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tage for self-culture and self-improvement A general answer to this question is, that is offered, there are thousands of families in that is made an end of life which should be comfortable circumstances even, who toil un- but an incident or means. Life is confoundremittingly from early morning till evening, ed with labor, and thrift with progress. year after and allow themselves no re- Man thus becomes a beast of burden, — the year, laxation, either bodily or mental. creature of his calling, he eats, he works, he

This is true in an especial manner of the sleeps; surely there is no dignity in a life like this; population of the rural districts. there is nothing beautiful or attractive in it. We say that it is the sale of the soul to the body; it is turning the back upon life, upon growth, upon God, and descending into animalism."

The desire to amass wealth seems to prevail over every other thought, and whatever will forward this object is eagerly pursued. In many of

these districts there are schools but three or four months in the year, and during the remaining ones the children who are old enough must assist their parents in their respective places of toil. This, in a measure, is right. We do not urge one objection against honest labor, but it is this constant bowing down to it, and almost worshiping it, that makes labor dishonest. Dishonest, for it steals the very foundations of all true manliness and crushes the life of woman; and for a child with all his elasticity of spirit and love of variety to be thus fettered, and taught that efficiency in work is the only honor he may aspire to, it is nothing less than sin.

It will cripple his energies, animalize his whole nature, and as far as the performance

of labor is concerned, he will be little more than an animated machine.

In a late number of the Atlantic Monthly, under “Rural Life in New England," which we must acknowledge is a faithful picture, we find the following:

Let there be then, in every household a certain portion of time each day set apart expressly for the purpose of recreation of mind and body. It is not necessary to state any particular way in which this may be done. Books, cheerful conversation or out-door amusements will each and all contribute to the healthy action of the intellectual faculties. We have each entrusted to our care, a jewel which far outweighs in value those which earth can boast, and yet how indifferent to it We who are are the greater part of the race. living in this enlightened age shall indeed have a heavy account to answer at the last, if we misuse our God-given privileges and refuse to use all the means in our power for raising ourselves morally, intellectualy, and spiritually, that we may the better be fitted to appreciate the blessings our Heavenly Father bestows on us here, and be better prepared to enjoy Him through eternity.

HALE.

PROF. ESPY, in his fourth Meteorological Report, thus explains why we have no thunder in the winter :

"In looking at the life of the New Eng- Why we have no Thunder in the Winter. land farmer, the first fact that strikes us is, that it is actually a very different thing from what it might be and ought to be. There dwells in every mind, through all callings and all professions, the idea that the farmer's life is, or may be, is, or should be the truest and sweetest life that man can live. Why then, does the actual differ so widely from the ideal?

"If it is asked why we have no thunder in the winter, though the tops of the storm clouds rise even in this season to a region where the air is at least considerably charged

account for so small an attendance on an oc. casion like this- unless the expense deterred them - for this county employs something over one hundred teachers. Neither state, county, or town superintendent, or either of the county examining committee were present any time during the session.

For the exercises during the day we occupied a small loft over some kind of a work shop. It was very low studded and not at all adapted to entertain an audience, yet I heard no fault found with the lecture room, as each one seemed inclined to be satisfied

with electricity, perhaps the answer may be found in this that the storm clouds in the winter are of great extent, and of course the tension of the electricity, being extended over a very large surface, is very feeble; and the substance of the cloud being itself framed out of vapor much less dense than that of summer clouds, this tension may not be able to strike from one particle of the cloud to the next adjacent one; no general discharge can take place. Besides, even in the winter, during a very warm spell of weather, with a high dew point for the season, we sometimes have a violent thunder storm from a cloud of very limited horizontal extent, as the thunder clouds always are in the summer. Such a cloud is in reality an insulated pillar of hot air, mingled which was by a flight of stairs which we with condensed vapor, having just given out into the air itself its latent caloric, causing the air at the top of this cloud, in many cases, to be 60o warmer at its top than the air on the outside at the same level."

For the Schoolmaster.

Teachers' Institutes.

BOUND BROOK, New Jersey.

with what was provided. Some of our fair friends were subjected to a slight inconvenience in effecting their entrance to the hall,

should give it as our opinion must have been
erected before crinoline became a ruling fash-
ion. We did occasionally hear a murmur
when some one had reached the landing of
said stairs, and such complaints were not
without some reason on the part of the com-
plainant, for there are many even at this en-
lightened age, who think that the entrance of
the camel 66
through the eye of the needle"

ever, all these minor difficulties and petty annoyances were overcome, and we made ourselves as much at ease as though we had been provided with superfluities and entertainment free of charge.

AN institute for the special benefit of teach-is too marvelous a story to be believed. Howers employed in Somerset county, was held at the above named place, commencing on Monday, 23d of August, and ending on Friday eve of the same week. Prof. William B. Fowle of Boston, presided as principal and sole instructor, during the whole time the institute was in session.

The exercises during the day time were familiar lectures, embracing all the common branches taught in our public schools, and lectures were given each evening on subjects relating to popular education.

Not over twenty names were registered as acknowledged members of the institute, and the average daily attendance was much less than that number. I am utterly unable to

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Prof. Fowle arranged his pupils in one class, which included about all present - for we were not annoyed with many spectators and proceeded to exercise them upon such branches as he deemed best adapted to their general wants. As the exercises continued, the interest, and thirst for knowledge increased. He had the members all read respectively, and he did the criticising. Grammatical exercises were conducted by giving them sentences to write on slips of paper, and then

At the close of the lecture, the Rev. Dr. Rogers, the village Dominie, responded in some very appropriate remarks in favor of teachers' institutes and the advantages of teachers frequently meeting, and suggested that they at once commence arrangements for another institute in one year, (provided they could not afford one sooner.) There was, however, opposition offered to this proposition by a member of the institute, who stated there was no use talking about an institute a year before-hand. The present one had been

the papers being passed to him, he corrected them on the board, so that all could have the benefit of seeing. To quicken their memories he occasionally gave them mental problems in arithmetic, causing them to write answers on slips of paper, and the first who passed the paper to him with the correct answer was No. 1, the next No. 2, &c. Finally he gave them a practical illustration of his system of imparting information, and conducting a school, and if his suggestions were carried out, an improvement in the public schools of this state would soon be percepti-arranged for a year previous, and the result ble. Lectures were held at the village meet- was a poor attendance. The reverend gentle. ing house each evening on subjects adapted man then rose and stated reasons for the presto the occasion, which were quite well attend-ent poor attendance, and said that the dif ed, and very interesting, (although it is the ficulty could be obviated. Instead of teachopinion of some that he was rather severe in ers paying one dollar per day for board they his anamadversions upon the state of society should be entertained by the inhabitants of generally in New Jersey.) When time would the place where the institute was held. admit, at the conclusion of his lecture, he "These suggestions met a severer check than would select and read for the entertainment any offered before." Another gentleman took of the audience a few choice dialogues from the floor, and stated he should be against all the Hundred Dialogue Book," which, in free institutes. It had been tried. Teachers his peculiar style, were both amusing and in- had been sent from house to house to beg structive. His lectures were delivered in a their entertainment, and had been insulted clear and comprehensive style, without affec- and sent away hungry. That people generaltation or any attempt, by flowery language, ly considered themselves imposed upon when to gain applause, or to carry the imagination asked to extend such hospitality to a school of the hearer so far above his practical sphere teacher! The debate grew warmer and warmas to make him feel utterly insignificant; but er, until the master of ceremonies deemed it they were instructive and intelligible to the prudent to bring this war of words to a close school-boy as well as interesting and edifying by dismissing the audience. to maturer minds. The subject for the closing lecture on Friday evening was Teachers' Institutes. The lecturer dwelt very emphatically upon the necessity of a reformation in public schools in this state, and the importance of parents' coöperation with those whom they employ to instruct their children. He encouraged frequent meetings of teachers, and laid before them the advantages realized from such a source.

This was the only discussion we had dur ing the whole session, and it was prematurely closed without either party gaining its object. Thus ended the teachers' institute at Bound Brook, N. J., Aug. 27th, 1858.

P. S. September 8th, 9th, and 10th, there was held a Horticultural Fair at Somerville, four miles from Bound Brook. The principal attraction attached to this fair was horse trotting. Jersey is in no respect behind other

The

Mary. "Yes, mother, certainly. Now John, you must begin and write your subject on the top of the page. Where is your paper? Then begin on the first line and write." John. (In a brown study.) "But I haint got no subject."

Mother "Well, Mary, do give him a subject. Take Spring.'"

John. "Now, Spring' has been every body's subject. Smith, and Farnum, and Weld, all wrote about Spring' last week. I don't want Spring.''

states in this enterprise, at least we should the seminary. Mary, won't you show John judge so by the multitudes attending. about his composition ?" trotting course was surrounded with thousands of ladies and children from 10 o'clock A. M. until sundown, during each day. There they would stand, sweltering in the hot rays of the sun, enveloped in a cloud of dust, intently gazing after the foaming steeds as if their whole interest in this world was at stake in the wreaking coursers before them; and there woman's voice mingled with man's in shouts of exultation whenever victory was given to their favorites. If a fast horse enters New Jersey every woman and child will soon be familiar with it by reputation. The most noted and the profoundest scholar in the world might remain here years and never be John. "The Pleasures of Youth!' Greene known only to the few. Horse racing is pop-copied twenty-four lines of that out of an ular, teachers' institutes a nuisance. old book he found in a barrel up garret a little while ago. I won't copy. The teacher won't know it, though. I've a good mind to." Mother "John !" John. thing."

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For the Schoolmaster.

Dialogue.

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I.

TEACHER.

'John, did you ever write a

John. (Suspiciously.) "No, sir." Teacher. "Well, John, next Friday you may write one, and take any subject you please, as this is the first. Have it ready, punctually, Friday noon, John."

John. (In a sea of troubles.) "Yes sir."

II.

Mother, Father, John, and sister Mary. (Scene. Evening, the family seated at table, mother reading, Mary poring over Scott's works, father with newspaper, John holds slate and pencil.)

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Mary. "Take The Pleasures of Youth,' John."

Well, mother, I can't write any

III.

(Bed time. John in stocking feet. Slate covered with pictures, pencil dull, mother asleep in her chair, Mary reading Ivanhoe. father conning a stray grammar.)

Mary. "Finished it, John ?"

John. "No. I don't know nothing about it." Father. (Looking calmly over his spectacles.) What is grammar, John?"

John. (Promptly.) "Grammar teaches us to speak and write correctly." Copy of John's essay:

"SPRING.

"Spring is the time when the flowers first come up out of the ground. The farmer John. "O, dear, mother! I can't! I plows his ground and sows his seed and the don't know what to write about." birds sing on the trees and the leaves come I can not think of any more to - day."

Mother (Looking up from her book.) out. "Ask Mary, John, she wrote compositions at to

write

Enthusiasm.

brightened; and he exclaimed, as the consciousness of his own power thrilled his soul,

THIS spirit is confined to no class and no.. I, too, am a painter." We all remember

profession. The dust-covered son of Vulcan, the remarkable incident related of Benjamin hammering at his anvil with unwearied vigor, West, our own distinguished countryman, whether fashioning a bayonet or moulding a when he was only seven years of age. Being plowshare, forging a spear or turning a set to watch the cradle of his sleeping sister, pruning-hook, drawing a nail or setting a he conceived the idea of sketching the likeshoe, making machinery or building loconess of the infant beauty; and he did so with motives, is animated by a spirit of emulation astonishing skill. When he was eight years and a desire to excel. A man's power, phys- of age, he was presented with a box of paints ical as well as mental, depends in a great and pencils, with canvas already prepared, measure upon the activity and excitement of and six engravings. He was perfectly enraphis mind. Prodigies of valor on the battle-tured with his treasure, carried the box about field have been performed, with no thought of in his arms and took it to bed with him. danger or fatigue, in the high-wrought excite-But he could not sleep. He rose with the ment of the hour. That little band of three dawn, went up to the garret, hung up his enhundred Spartans at the pass of Thermopylæ, gravings, and commenced work. So com. with undaunted hearts withstood the count-pletely was he under a species of enchantless hosts of Xerxes, and gladly offered up ment, that he absented himself from school, their lives in obedience to the laws and in de- and labored secretly and incessantly till he fense of the liberties of their country. A few was discovered. His determination to be a words from Napoleon on the eve of battle, painter was now made, and he had very exand the consciousness that his eye was upon alted notions in regard to the dignity of his them, would cause his soldiers, who adored art. One holiday, one of his schoolmates him, to march with firm steps and brave came along on horseback, and asked West to hearts in the face of a leaden tempest which get up behind him and go up to visit a neighwould have completely routed a less enthusi-boring plantation. "I will ride behind noastic army. A man without enthusiasm has body," was the prompt reply. "Very well, no power, whatever may be his natural abili- then," said his mate, "I will ride behind;" ties. He is like a sleeping Hercules, or like so he mounted. His companion soon said, Sampson unconscious of danger and shorn of "I am to be apprenticed to a tailor to-morhis strength, with his head upon the lap of row." "A tailor!" exclaimed West, "you Delilah. He is like a cannon, with its balls will never be tailor." "Indeed I shall, it and chain-shot, without the powder to give is a good trade. What do you intend to be, them destructive force. He is like a locomo West?" "A painter." "A painter? What tive, without the fire and steam to give pro- is that?" "A painter is the companion of pelling power. No painter could make those kings and emperors," said he; and fully did matchless forms of beauty and loveliness he afterwards realize his boyish dreams of which stand out from the canvas and com-honor and renown. Enthusiasm is the only mand the admiration of the world without "divine afflatus" now known to man. It is this spirit in the largest measure. When his only inspiration. Without it, poets would Correggio first beheld one of the master- be mere rhymers. Milton, poor and blind, in pieces of Raphael, his cheek flushed, his eye imminent danger of losing his life after the

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