(f) FIGURES. Let one of the pupils assume a pose or perform some simple act, such as walking or running across the floor; catching or tossing a ball; pouring water from one vessel into another; dusting or sweeping. Require the other pupils to observe and then make quick memory sketches, using simple, straight lines as shown on page 535, or drawing in mass. The line drawings are made with a pencil, but the mass drawings can be made either in pencil or charcoal or in one tone of water color. It must be expected that these sketches will be rough and crude, but they will teach close observation and cause the children to work in a larger and more direct way that will be exceedingly helpful to them later. Moreover, the children enjoy these exercises, and once sufficient interest is aroused they will not hesitate to attempt to make a sketch. Later they can draw more accurately from a fixed pose.

(g) ILLUSTRATION OF STORIES, VERSES, ETC. Drawing from imagination should form a large part of the pupil's work. In object-drawing the work is done with the actual subject present to aid the children. In drawing from imagination, the little artist draws in accordance with the image he himself pictures, relying upon memory for size, shape, color, etc. That both methods of drawing should be practiced is evident, for the object-drawing perfects the imaginary, and the imaginary drawing causes closer observation of the object. In illustrating or drawing from imagination, the pupil may combine objects in new relations, new positions or new environments, but he relies upon his memory of the actual things seen at one time or another. Objectdrawing teaches form, size, color and construction; imaginative drawing develops the child's ingenuity and power of expression.

As an illustration of what may be expected from children, a few pictures are given exactly as they were made by

them except that the pictures have been reduced in size about one-half. This reduction has made the lines a little more vivid, but has not destroyed the character of the work. The three children who have contributed their drawings have been in school and have had some little instruction in drawing, though no

one is beyond the third grade. The natural taste of each shows conspicuously.

Allison was asked to draw a picture-anything he wanted to draw-and the result is the engine, tender and car. His father was an inventer and Allison's tastes, like those of many boys, run toward mechanical objects. It is fair to say that Allison lives. not far from the railroad and sees many trains every day. The smoke has attracted

his attention, and he has made it a notable feature of his drawing.

When the same request was made of Wyatt, he drew this head, rather skillfully blocking it in. It is evident that Wyatt is a different boy and interested in different things. Both boys express themselves. It would be unfair to criticize the drawings from the same point of view, or to discourage either by comparing his work with that of the other.

WYATT'S DRAWING

Harry was given that portion of Hiawatha which begins with the following words:

"Then the little Hiawatha

Learned of every bird its language.”

He was asked to make four pictures to illustrate the story. He had not read the story previously, nor did he have any instruction in the drawing, except as noted. His first draw

ing, which is not reproduced because of its similarity to others, illustrated the lines:

"But he heeded not, nor heard them;

For his thoughts were with the red deer;
On their tracks his eyes were fastened,
Leading downward to the river,

To the ford across the river."

It will be seen that Harry has some idea of perspective. He was very much interested in the tracks of the deer.

His third picture was for the lines:

"Then, upon one knee uprising

Hiawatha aimed an arrow."

These three pictures are bird's-eye views and the trees are the shade trees of a city street, far apart, with rounded tops like the maples he has always seen.

After he had

T

HARRY'S THIRD PICTURE

drawn the third, he was told that in the woods the trees were very close together and that a person on the ground would see very little excepting the trunks of the trees. he drew his fourth picture to illustrate the lines:

"But the heart of Hiawatha

Throbbed and shouted and exulted,
As he bore the red deer homeward,
And Iagoo and Nokomis

Hailed his coming with applauses."

A few topics and verses suitable for illustration are given on page 560.