History should not be bare facts; it illustrates and explains politics of our own day; it teaches sympathy and large-mindedness, and the power of admiring virtues which are not of our own type.  The Royalist learns to see the strength of Cromwell, and the Roundhead to see the beauty of “the White King.”  It ought to make the world bigger to us by helping us to realize other places and other times.  If we are to live quiet stay-at-home lives afterwards, it is very important that we should try not to be narrow and “provincial,” and history and geography should help us in this matter.

Poetry in the same way helps to make us imaginative, which is necessary, if we are to have the Christian graces of tact and sympathy.  It is very important to learn the best poetry by heart; it is dull perhaps at first, but new meanings unfold themselves every time we say it.  Mr. Ruskin says we ought to read a few verses every day, as we should do with the Bible, to keep our lives from getting choked with commonplace dust, to remind us that the Ideal exists.  It certainly puts new beauty into life if we know what poets have said about it, and how they expressed themselves, and this might save us from unworthy expression.  I have heard an intelligent schoolgirl, looking at a glorious sunset, say concisely, “How awfully jolly!” I have heard a schoolboy say, “How rum!” I believe they were both touched, but I think they would have expressed themselves differently and have got more pleasure out of it if they had been taught to see, by having it reflected from poets and painters, and had known more of “the best that has been thought and said.”

There was so much I wanted to say that it is difficult to stop.  I have given only general ideas, but bear in mind—­as the main point of what I have said—­that I want you to educate yourselves, to get ready for life, and to use your lessons here to bring out those qualities which you will want afterwards in everyday life.

Now, how will such general lessons help you in after-life?

First, I want them to help you to be interested in the things you will meet with in books and newspapers and conversation; you will not hear much about some lessons, but you will about these things—­they are things that it “becomes a young woman to know.”

Then, too, I want you to leave school with introductions to all sorts of nice people in books; you will find it do you as much good as social introductions.  Schoolgirls are often “out of it” for a time, when they go home, because they had only “lesson-book” interests; I should like to begin outside interests with you.

Also, this kind of general interest makes the world seem bigger and more interesting; we get an idea of how many delightful things there are in it, and so our pleasures are increased, which is always a great advantage.  Happiness is a duty, and sensible interests are a wonderful help to it.