Page:The Great Didactic of John Amos Comenius (1896).pdf/94

 to jest with a subject so sacred as education, we might almost suspect that the following was intended to be humorous:—

“This demonstration,” says Mathematicus, referring to Archimedes’ calculation dealing with the sand on the sea-shore, “is very accurate. But I am unwilling to waste time.”

“Marvellous, marvellous!” breaks in Numeriano, evidently afraid that Mathematicus may think better of it, and enter on a long discourse. “Let us proceed to addition.”

The plays occupy 100 folio pages, and are dismal stuff. If the audiences were as delighted with them as Comenius assures us they were, they must have been easily satisfied.

Of more interest are the hints as to their production, by which they are preceded.

Great care is to be taken that all the boys are present at the performances (attendentibus decurionibus ne quis absit). The actors are to be praised, if they acquit themselves successfully, and any of the poorer students who are among them may be presented with a prize of books. Finally, he adds, evidently mindful of reluctance on the part of all concerned, it will be a great stimulus if the actors and their masters are invited to supper after the play.

Of the Patak publications it only remains to mention the little tract On Manners, and the Laws of a well-ordered School.

These are both so full of interest that we greatly regret that lack of space prevents our giving them in full. Comenius, in this respect in accord with William of Wykeham, was evidently a great stickler for good manners. “He who excels in learning, but lacks manners, is deficient rather than proficient,” he writes at the head of his precepts. These treat of dress, of how to stand and how to walk, of speech, of manners toward the master and toward school-fellows, of behaviour in school, in church, at table, and in the playground. The following are some of the rules for behaviour at meals.