children and other tender creatures; consequently they ought to be nourished on it. As soon, however, as they can be withdrawn from milk, let them have food of a similar nature, duly tempered, bread, butter, pottage, pot herbs, water, and avery light ale; thus they will grow like plants by the running stream, only indulging them in duly regulated sleep, frequent playful amusements, bodily movements, and, above all, commending their health and safety in pious prayers to God.
16. Hence the Spartans,[1] once the wisest of mortals, surpassed all the nations of the earth in paying special attention to the education of their youth. It was strictly provided by the public statutes that none of their youth should be allowed to taste wine before their twentieth year. Since wine was thus strictly denied to their youth, what, I pray, should we say respecting that maddening drink, recently discovered to the ruin of the human race, namely, wine and brandy, with which both old and young are equally burnt up? It is time, truly, that we learn to be cautious, lest we corrupt and destroy our children.
17. In other respects, also, the health of children should be most carefully watched, since their little bodies are weak, their bones soft, their veins infirm, and none of their members as yet mature and perfect. Consequently, they need prudent circumspection as to the manner in which they should be taken in the hand, lifted up, carried, set down, wrapped up, or laid in the cradle, lest through any imprudence they be injured by falling down, or striking against any thing, whereby they may lose sight or hearing, or become lame or maimed.[2]
- ↑ For accounts of Spartan education Mahaffy’s Old Greek Education (N. Y., 1882), Davidson’s Aristotle and the Ancient Educational Ideals (N. Y., 1802), and Compayré’s History of Pedagogy (Boston, 1886).
- ↑ “To be in good health,” says M. Compayré, the distinguished French writer on education, “to be vigorous and robust, to be skillful
