hoods, and it is the duty of school committees to The School Commissioner, Mr. Kendall. Rev. allow all such teachers as will faithfully attend Mr. Coggeshall, Messrs. Macomber, Arnold, Chapsuch meetings to dismiss their schools for this man, Gifford, and one or two others, whose names we do not recall, participated in the discussion. Then followed some exercises in calisthenics, under the direction of Mr. Kendall. purpose. Resolved, That the thanks of this Institute be presented to the people of Wickford for their very warm and generous hospitality in furnishing the means of social enjoyment to its members. Resolved, That the thanks of the Institute be presented to A. B. Chadsey, Esq., of Wickford, for the efficient manner in which he has perfected all the arrangements for the meeting in this village; to the Rev. Cyrus H. Fay, of Providence, for his interesting lecture before the Institute; and to the Secretary of the First Baptist Church, in Wickford, for the free use of their vestry for our meetings. Friday Evening.-Mr. Bicknell, of the Bristol High School, delivered a lecture on education. The audience seemed very much gratified with the manner and matter of the speaker. Natural Science. COMMUNICATIONS for this Department should be addressed to I. F. CADY, Warren. For the Schoolmaster. A Peep into the Dock.---No. 11. CRABS. Resolved, That the teachers of Rhode Island, while recognizing the necessity, power and right of uniformity in text-books being established by school committees, should not be limited thereby so as to exclude all other aids or helps derived from the experience and observations of other authors, but should be allowed to use such helpsly familiar. as in their judgment will best promote the inter- be so. Mi fili, ne sic obliquis semper gressibus ests of their pupils. incede, sed recta via perge." "My son, don't always keep stepping sidewise so, when you walk, but go straight ahead." Excellent counsel ! The Institute then adjourned sine die. Esop's fable of The Crabs is, perhaps, sufficient- 66 R. I. INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.-The fourth Teachers, parents, friends, how often do ye all session of the Institute, during the present season, take up the burden of the exhortation, and with commenced in Masonic Hall, in Portsmouth, on what good reason. The filii and the filiae so ofFriday morning, Jan. 9th, at 10 o'clock. The ten fail of the "recta via," and tread in “obliquis.” members were called to order by Hon. Henry So wholesome an exhortation, and so profitable Rousmaniere, the School Commissioner, who spoke about fifteen minutes on the duties and pleasures of teachers and the best manner of avoiding several evil results that too often embarrass their professional action. withal, ought not to fail of its object. But hark! "Mi pater, libenter tuis praeceptis obsequar, si te prius idem facientem videro." "Pa, I will cheerfully comply with your instructions when I first see you observing them yourself." Alas! Parents, teachers, friends. Example, Example, ExAMPLE. The Rev. S. D. Coggeshall, of Portsmouth, then delivered an interesting lecture upon "Reading and its various Advantages to Secular, Religious At least six different species of crabs live in the and Scientific Men." He adduced several forcible waters of Narragansett, four of which advance by facts in the cases of Adam Clark, Milton and a sidewise progression. Of these the Limulus Bunyan. Polyphemus, commonly called the Horse-foot, or The lecture was followed by a discussion upon King Crab, is the largest. Nothing is more comthe value of reading. The School Commissioner mon than to find their cast shells thrown upon pointed out the essential difference between mere the beach in a very perfect state, without even reading and solid thinking; between a mechanical a missing claw. It is not obvious at first glance memory of words and facts and the process of an- how the animal made its escape; but upon more alysis and generalization. The several debaters, careful observation a separation will be found to among whom were Mr. Kendall, of the Normal have been made around the front margin, where School, Mr. Arnold, Rev. Mr. Coggeshall and Mr. the upper and lower portions of the shell unite, Manchester, of Portsmouth, dwelt upon the various ways by which district libraries could be made the most useful, showed how children might be induced to read, and pointed out the most appropriate books for the different ages of children. and that the separated portions were again accurately closed after the tenant had left. These crabs only occasionally make their appearance in shallow water. At certain seasons they make their appearance in considerable numbers, but are Friday Afternoon.—Met at 1 o'clock. Various little used except for manure, or to feed swine. questions were proposed and discussed in relation Their structure is specially adapted for swimming; to school committees and school government, and on land they advance with awkwardness and diffiseveral new and valuable suggestions were made culty, moving "recta via" by the use of their flip. about the ventilation of school-rooms, pers. The name Horse-foot, or Sauce-pan, is quite characteristic of their shape. Their shells which it derives its name. It is unable to swim, are nearly naked, having only a little thin, scat- and slowly makes its way along the muddy bottered hair upon some portions. The Crepidula tom in search of food, by adopting the lateral fornicata is found living upon them as a parasite. mode of progression fashionable among their reThey attain a size of from twelve to fifteen inches mote ancestors, to whose conversation the distinin length including the tail, and from eight to ten guished Grecian fabulist professes to have listened in breadth. Thin sections of their shells are in- with practical advantage. Others beside the poet teresting objects when viewed with the microscope can under polarized light. "Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything," The Fiddler crabs, Gelasimus vocans, inhabit the shore between low-water and high-water mark, where they burrow in the sand in large numbers. if they are only careful to look and listen. It is A stranger will pass over thousands of them while well to learn a moral lesson, when practicable, walking along the beach without discovering their even from a crab. We have already seen how an existence, unless he is prompted to explore the engineer learned one of his most valuable lessons perforations, that may possibly arrest his atten- from a mollusk. These tion, in the sand. They run quite swiftly, and And then how it dignifies the study of all natural conceal themselves in their burrows when any one objects to reflect that each is the expression of approaches, so as to leave the beach bare and mo- some thought of God. We love to study the works tionless for some rods in advance, while farther in of the gifted and the good among men. the distance the whole surface of the sand is, as works are the expressions of the best and truest it were, alive with them running in every direc-of human thoughts. Whether the work be a poem, tion. The remarkable development of one of their or a painting, or a breathing statue from the Paanterior claws, or quite as properly, hands, and rian stone, or any other choice creation of human their peculiar mode of carrying it, has secured for them their characteristic appellation. When seen at some convenient distance, perhaps a little imagination might regard them as wreathing the mazes of the dance to music of their own. As pose. Hu genius, it is worthy of our admiration, and well deserves our study. But what thought of man, although the noblest, can equal that of the Infinite mind expressed in the lowest of his works? man skill and genius are incompetent to produce every school-boy who frequents the shores is well an organization so delicate as that of what we inaware, they can be easily captured by thrusting a cline to pronounce an unsightly crab, that burrows sharpened stick behind them while they stand as in the sand, or acts the part of a scavanger along guards of their own fortresses. They serve as ex- the muddy bed of the ocean. But herein consists, cellent bait for the capture of tautog. In some perhaps, the most important use for which it was countries, it is asserted that the capture of crabs created. Possessed of a color scarcely distinas bait for fish constitutes a profitable employment, guishable from the mud on which it crawls, timid and that whole cargoes are collected for this pur-in its nature, shrinking away from observation beneath any accessible covert, and even clothing itThe inexperienced fisherman, who is endeavor- self with a garment of mosses, the better to coning to bring up his prey from a depth of fifteen or ceal its movements, it possesses senses so keen twenty feet, sometimes experiences a sudden that it rivals even the canine races that range the change in his feelings when he finds, instead of earth. I think this is demonstrated by a pet of the fish that he thought making such steady ob- the last-mentioned species which for some months jections at the remote end of his line of argument, has been a tenant of my aquarium. When first a monster, fit for Plutonic residence, twining its introduced his shell was covered with mosses ugly arms around his hooks and sucking the clam which had the appearance of having grown there. used for bait as a precious morsel. This monster Several weeks ago, on looking into a corner of the proves to be another species of the crab with slen- aqarium, I supposed I had found him dead. I, der legs of several inches in length, and resemb- could not induce him to eat or even move. On ling some huge Goliath among the spider races. closer observation, I discovered that I had only He is an ugly looking customer, and is far from found the external portion of his "mortal coil," being welcome to the practiced angler, although which he had "shuffled off" so perfectly as to incapable of any considerable harm. exhibit his former self unchanged. On further A smaller variety of Spider crab, Limbinica can- search I discovered him hid away, as if aware of iculata, may be seen at any time during the sum- his nude condition and ashamed to show himself. mer in all the docks and along the wharves. It In a day or two he seemed to gain confidence as attains to a length of about two inches, and a his new habit became more compact, and it was breadth of about one-and-a-half; has an oval then that I discovered that he possessed a tact for shape, with a nearly circular posterior extremity, arranging himself in mosses already grown, by and legs and claws that give it very much the ap-causing them to adhere, by some means best known pearance of a huge insect of the species from 'to himself, I presume, to the spinous processes scattered over his new coat of armor. I could not tremity of their abdomen. They are, however, be mistaken, for there waved from his mud-brown able to leave their habitation when they choose, front some delicate sprigs of the Bryopsis plumosa, and do so whenever their quarters become too which I had placed in the aquarium as the most close in consequence of their own increasing size, graceful vegetable product it contained. But there and go in search of a new one. In August last I it was gracing his uncouth visage like the stray] captured one in search of a new tenement, brought feathers in a mad-man's cap. I could, however, him home and placed him in a bowl of sea-water, afford the loss for the sake of the discovery. into which I dropped an empty shell for his accomHe soon approached it, examined it He was now quite domesticated, and generally modation. came for his bit of clam together with the other with his feelers to ascertain whether all was right, inmates. On one occasion a small piece of clam faced about in true soldier style, charged backhad sunk to the bottom near the side of the tank. ward and won the fortress, in which he still keeps The crab soon made his appearance from the other guard in the artificial sea to which he was transside, and passed by the bit of clam diagonally to ferred. In the same reservoir is a companion of the right. Stopping, as though he had discovered his occupying the shell of a Natica duplicata, ana mistake in his reckoning, he started toward the other in that of a Buccinum plicosum, another inleft, but again passed in front of the object of his habiting the former dwelling of a small Pyrula search, which had sunk between the pebbles at caniculata, another in possession of the rejected the bottom. He stopped again, and starting in a covering of a Littorina tenebrosa, and two or three straight line towards his object, seized it with one others carrying with them the former homes of of his hands and soon caused it to disappear, ap- some individuals of the species Buccinum trivitparently much to his own satisfaction. It is quite tatum. They are not special friends; but are ready diverting to see this crab and several others, chief- to snatch the food from each other whenever an op-. ly hermits, hold their food in one hand and feed portunity offers. themselves with small portions, which they pull off and carry to their mouth with the other. A stranger would not be likely, at first view, to form a correct estimate of the dexterity which they can exhibit. But of all the crab genus perhaps none are so interesting as the Paguri, commonly called Hermit crabs, or Soldiers. Of these, but one variety, the Pagurus longicarpus, frequents the waters of Narragansett. Nature has bestowed upon these creatures the power of secreting the usual crustaceous covering of the genus only for the anterior portion of their body, leaving the posterior unprotected. In this emergency they adopt the course to which beings of a higher race are sometimes compelled to resort, and supply themselves with second-hand apparel. An empty shell of some snail or other gasteropod is sought, and when one is found to fit their case they reverse a common practice of modern times, and I might add of ancient also, of "backing out," and back into their adopted quarters with eager dexterity. It is said that they also sometimes exhibit their soldierly qualities by forcing the original owner from his home, and then, like an evil spirit, entering in and dwelling there. From what I know of their propensities, I doubt not they are quite ready to act the part of cannibals by feasting upon the unfortunate tenants which they have already deprived of house and home. Such is the rapacity of savage crabs and savage men. When they have once secured their habitation they occupy it so naturally as to have the appearance of having always lived in it, and cling to it with such tenacity that they will suffer themselves to be torn asunder rather than be drawn out of it. This they are enabled to do by means of the peculiar shape of the ex The Brook. BY ALFRED TENNYSON. I. F. C. I come from the haunts of coct and hern, And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down the valley; Or slip between the ridges, To join the brimming river; I cluster over stony ways, In little sharps and trebles; I bubble on the pebbles; With willow weed and mallow, To join the brimming river; I wind about, and in ana out, With here a blossom sailing; And here and there a grayling; With many a silvery water-break Above the golden gravel; To join the brimming river, 1 I steal by lawns and grassy plots, I elide by hazel covers, I move the sweet forget-me-nois, I slip, I slide, I gleem, I dance, I make the nettled sumbeams dance I murmur under moon and stars, I linger by my shingle bars, And loiter round my cresses; To join the brimming river, QUESTIONS FOR Written Examinations. hour, how long will the chase continue? How far does the hare run? 8. A owes B $600, due in 4 months, and $840, due in 6 months. Bowes A $1600, due in 7 months. If A should make present payment of his debts, when ought B, in justice, to pay A? 9. A merchant bought a piece of goods containing 120 yards, at $1.25 per yard; he also paid of a cent per yard for freightage. For what must he sell the goods per yard to make a profit of 25 per cent., if they fall short in measuring 2.5 of a nail to each yard? 10. Four towers-. A 125 feet high, B 25 yards high, C 160 feet high, and D 70 yards high-stand upon the same plane, B directly south and 40 rods from A, C east from B, and D south from C. The distance from A to C plus the distance from C to Bisa mile, and the distance from D to B is 82 yards farther than the distance from C to D. Re COMMUNICATIONS for this Department should be ad-quired the length of a line to connect the tops of dressed to A. J. MANCHESTER, Providence. A and D. For the Schoolmaster. MENTAL ARITHMETIC. ARITHMETIC. 1. Thirty per cent. of the sum received for 1. Subtract 90178007. from the sum of 8998778+ goods is gain; required the gain per cent. 100439084.98000367. + 36400.+ 108769003. + 3. Get the least common multiple of 9, 3-20, 3 3-5, 4, 15. 5. Nineteen lots of equal size, contain 159 A. 2 R. 17 sq. rd. 25 sq. yd. 8 sq. ft. 130 sq. in. What is the value of one lot, the land being worth seven one-hundredths of a mill per sq. in.? Ans. 42 6-7. 2. I bought goods for eleven-twelfths their real worth, and sold them for eleven and one-ninth per cent. less than their real worth. What was the loss per cent. ? Ans. 3 1-33. 3. A boy bought an apple, an orange and a peach for 14 cents. The orange cost 2 times the difference of the price of the peach and the apple, and the apple cost one-sixth of the sum of the price of the peach and the orange. What was the cost of each, the apple being the least in value? Ans. Orange, 7 1-7 cents; peach, 4 6-7 cents; apple, 2 cents. 4. At what time between 11 and 12 o'clock is the minute-hand as far beyond the XI. mark as the hour-hand lacks of being up to the XII. mark? At what time between 8 and 9 o'clock is the minute-hand as far beyond the V. mark as the hourhand is beyond the VIII. mark? Ans. 4 8-13 min. to 12 o'clock. 5. A and B invest equal sums in trade. A loses a sum equal to 20 per cent. of his stock, 6. For what sum must a note, payable in 6 when his money is 75 per cent. of B's. B gained Ans. $750.75. months, be written to-day, that when discounted $50.05. What did each invest? at a bank at 63 per cent., a sum may be received 6. A man purchased a number of lemons at 2 sufficient to pay the amount of a note for $769.84, cents each, and three-fourths as many at 3 cents dated Dec. 23, 1859, interest to be reckoned at 63 each. He sold them all at the rate of 2 for 5 per cent. per annumn? cents, and gained 25 cents. purchase of each kind? 7. A hare starts 30 yards before a hound, but is not seen by him till she has been running 20 seconds. How many did he Ans. If the hare runs at the rate of 8 miles per hour, and the hound at the rate of 10 miles per' 7. One-half is what per cent. of 7? Ans. 7 1-7. 200 at 2 cents each. 150" 3 66 66 8. A man can do a piece of work in one-half a day, and a boy can do it in three-fourths of a day. In what time can both working together do it? Ans. 3-10 of a day. 9. A spent one-sixth his money and gave away $20. He then spent one-fifth the remainder and Editors' Department. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE R. I. IN- THE ANNUAL MEETING will be held in Provi gave away $10 less than of what then remained, dence January 30th a 31st, 1863. Lectures on and found he had $48 left. first? How much had he at Ans. $100. two for a cent, Ans. 60 at cent each. For the Schoolmaster. Grammar. 66 66 Will some very kind friend communicate through THE SCHOOLMASTER the parsing of the following italicized parts of speech, and by so doing much oblige everybody whom it may concern. Let the parsing be direct, and such as will satisfy the pupils of a grammar school, because comprehended by them. 1. We find food necessary. 2. She, a goddess, moves. 3. She moves like a goddess. 4. She moves a goddess. 5. To be good is to be happy. Object Teaching, Physical Geography, and other subjects relating to the teacher's work, will be given by eminent educators. Circulars, containing programme of exercises, will soon be sent to every portion of the State. Let every live teacher come up to our annual feast." A Word to the Friends of The Schoolmaster. We have now New responNew obstacles ANOTHER year has passed away. entered upon a new division of time. sibilities are crowding upon us. are throwing themselves in our pathway. New pleasures are reaching forth their flowery promises. The new cycle of time is all in the future, to be used as we choose. As teachers, as citizens, as patriots, we are called upon to double our diligence in the work before us. As our years rapidly enrol themselves on the dusty scroll of the past, each succeeding one bids us, more emphatically, increase the measure of our zeal and energy in the warfare of life. Let not the din and jar of our disordered civil affairs shut from our ears the call of the rising race. Let us not lose sight of the thronging columns of children, longing to be led 6. Some stood erect while others prostrate fell. in the great highway of true learning. Teachers! 7. The hat is worth five dollars. 8. They went to skate. 9. His servants ye are whom ye obey. 10. Whatever thou doest, do well. 11. I hear the wind blow. 12. The property is theirs. 13. Attention, Company; forward, file left, march. with you lies the responsibility, to an alarming degree, of our future as a people. The mother of a future President, perchance, sits by your side to-day, lisping the first accents of her life-lesson. A Commander-in-Chief of a myriad of soldiers, today is sketching the outlines of his father's farm upon a paper slate at the foot of his class. The teacher ever has been and ever must be the arbiter of his own destiny as a professional educator. He will succeed as far as he deserves to do so. 14. To impart the secret of what is called good He will be appreciated by the community as he and bad luck is not a difficult task. 15. The d's' stems should be parallel. 16. Is that house to let? 17. They crowned him a poet. makes himself liable to be. Though we oftimes suffer despair from the cold reception of our patrons; though we find our work poorly compensated; though we feel that our peculiar trials are 18. If he escapes being banished by others, I fear not fully understood; though keen and unjust he will banish himself. 19. I felt afraid to stir. criticism cuts like the sting of a serpent, yet these will at last yield to the patient, working one, 20. They need but to see the work in order to be who keeps "straight on" towards the goal he has satisfied. 21. He looked him full in the face. 22. The goods sell well. 23. Thou art the man. 24. The bird flew just over the house. 25. The house is fifty feet long. set for himself. If you are to-day laboring where you get less pay than you are really worth, and if you contin ue to enhance your worth to the community, depend upon it you will not be suffered to endure this inequality of compensation long. Some one will soon come and set the matter right, you will |