"Fine collection of the Old Masters here, Miss Newton," said the youth, "there is where we are to look for merit.” No answer. The young lady was admiring a landscape of Doughty, and did not seem to hear the remark.

"Now here is a Tintoret, a real Tintoret, did you ever see colouring like that before ?"

No, nor do I ever desire to again. It is too red.” The dandy shrugged his shoulders, as much as to say, "Lord help your want of taste."

"Look at this portrait by Sir Godfrey, Miss Newton, is it not beautiful? What flesh-What a noble air, fine contour of the head. The tout ensemble of the picture is re

ally wonderful."

"If you mean that portrait of a lady over the entrance, I really cannot see any thing to admire about it. To me it appears to be a stiff, awkward affair. But I am not one

of the cognoscenti," replied the girl with a smile.

The coxcomb's admiration of pictures which were marked in the catalogue as productions of the old masters, reminded me of what Fuseli calls "the frigid ecstacies of German criticism."

"Here is a landscape, now!" he proceeded, "by one of our American artists, artists forsooth, and a precious piece of painting it is. Why those trees look as if they had just been dragged out of the water and stuck up to dry. What a daub !"

"It is a beautiful thing," said Miss Newton; "to me it tells a whole story of rural felicity. But I am no connoisseur."

"You are unfortunate in not having been abroad, Miss Newton. It is only in Europe that a person can learn to appreciate paintings. I dare say, now, you admire that thing called the Lake of the Mountains,' by Doughty ?" "Indeed I do,” replied she, "I could look at it a whole day."

I wish you could spend an hour in the Florence Gallery, you would soon cease to admire these American paintings."

"I do not join in the wish. It is enough for me to admire and enjoy the beauties of a picture. I do not wish to be knowing enough to see its faults. But this "Lake," I think I should always admire, so long as nature's own scenshall gratify my eye."

ery

"There is a picture of Fisher's, too: I dare say you think he paints well?"

"That landscape seems beautiful to me."

"Indeed! why he has no more talent than ".

"You had better not speak so loud," said the old gentleman. Perhaps the artist or some of his friends may hear you. Besides, if they should not, the criticisms you utter cannot possibly do any good. They distract your cousin's attention, and disturb her enjoyment of the beautiful works of art, with which I am happy to see this collection abounds. Persons who utter criticisms here, and still more, those who publish critiques in the newspapers, frequently do a positive injury to the progress of art in our country. The younger artists read them, of course, and are almost certain to have their feelings wounded by the injustice, while their indignation is excited by the foppery and pretension of these newspaper critics. In nine times out of ten the artist is judged by a false standard; and the object he had in view is entirely mistaken by his censor. He is found fault with, for not effecting what he never aimed at, while the critic is only anxious to display a knowledge of certain technical terms and great names with which the mass of the public in this country are unacquainted. The fact is that no one is fully qualified to pronounce on the technical merits of a painting who has not made considerable progress in the art himself; and no painter, who has the feelings of a gentleman, will write newspaper criticisms on the productions of his brother artists.

"Of the effect of a painting, the public can judge without the help of critics; and the greatest service these gentry can do is, to cease their barking. The artists can then go to the gallery, compare their works with those of their brethren and predecessors; and learn a good lesson from the comparison, without the apprehension of being annoyed by impertinent remarks."

The young gentleman yawned three times during this harangue, and when it was finished, raising his eye-glass, he began to stare at the ladies who were standing and sitting in different parts of the room. There is a certain kind of puppyism which is incorrigible.

VOL. II.NO. VII.

43

F.

INFANT SCHOOLS.

SINCE last month we have visited those two which, supported by charity, are devoted to the instruction of the children of the poor in this city, and gathered some information which may be interesting to our readers.

The school kept last season in Salem Street has been removed to Atkinson Street, but is still under the care of the same instructress. There are about seventy scholars now registered as belonging to the school, though not quite that number are constant in attendance. Most of these children are under the age of four years; some mere infants, hardly exceeding twelve months. They occupy two rooms, and have the advantage of a fine yard for a play-ground; but their seats and the arrangement of their rooms did not appear sufficiently convenient. Though most are the children of very poor people, they looked clean and decently clad: the parents no doubt make exertions to keep them better clothed than they would do, were there no school. The little ones seemed happy, indeed almost too merry-more like a large nursery than a school; but as they are, in consequence of removing the school, mostly new pupils, they have not yet become accustomed to the necessary regulations. Order is an excellent thing, and it may, and should be introduced. The art of teaching these little ones consists principally in employing that restlessness, which childhood always displays, and which is usually exerted to do mischief, on objects, or in exercises that will instruct as well as amuse. If allowed to be idle, the children will certainly be annoying each other.

THE BEDFORD STREET INFANT SCHOOL. It is but little more than a year since this school, the first of the kind opened in Boston, commenced. There have been about 170 scholars registered; the present number in attendance varies from 60 to 90. The progress of these children in knowledge, (that is a better term than learning) is astonishing to those who have never watched the unfolding of the infant mind, and delightful to every one. The ord exhibited there is admirable; and the very important eet of singing in contributing to their order as well as happiness is strikingly apparent. Whenever any symptom of weariness

or inattention appears, their indefatigable instructress has only to strike the note of one of their simple songs, and instantly the little band are in full and joyous chorus, every eye brightens, every face is cheerful. We noticed this particularly when they were summoned to their seats after the recess. Children are very apt to betray, at such times, an impatience of the tasks to which they return; but these little creatures marched from their play-ground singing, apparently with the greatest delight

"We'll go to our places

"And make no wry faces,

"But say all our lessons distinctly and slow."

Perhaps it will be said this is only a lesson,-the children would not, of their own accord, return thus cheerfully. So much the better. To make duties pleasures is the greatest triumph of education. And none who witness their hearty displays of happiness will think these children counterfeit contentment.

The rooms occupied by this school are very inconvenient. They are low, badly lighted, and the windows open on a stable! The citizens of Troy have erected a building purposely for Infant Schools, and placed it under the superintendance of the ladies. When will the gentlemen of Boston imitate this beneficence? Infant Schools must not be considered solely with reference to the benefits they confer on the children of the poor. They are exerting a powerful and salutary influence on the education of all children-they will influence the destiny of men. Already their effect is seen in suggesting improvements to be introduced into our primary schools; and in the increased anxiety to promote universal education.

The ladies must be actively engaged in the great work of early education. This task devolves on them;-now only let them prove that they can use their talents and learning worthily, and there is no doubt they will be honored for possessing both.

LITERARY NOTICES.

THE LADIES' LEXICON. By William Grimshaw. Philadelphia, John Grigg. The progress of liberal opinions respecting the education of females, is evident in the increase of books and periodicals designed expressly for their benefit. Whether those gentlemen who prepare the works consult their own interest, (finding the ladies generous patrons) or whether they are really anxious the sex should improve, we cannot certainly decide-but presume the latter. So we very sincerely offer our acknowledgments to Mr. Grimshaw for the neat volume he has been at the pains to compile for the ladies. The merits which he claims for the "Ladies' Lexicon" over those now in use are, that it exhibits the plurals of all nouns not formed by the mere addition of the letters; and also the participles of verbs. From the examination we have been able to give it, we are inclined to think it will be found a very useful "parlor companion," and that it is well adapted for Academies and Ladies' Schools. We know many people dislike abridgments, and now Webster has published his voluminous work, women may not be satisfied to refer to a small volume. But this work contains more words than at first sight one would believe possible. This is managed by only giving the definition of the radical word, and then adding the derivative formations, the meaning of which are obviously deducible from their respective roots. Take one example-the word philosophy. "Philosophy, s. Desire of acquiring wisdom; knowledge natural or moral; reasoning. adj. philosophic, philosophical: s. philosopher adv. philosophically: v. philosophise: pr. part. philosophising: part. philosophised."

TRIMMER'S NATURAL HISTORY. pp. 233. MARY'S JOURNEY-A German Tale. pp. 128. Boston, S. G. Goodrich & Co. These books which we have classed together, have no similarity except that they were both designed for the young, and both issued from the same press. Mr. Goodrich is indefatigable in his exertions to furnish books for children; and to him they are indebted for some of the best executed books in the pictorial department which have been published in this country.

Trimmer's Natural History is one of this kind. The engravings, 200 in number, are very well executed; and the advantage derived from them in impressing on the mind of a child, the description accompanying each, is invalua