(2.) Truths must not only be taught to the pupils, but they must be fixed, and made familiar. This is a point which seems to be very generally overlooked.
"Can you say the Multiplication Table?" said a teacher, to a boy, who was standing before him, in his class.
"Yes sir."
"Well, I should like to have you say the line beginning nine times one."
The boy repeated it slowly, but correctly.
"Now I should like to have you try again, and I will, at the same time, say another line, to see if I can put you out."
The boy looked surprised. The idea of his teacher's trying to perplex and embarrass him, was entirely new.
"You must not be afraid," said the teacher; "you will undoubtedly not succeed in getting through, but you will not be to blame for the failure. I only try it, as a sort of intellectual experiment."
The boy accordingly began again, but was soon completely confused by the teacher's accompaniment; he stopped in the middle of his line saying,
"I could say it, only you put me out."