SCHOOL-CHAT IN PLAY-HOURS, 195

on all these things; but he says the other way is
obsolete ; that it turns the boys into parrots, and that
the grand object is to understand, and not.to remember,

Adler. He would be a better philosopher if his.
maxim was, “to understand AND to remember.” Our
Creator has given us memory as well as understanding,
and we are to cultivate both.

Gregory. Mr. Poole says, that boys who learn other
people’s words get nothing but words; and that they
fill their heads with what they do not understand.

Adler, It is true of some, just as it is true that some
people have gilt frames without any pictures in them;
but why not have both ?

Gregory. I think I know boys who have only the
frames,

Adler, But the frames may contain pictures. And
if you have both frames and pictures, your frames help
to keep your pictures. So, if you retain the very
words, they help to keep the thoughts.

Gregory. What use is there in remembering the very
words ?

Adler. It is not. always desirable, but sometimes it
is highly so. In the first place, if you change the
words, you generally change the thoughts, Thus you
may recall to your mind something quite different
from what you have learned.

Gregory. I have observed this in the texts of the
propositions in Euclid.