Practical Education, Volume II

by Maria Edgeworth; Richard Lovell Edgeworth

S——. "A place higher than places usually are; higher than the ground."

Father. "What do you mean by the ground?"

S——. "The earth."

Father. "What shape do you think the earth is?"

S——. "Round."

Father. "Why do you think it is round?"

S——. "Because I have heard a great many people say so."

Father. "The shadow.—It is so difficult to explain to you, my dear, why we think that the earth is round, that I will not attempt it yet."

It is better, as we have often observed, to avoid all imperfect explanations, which give children confused ideas.