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vented weariness, were properly secured, and the most astonishing progress made, both in facility and beauty of writing. Many persons can write well by slow care, but few are at once both rapid, easy, and legible in their penmanship. That kind of chirography is of little worth which is not for everyday use, and careful imitations of copperplate certainly

are not.

After this brisk exercise, the girls were usually wide awake, and in good humor, instead of being overcome with ennui.

fine its force to that sphere of action, nor become incapable immediately upon leaving it. It has been developed to true proportions; it is distorted by no clogs of bad habit, and it has within itself the principle of growth.

Instead of being productive of good results, many schools now force upon the scholar frivolity of pursuit, and inertia of mind and body. Such schools should be carefully avoided if children are to be allowed a fair chance for healthful development, mentally and physically.

The latter subject is a very important one, I can only glance at it. Vigor of body, of course, increases vigor of mind, and vice versa. I do not say that fatness of body increases vigor of mind, nor that irritability and excit

There is another thing which must be pursued daily- Arithmetic; and there is none which can be used for such severe discipline of the mind. Colburn's first book was prepared by a profound philosopher; and she who has properly gone through with it, ac-ability of mind increase vigor of body. I cording to the plan of the author, must have mean that the health of one helps the health a readier, stronger head in consequence. But of the other. how shamefully is this book abused! - the pupil often being allowed to recite with it in her hands—thus losing the benefit of the strict command of attention which it means

to demand.

But how is a poor child to attain to health of either, shut up as she is from exercise and sunlight nearly all day long? Not taught the proper way to study, she wastes hours on a task requiring but a few minutes' deep attention. And she is incapacitated from giving that attention by habits of idleness, and by general debility of purpose and nerve. Moreover, at the Barnacle school she has only learned "How not to do it."

And there are substituted for it numberless books of "Arithmetic made Easy!" as if the object was to get so much ciphering accomplished in a life-time, so many sums done before leaving school - sums which will be rubbed from the mind as quickly and as utterly The way in which children's lessons are as they are from the slate! Teachers (and pa- learned nowadays is exceedingly unfair to rents) lose sight of the real object, viz: to parents, who sustain at home all the annoystrengthen and exercise that mind, until it ance of forcing them to give up their play becomes clear, prompt, efficient in thought hours to study with an unwilling spirit, and and action, to solve all of life's hard problem. in a most improper manner. Those who are A little child trained to Attention, Associa-most anxious for their daughters' improvetion, and Retention, can, with half the usual ment, have actually all the trouble of teaching time, fatigue, and trouble bestowed upon its lessons, become strikingly efficient in study, and of course simultaneously active and shrewd in every-day affairs. For exercised duties, and I wonder that parents submit to strength and vigor in school, it does not con- it.

themselves, and the privilege of paying the schoolmaster for hearing a perfect recitation at his ease! This is an unnatural transfer of

courses and pursuits you would tremble to see them entering. They would always be guided rather by good sense and good nature, than by inflamed imaginations and sickly fancies, A. L. O., in New York Independent.

If the teacher knew what he was about, intellectual in life. They will be too wise to and took a vital interest in his calling, plac-be led away from their legitimate calling into ing it before his own ease, he himself would be the one to object to this studying at home, which has a most pernicious influence upon the pupil, as has been shown. She contracts all manner of bad habits. Mothers who have small children, and their housekeeping duties to care for, have not, of course, the time to inform themselves of all it is necessary to know, in order to give their daughters the best habits of mental activity.

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comes pale and diseased.

For the Schoolmaster.
The Miner's Song.

BY J. SWETT.

The eastern sky is blushing red,
The distant hill-top glowing,
The river o'er its rocky bed

In idle frolics flowing;

"Tis time the pickaxe and the spade
Against the rocks were ringing,
And, with ourselves, the golden stream
A song of labor singing.

The mountain air is fresh and cold,
Unclouded skies bend o'er us,
Broad placers, rich in hidden gold,

Lie temptingly before us.
We need no Mida's magic wand,

Nor wizard rod divining,
The pickaxe, spade, and brawny hand
Are sorcerers in mining!

When labor closes with the day,

To simple fare returning,
We gather in a merry group

Around the camp fires burning;
The mountain sod our couch at night,
The stars shine bright above us,
We think of home and fall asleep
To dream of those who love us.
FEATHER KIVER, California.

If you want your daughters to grow up into beautiful, graceful women, who will have good health, long life, and happy tempers, you must, mothers, let school be school, and play hours be play hours. Then, if they really strengthen their minds by hard work in the morning, and their bodies by hard play in the afternoon, they will be prompt, practical, and efficient in their important tasks as housekeepers, teachers, mothers, and patronesses of the beautiful and content is rich.

WHO is rich? Diogenes in his tub was rich in the wealth and warmth of the sun. It is he who has much and wants more who is poor, and he who has little and is therewith

"Debate on the Bill Establishing Free

other states, in consequence of purchasing foreign tickets. In years past, laws prohibit

Schools,

At the January Session of the Rhode Island ing the sale of foreign tickets have been pass

Legislature, A. D. 1828."

ed, proved wholly ineffectual, and repealed. And we cannot calculate on any immediate change in the principle of human nature which produces this result. But if we could, our treasury, I believe, might still be supplied.

In our last we placed before our readers the introductory remarks of Hon. Joseph L. Tillinghast on this bill. We present below the closing remarks of that gentleman before moving the adoption of the bill. The remarks relate to the lottery question and to the general provisions of the bill as at first introduc-section a sum left blank, and which, upon the

ed.

In our next we propose to give some short and spicy paragraphs from the remarks of several gentlemen who spoke upon the bill.

At our point of view, what the honorable gentleman says upon the system of lotteries savors a little of expediency. Having shown that the sum of $10,000 might probably be appropriated annually from the lottery revenue, he proceeds to say:

Being, then, in a situation to make a present provision, let us for a moment consider the principle of the bill reported. By the first

-

supposition that the rest of the bill passes, I shall propose to be $10,000 is to be set apart from the revenue arising from lotteries and auction sales, to be paid out annually to the towns, according to their respective proportions under the last estimate of rateable property. This seems the most obvious, just, and equal ratio of distribution; and, as far as we can pursue equality, we are bound to do so. When we come to the actual application of the money to its immediate object, the I know that individual opinions are divid-idea of equality, in respect to the numbers or ed upon the propriety of the system of lotter-individuals to be benefitted by each portion, ies that this mode of resorting to the lot, as cannot be retained. An individual who has it has been called, is by some censured, and but one child, though he may be assessed at by others advocated. It falls not in my way, twenty dollars tax, will receive less fruits of at present, to advocate or to investigate any the appropriation than he he who is assessed conscientious opinion upon this subject. But at a dollar and has ten children. And this I believe there can be no difference of opinion will apply also to the respective towns, as on this point, that while this branch of busi-well as families, who may have more or less ness exists, unprohibited by public authority, children requiring education than their respective proportions in the estimate. Perfect

66

it is not unwise to make it subservient to the

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makes restitution and atonement, on the one hand, for such evils as they suppose it occasions on the other.

public good — to enable those who reprobate equality in the application, therefore, is imposit to perceive that, as far as practicable, it sible. But equality in the distribution, according to the proportion in which the towns are bound to contribute to the public expenses, is attainable, and seems just. Nevertheless, I Judging from past experience, we may be- have heard suggestions from several members lieve that tickets will be offered for sale, and that the ratio of population might be preferawill be bought, in this state; and the money able. If so, it is open to discussion; and, of our citizens, if not expended in lotteries if, upon discussion, that ratio is deemed best, originating at home, will go abroad to benefit it will prevail. I wish to be distinctly under

stood, that if the main principle and benefit towns that neglect to raise their proportion contemplated by the bill is established, it is do not thereby lose their right to partake of not my purpose or wish to adhere pertina- the fund except for each year of the neglect. ciously to the exact provisions of the bill on l'heir proportions are to be added to the fund this point, or on any other, or to refuse my for distribution the next year, and they can vote to any fair modification. Whatever at any time come in and partake. The sucqualifications consistent with the spirit and ceeding sections provide for the appointment efficacy of the measure, may be found exped- of school committees, and their powers and ient by the expressed sense of the House, af- duties; and for the mode in which the treaster due deliberation, shall have my cheerful urer is to keep his accounts of the revenues acquiescence. And from the effect of this re-appropriated, and report and publish each

town's annual proportion.

The last section provides for an appropriation of a certain sum out of the money now in the treasury, to be invested in productive stock for the commencement and formation of a permanent school fund, allowing only so much of the interest to be used as may be required in case of a deficiency in the sum for annual distribution. The object of this is to form a nucleus upon which future appropriations and donations accruing, may accumulate and be preserved inviolate for the purposes of public education.

mark I would not exclude the second section, which provides that each town, before receiving its proportion, is to raise a sum equal to -I should say the sum - which it is entitled to, as its proportion of the appropriation. A difference of opinion exists as to the amount so to be raised by the towns; and half the above sum has been named. This also is open to discussion, in settling the details of the bill. But I would here suggest that it is certainly an object to provide as much as twenty thousand dollars annually. Upon twenty thousand dollars apportioned according to the estimate, the smallest towns in the state These being the principal features of the would have one hundred and sixteen dollars. bill before you, I now move, sir, that we proThe treasury could not probably spare twen-ceed to consider it section by section. And I ty thousand dollars a year without resorting sincerely hope and trust that we shall proceed to other modes of supplying it than those that in the spirit of conciliation, and mutual conhave of late sufficed. And of all modes of cession without embarrassment and with unitdirectly raising money, none are so satisfac-ed purpose, to adopt the main principle of the tory as that by which the freemen of each bill; to make it conform to our best views of town, by themselves and their own officers prudence and utility; and at all events, beunder their own inspection and at their own fore we leave it, before we separate, now, in times, raise what is wanted for their own use our day and opportunity, to discharge our and benefit. Raising part of the fund direct- duty to the republic in this particular, and ly from themselves, they would feel a direct make an effectual provision for the education interest in seeing to its careful application, of our youth which may be felt in its salutary and I think we should be mistaken if we effects upon this and each succeeding generashould suppose that the freemen of most of tion." the towns in the state are not, at this time, prepared, willingly and cheerfully to raise their proportions, for the objects of this bill. By a provision in connexion with this the 'erful argument in order to be taken.

ADVICE generally requires some very pow

For the Schoolmaster.
Modern Coins.

BY MANFRED.

MODERN Coins comprise those struck since the fall of the Western Empire.

era.

their common weight, however, is from fifteen to nineteen grains. The earliest Saxon coin known, is a sceatta of Ethilberht I. of Kent, who reigned from A. D. 561 to 616. In point of antiquity the penny succeeds, the name of which first appears in the laws of Ina, king of the West Saxons, whose reign commenced A. D. 688. The word is probably derived from pendo, to weigh, and is now, as it was then, the 240th part of the nummary pound. Little is known in regard to the half of the penny. A Saxon half-penny of Edward the Eld

er is said to exist in the Bodleian collection at Oxford, England.

The Italian coins under the Ostrogoths were issued soon after the year 480 of the Christian The French series commence with Clovis, A. D. 490. The Spanish with Liuva, Prince of the Visigoths, about A. D. 567. The German States issued money soon after the reign of Charlemagne, probably during the ninth century, as well as the independent Lombard cities, and the Neapolitans. The Papal currency begins with Pope Hadrian I., A. D. 772. Denmark has coins of an early date, but few of them are intelligible until the reign of Canute, about A. D. 1000. Contemporary with this date are the coins of the petty kings of Ireland. In Sweden it is said coinage was begun under Biorno, A. D. 818. In Norway with Olave or Olaf, A. D. 1066. Russian coinage is of a later date than other European countries. Scotch pennies, it is said, are found which are ascribed to Alex-teste or tete, the head of the king upon it; ander I. A. D. 1107, while those of William the Lion, A. D. 1165, are even now quite numerous in antiquarian collections in that land. Pennies were the earliest coins issued in most of the European kingdoms, and the prevailing device upon them was a cross.

pre

From the reign of Ecgfrith, who ascended the throne in A. D. 670, to that of Eanred, whose reign began A. D. 808, a space of more than a century, no coins have as yet been found. One silver penny of Eanred is known. The last silver half-penny was struck under the Commonwealth. The last silver farthing was coined in the reign of Edward VI., but no specimen of it has been seen. or shilling, was first coined by Henry VII. in 1503. The appellation of testoon was from

The testoon,

that of shilling was of old but uncertain origin. Pinkerton says that coins of that name had been struck in Hamburgh in 1407.

Henry VIII. struck some patterns for a silver crown, but the first crown for currency was struck by Edward VI, with the half As a matter of course we have more minute crown, sixpence, and threepence. Queen detail of the early English currency than that Elizabeth, in 1558, coined three-half-penny, of any other country save our own. The and in 1561 three-farthing picces, Pinkerton cise date when Roman currency passed out of says they were dropped in 1582, but there is circulation is not known. The early kings of a three-half-penny piece in the British MuKent had struck, probably during the sixth seum bearing the date of 1599. Charles I. century, sceattæ, derived from the Anglo Sax-struck twenty-shilling and ten-shilling pieces on, and signifying shot-money. They are in silver, but they soon passed out of circulatoo rude to admit of a description, are of sil

ver, and of different weights, from seven

tion.

In the year 1257 a manuscript chronicle in grains and a half (troy)to twenty and upwards; the archives of the city of London, states that

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