EDUCATION 
431 
irritates children more than the arbitrary "because I say so." 
Nobody knows why the alphabet has the order which we 
know; it is quite senseless. One could construct a much more 
rational order: e.g. the Mother, the Single and the Double 
letters, all in the natural order of the elements, planets and 
signs. Again, we have the "Missionary" Alphabet, arranged 
"scientifically" as Gutturals, modified ditto, Dentals, Labials, 
vowels and so on ; a most repulsive concoction! But I would 
not accept any emendation from the God Thoth himself; it is 
infinitely simpler to stick to the familiar order. But explain 
to the child that this is only for convenience, like the rule of 
the road; indeed, like almost any rules! 
But when your teaching is of the disputable kind, explain 
that too; encourage him to question, to demand a reason and 
to disagree. Get him to fence with you; sharpen his wits by 
dialectic; lure him into thinking for himself. I want tricks 
which will show the the advantages of a given subject of 
study ; make him pester you to teach him. We did this most 
successfully at the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu; let me give 
you an instance: reading. One of us would take the children 
shopping and bring up the subject of ice-cream. Where, oh 
where could we get some? 
Presently one would exclaim and point to a placard and 
say, "I really do believe there'll be some there"-and lo! it 
was so. Then they would wonder how one knew, and one 
would say: Why, there's "Helados" printed on that piece of 
card in the window. They would want to learn to read at 
once. We would discourage them, saying what hard work it 
was, and how much crying it cost, at the same time giving 
another demonstration of the advantages. They would insist, 
and we should yield-to active, eager children, not to dullards 
that hated the idea of "lessons." 
So with pretty well 
everything; we first excited the child's will in the desired 
direction. 
But (you ask) are there any special branches of learning 
which you regard as essential for all?