POETRY AND SCHOOLS. 211

Carl. May I ask, sir, how it happens that schools
occupy so large a place in the poets ?

Dr. Newman. We have only dipped into the poets
yet, Adler; this is but a taste. In regard to your
question, however, many reasons might be given. The
value and importance, and the universality of schools, is
one. Almost all educated persons, as poets generally
are, went to school in their youth. The recollections
of schoolboy days are among the greenest spots in the
retrospect of memory. Add to this, that hundreds of
literary men and women have been themselves in-
structors. This is remarkably the case in America.
All which goes to dignify the occupation of the
teacher.

Carl. Perhaps the seclusion and quiet of a rural
school-life tends to foster poetic musings. Am I right,
sir 4

Dr. Newman, You are not without some ground for
your conjecture, my young friend. But you probably
reason from your own temper and experience. Ah! is
it so? You blush, Adler. I must insist on your
confession.

Mrs. Smith. I shall have to turn informer. I have
in my basket two morsels of German poetry by our
young friend, written at his school-desk.

Adler. And one of them, I am forced to say; has
been translated by Mary. :

Dr. Smith. Mary is fairly caught; and as some of