374 THE DISCOVERY OF THE CHILD
But above all he tastes the supreme pleasures associated v/ith
the inward order which he has evolved through victories leading
to the right goal.
In the course of the long preparation the child experiences
joy, excitement and contentment, which form the intimate treasure
of his mind, a treasure which is a fount of a special sweetness, a
strength which will prove to be a source of goodness. The child
has not only learnt to move about and to carry out useful opera-
tions, but he possesses a special grace of movement which makes
his gestures more correct and beautiful and shows itself in beauty
of the hand, the face and the calm shining eyes—the whole a
revelation of the inward life which has been born in a man.
That the co-ordinated movements developing little by little-
spontaneously, that is, which are chosen and directed during the
active and the resting periods by the child himself, are the equivalent
of the inferior efforts belonging to the irregular movements which
the child practices when left to himself, is easy to understand.
Rest for the muscles, which are intended by nature to move, is
found in orderly movement, just as rest for the lungs is represented
by the normal rhythm of respiration in the open air. Just as the
movements of the lungs aim at respiration, so the movements of
the child are connected with the intelligence and the consciousness
in course of development.
To deprive the muscles of all movement is to drive them in
opposition to right motor impulses, and therefore not only tires-
them out but leads to their degeneration.
It is well to make clear to ourselves the idea that the rest of
anything which moves resides in a definite form of motion acting
in accord with the ruling of nature. To move in a proper manner,,
in obedience to the hidden decrees of life—that is rest. And in
this special case, since man is intelligent, the movements are the
more restful, the more intelligent they are. The effort made by
the child who is jumping about aimlessly and without restraint is
wearing out nerves and heart, whereas the intelligent movement
which gives the child inward Satisfaction, almost inward pride in