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ciation of ideas becomes languid, the perception of impressions becomes slower and less perfect. There exist, however, great differences in different persons with regard to the advent of these deteriorations, and it may be postponed by proper management. The intellectual faculties are dulled by want of use. As we know and can see that muscles become atrophied by want of exercise, and also that they are strengthened by being adequately used, in the same way the premature degeneration of the brain is accelerated by unemployment, and can be avoided by judicious mental occupation; and even after the decay has already made some progress in old persons the mental power is often revived, if by a sudden emergency they are obliged to resume work. We frequently see that persons retired from their profession or work, whatever it was, and who have no special interest in life, get into the habit of smoking, drinking, or sleeping too much, and decay prematurely in mind and body, while those who find occupation for themselves and otherwise continue their habits of activity in walking, writing, and reading, maintain their mental and physical energy. We must, therefore, recommend to the aged the latter course, viz., to find some work if possible for mind and body combined, such as gardening, poultry farming, and especially travelling; we must induce them to keep up an interest in their surroundings, in relatives, friends, philanthropic works, in dogs, birds, or other objects of natural history; we must make them adopt a hobby, such as forming a collection of prints, coins, minerals, plants, stamps; and if the aged person himself does not make any effort in this direction, his relatives and friends must help him by rousing him out of his indolence, by awakening an `interest in persons, in social and political matters.

There are other important subjects connected with old age which we might discuss, but we will conclude this little paper by saying that, as in the whole life, so in old age, the most powerful means of maintaining health and happiness are work and moderation.

10, Grosvenor Street,

London, W.1.

EURHYTHMICS AND the welfARE OF THE BLIND CHILD.1

By MISS MARGUERITE MEREDYLL.

MONSIEUR JAQUES-DALCROZE used to tell his pupils that it was a 'mistake to practise eurhythmic exercises before the looking-glass in order that they might correct faults of movement by sight. Eurhythmics is a science of sound and movement. Although in the case of the teacher it is the eye that judges the pupil's performance, the pupils themselves should judge the fitness of their movements by the inner sense of movement and dynamics rather than by the eye, i.e., though in eurhythmics the senses of hearing, movement and sight are each severally, or all simultaneously, able to enjoy and to judge, hearing and movement should be paramount explorers and judges. Undoubtedly the active physical realization of eurhythmic exercises gives far more joy than the mere visual contemplation.

My first object in introducing eurhythmics at the London School for the Blind at Swiss Cottage was to bring this joy to the blind and to prove to myself and to others that, though sight is a great advantage, it is not a necessity in the study of eurhythmics. I started a class at Swiss Cottage in the autumn of 1916, beginning with the youngest and least developed children. I must confess that I had not the least idea of the difficulties of the task I had set myself. At times I nearly despaired, but now I am quite convinced that the difficulties can be overcome by a patient teacher, and that eurhythmics can be taught to the blind with good results and with great benefit to their mental and physical health, awakening their sense of movement, time and form and developing their personality and power of self-expression. Ail the children with the exception of one or two boys love the work. The Dalcroze lesson is "pleasure," not irksome work, and the disappointment is great if a lesson is missed.

I wonder whether teachers generally realize the power of the eye? A teacher can control a class of sighted pupils with a glance; words are often quite unnecessary. In a blind class this power is entirely

1 The blocks illustrating this article are from "The Eurhythmics of JacquesDalcroze,” and we are indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Constable and Co., Ltd., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, W.C.2, for the loan of the same.

[graphic]

EMILE JAQUES-DALCROZE, THE FOUNDER OF THE DALCROZE SYSTEM OF EURHYTHMICS.

[graphic]

A DALCROZE PLASTIC SCENE AT THE GENEVA FESTIVAL, JULY, 1914.

[graphic]

A DALCROZE PLASTIC SCENE AT THE GENEVA FESTIVAL, JULY, 1914.

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