat in the first, and
ten in the last row. That is, one seat is added to each succeeding row.

At the commencement of the game, when number one is called by the
director, the little boy or girl, who is decorated with the badge
bearing that number, takes the first seat, which forms the apex of the
pyramid. The two children who wear number two badges; when called take
seats in the second row. Observing this order, the calling is continued
until the seats are filled, and the pyramid of fifty-five children is
complete.

The director, having taken a position a short distance in front of the
apex of the pyramid, proceeds to call the children to their feet.
Calling by number, commencing with the tens, the rows rise in
succession, from the base to the apex. Each row is called upon to
perform some part of a short series of graceful gymnastics. Then, the
whole group in unison. Later, these e