the Connecticut River, and its many and various institutions, render it as a place of meeting extremely desirable; while the well known interest and zeal of Connecticut teachers and educators give assurance that their fellow laborers from other states will meet with a cordial welcome in the "land of steady habits."

PER ORDER.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MASS. STATE ASSOCIATION.

THE ASSOCIATION, at its last Annual Meeting, instructed the Board of Directors to consider the expediency of changing the time for holding the Annual Meeting. At the meeting of the Board of Directors held on Saturday the 24th ult., after considerable discussion, it was unanimously voted "that the next Annual Meeting of the Association be held on TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, the 5th and 6th of AUGUST next."

SPRINGFIELD was named as the place, but the final selection was left to the Committee of Arrangements.

COUNTY MEETINGS.

The Plymouth County Teachers' Association will hold its next meeting at Duxbury, on Friday and Saturday, the 13th and 14th of June. Lectures will be delivered by Rev. Dr. E. O. Haven and Dr. Dio Lewis of Boston, and James C. Sharp of Dorchester.

The Norfolk County Asssociation will hold its twenty-ninth semi-annual meeting on the same days as above, at Dedham. Lectures will be delivered by S. W. Mason and A. W. Sprague of Boston, and Rev. J. L. Diman, of Brookline.

GYMNASTICS IN THE ELIOT SCHOOL.

AT the Educational Meeting on the 3d of last month, it was unanimously voted, on motion of Mr. Hagar, that Mr. Mason, of the Eliot School, be requested to allow the teachers to meet at the Eliot School-house a fortnight from that afternoon to witness the exercises of his scholars in Gymnastics. Mr. Mason consented, and accordingly on the afternoon of the 17th, a large company of teachers gathered in the Eliot School Hall for the above purpose. Mr. Reed, of the Brimmer School, presided.

The scholars occupied the centre of the Hall, arranged in four files, about two feet apart. The first and third files were one pace in advance of the others, so that there might be room for the free play of the arms between the boys of the adjoining files. The various arm, head, trunk, and leg movements were then executed with great precision to music which was furnished by two boys of the school, one playing upon a violin, the other upon an accordion. Then followed exercises in breathing, explosion of the vowels, etc. It was a warm afternoon, but the boys worked with a will, and we are sure there were none present who were not de

lighted with their performances. Mr. Mason has certainly shown us that much gymnastic training can be introduced into our schools without any expenditure for apparatus, or much expenditure of time.

THE ANNUAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BOSTON,

Took place on Wednesday, May 21. The efforts made in its behalf, and the results obtained, induce us to make the following remarks:

In the early part of the school year, a special committee is chosen, whose duty it is to make the necessary arrangements for the next festival. A programme is agreed upon, the pieces to be sung are printed, distributed among the scholars, and practised during the regular singing lessons. Metronome and tuning fork equalize time and pitch, while more or less spirit is infused by the individuality of the teacher, or the peculiarity of the school. It then requires but a few grand rehearsals to make the pupils of the various schools act unitedly, and the result is a Festival, grand, yet at the same time exceedingly pleasant to the eye and ear.

These festivals were held originally in Faneuil Hall at the close of the school year, when the medal scholars and other invited guests were treated with refreshments, speeches, and music, and boquets were presented by the Mayor to scholars of merit. During the past few years these festivals have been held at the Music Hall, and singing by the scholars was introduced to take the place of refreshments. Gradually the number of singers was much increased, and singing became the principal feature of these occasions. During the past year it was arranged to have the Musical Festival entirely separated from the occasion occurring in the latter part of July, and to hold it in the week preceding the vacation in May, when the weather is cooler and the scholars are not exhausted by examinations and exhibitions.

The first purely musical festival was a decided success in many respects. Admirable order was maintained from beginning to end, by excellent arrangements well carried out. The effect of seeing fourteen hundred pupils, of both sexes, in festive array, can only be felt, not described. The singing by the children deserves all praise. They had evidently been well prepared, kept time, produced a good quality of tone, and sang with a praiseworthy degree of feeling. The effect of some passages was really soul-stirring, and no one can have left the hall without having felt the power of music. The programme was as follows:

1. Voluntary on the Organ, by J. C. D. Parker.

2. The Lord's Prayer, sung in unison, to a Gregorian Chant.

3, 5, 7. Three German Chorals, sung in unison.

4. Prayer from the "Freischutz," by Weber, arranged for three parts, sung by

the pupils of the Girls' High and Normal School.

6. Chorus from "Il Giuramento," by Mercadante.

8. The Star Spangled Banner.

9. Chorus "The Heavens are telling," from the Creation, by Haydn.

10. Old Hundred.

No. 2 was accompanied by the organ, all the following pieces by the organ and the full orchestra, and No. 10 was sung by all present.

We cannot close these remarks without mentioning briefly some points which have been, or may be accomplished by these musical festivals.

They will produce an increased interest of parents in our Public Schools. School exhibitions have done much for that purpose, but cannot do all. Most of the branches taught in school cultivate and affect the intellect and will, while music calls forth and cultivates the emotional powers of the soul. A simple song may accomplish what the most skilful argument fails to do, and a good exhibition in singing will make more friends for the interests of our schools than excellent recitations in purely intellectual branches.

2. These Festivals may do much to make Music, and especially Singing, popular. The notion that only some people can learn to sing, has been driven from Suffolk County, by making singing a regular branch of school instruction. We believe in different degrees of capacity for singing, as well as for other branches of instruction. Singing is most intimately connected with reading, elocution, and declamation, and its full beneficial influence will be felt when every public teacher will be able to teach these branches himself, and in their proper connection. "Distance lends enchantment to the view," yet, in our days of railroad speed, the time must come, when our State will follow the example of its metropolis. The people want popular music, sacred and secular, airs which, with their inspiring words, are not only admired, but loved. Our school tuition may fit the children for the simple music which brightens the twilight hour, pleases the child, and charms the weariness of riper days. Let Boston set a good example, other cities and larger towns will soon follow.

[Condensed from the Boston Journal.]

MIDDLESEX COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE eighteenth semi-annual meeting of the Middlesex County Teachers' Association was held in Rumford Hall, in this town, on Friday and Saturday, April 3d and 4th. There was a fair attendance of the teachers of the county, but it was diminished by the non-appearance of the Cambridge and Lowell delegations, the latter of which usually turn out seventy-five strong.

The meeting was called to order at 10 o'clock, Friday morning, by the President, William E. Sheldon, Esq., of West Newton, and prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Thurston of Waltham. Josiah Rutter, Esq., then, in behalf of the authorities and citizens, welcomed the teachers to the hospitalities of the town. A response in behalf of the teachers was made by the president.

Lectures were delivered by Wm. T. Adams of Boston, Rev. J. C. Bodwell of Framingham, and Rev. Dr. Stebbins of Woburn.

The subjects discussed were Methods of Teaching History; Advantages of an exact and rigid System in regard to Recitations and Deportment; Geography; Spelling; and Military Instruction.

Mr. Claflin, from the Committee on Nomination of Officers for the ensuing year, reported the following list which was unanimously adopted:

Thos. D.

President George T. Littlefield of Somerville. Vice Presidents · Adams of Newton, Samuel A. Chase of Lowell, Alanson Palmer of West Cambridge, W. W. Colburn of Belmont, and Samuel S. Wilson of Charlestown. Secretary and Treasurer―T. M. Bancroft of Waltham. Executive CommitteeWilliam E. Sheldon of West Newton, L. H. Buckingham of Brighton, William A. Stone of Woburn, George N. Bigelow of Framingham, and Asa C. Smith of Cambridge.

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL,

BOSTON, 1861.

ARITHMETIC.

1. Add 31, 41, 73, and 6.

2. A man bought a house for $4000, paid $250 for repairs, and sold it so as to gain 10 per cent. on his investment. For how much did he

sell it?

3. What number is that of which exceeds of it by 29?

4. How much is XX divided by XX?

5. What is the worth of a pile of wood 7ft. long, 4ft. wide, and 3ft. high, at $7 a cord?

6. Required the simple interest on $90.36 for 3 y. 6m. 12d., at 6 per

cent. ?

7. How many gallons of water will fill a rectangular vessel whose dimensions are 1ft. 14ft. and 2ft., allowing 231 cubic inches to the gallon? 8. A man bought 2 galls. of molasses at 30 cents a gallon, and 25 lbs. sugar at 74 cents a pound. He gave in payment $5; how much money is he to receive back?

of

9. Reduce 30,628 pence to pounds, shillings, etc.

10. If 6 yards of cloth cost £4, 13s., what will 11 yards cost?

11. Divide 3.25 by .0235, finding two decimals.

12. Find the amount of $304.56 for four years, at 7 per cent. simple interest.

13. A load of hay weighs 2,625 lbs. What is it worth at $15 per ton? 14. What will it cost to plaster the upright walls of a room 20ft. long, 15ft. wide, and 9ft. high, at 16 cents per square yard, making allowance for a door 7ft. by 3, and three windows each 6ft. by 4?

15. Required the compound interest on $106 for three years, at 6 per

cent.

16. How many yards of carpeting 3yd. wide will cover a floor 27ft. long and 16ft. wide?

17. How many gallon, half-gallon, and quart bottles, of each the same number, will it take to hold a hogshead of wine of 63 gallons?

18. A hare runs 15 rods in 2 seconds, and a hound follows at 12 rods per second. In what time will the latter overtake the former, if they are 20 rods apart at first?

19. Subtract 3×47 from 9×53.

20. How many acres in a rectangular piece of land 40 rods long and 30 rods wide?

21. A man and a boy did a piece of work together; the man was to have $1 25 and the boy $0.75 per day, and they both together received $21. How many days did they work?

22. Multiply together 4.7, 6.13, and 9.2.

23.

24.

What is the sum of 51, 63, and 74 in decimal numbers?
Reduce 0.425 to a vulgar fraction in lowest terms.

GEOGRAPHY.

1. As we move towards the north, do we find vegetation more, or less, luxuriant?

2. What divisions of America are in the Torrid Zone?

3. Where is Chicago situated? - Cairo ? - Memphis? - Pensacola ? Richmond?

4. What river drains the State of Oregon and Washington Territory? 5. Where is Pike's Peak?

6. On what waters would you sail from Boston to Baltimore?

7. Through what States does the Merrimac flow?

8. What are the principal exports of the countries on the Mediter

ranean?

9. What separates the Red Sea from the Mediterranean?

10. What are the exports of British India?

11. What is the length of a degree of longitude?

12. What are the principal ports of the United States south of Norfolk, Va.?

13. Name the principal ranges of mountains in Europe.

14. Draw a map of Maryland and Virginia.

1.5 What is an adjective?

GRAMMAR.

2.5 Write the principal parts of the following verbs: -rise, go, set, see, forsake.

3.10 What is a conjunctive adverb ?

4.10 Write the third person plural, potential mood, passive voice, past tense, of the verb to teach.

5.10 Define the following words: -subjunctive, imperative, infinitive, relative, interrogative.

6.10 Write a sentence in which the subject is limited by a relative clause, and the predicate by a verb in the infinitive.