THE TOOLS GREAT MEN WORK WITH.

It is not tools that make the workman, but the trained skill and perseverance of the man himself. Indeed, it is proverbial that the bad workman never yet had a good tool. Some one asked Opie by what wonderful process he mixed his colors. "I mix them with my brains, sir,” was his reply. It is the same with every workman who would excel. Ferguson made marvellous things— such as his wooden clock that actually measured the hours-by means of a common penknife, a tool in everybody's hand, but then everybody is not a Ferguson. A pan of water and two thermometers were the tools by which Dr. Black discovered latent heat; and a prism, a lens, and a sheet of pasteboard, enabled Newton to unfold the origin of light and the composition of color. An eminent foreign savant once called upon Dr. Wollaston, and requested to be shown over his laboratories, in which science had been enriched by so many important discoveries, when the Doctor took him into a little study, and, pointing to an old tea-tray on the table, containing a few watch-glasses, test-papers, a small balance, and a blow-pipe, said: "There is all the laboratory I have!" Stothard learned the art of combining colors by closely studying butterflies' wings; he would often say that no one knew what he owed to these tiny insects. A burnt stick and a barn door served Wilkie in lieu of pencil and canvas. Berwick first studied drawing on the cottage walls of his native village, which he covered with his sketches in chalk; and Benjamin West made his first brushes out of the cat's tail. Ferguson laid himself down in the fields at night in a blanket, and made a map of the heavenly bodies by means of a thread with small beads on it, stretched between his eye and the stars. Franklin first robbed the thunder-cloud of its lightning by means of a kite made with two cross-sticks and a silk handkerchief. Watt made his first model of the condensing steam-engine out of an old anatomist's syringe, used to inject the arteries previous to dissection. Gifford worked his first problem in mathematics, when a cobbler's apprentice, upon small scraps of leather, which he beat smooth for the purpose; while Rittenhouse, the astronomer, first calculated eclipses on his plough-handle. Selected.

Resident Editors' Department.

AT WORK AGAIN.

VACATION is over! We generally say that in gladness. Six weeks' vacation is usually more than we know what to do with. But this year we have had no vacation. Our time has all been taken up with the war. There has been something to do continually, and there has been so much anxiety, so much depression at times, that we felt Monday morning when we took up the threads we had dropped, and commenced the old work again, O, for a good rest! for one week of perfect quiet! Then what a day it was! Banks cut off, and his whole division taken prisoners! McClellan a traitor! Our army falling back upon Washington! Things

looked dark. We commenced our year's work as never before.

The next day things cleared up a little. Banks was safe. McClellan was still loyal. But there was the rebel army still threatening Washington, and seemingly no power on the Union side to drive it back; and then came the report, Cincinnati threatened! We felt "blue." Not that we were utterly discouraged; but we could not understand this way of "driving the enemy to the wall." It seemed somehow as if the wall had got round the other side and was pressing against us.

We have kept school, however, just as usual. We have done just as much work as we ever did in the first two days of the term. But we have drawn a good many long breaths, and have felt such a sense of heaviness, that it seemed more like the end of a long wearisome year than the beginning of a new. We long for good news! Let the telegraphic wires throb with the intelligence that the rebels are driven back; that they are in full retreat upon Richmond, and going so fast they cannot possibly stop there! that the stars and stripes flaunt gayly over Sumpter! that Charleston has succumbed to Federal rule! and twenty years would drop from our shoulders, leaving us young, vigorous and light-hearted, able to work with a will that would brush away all obstacles as easily as so many cobwebs.

But sadder yet! While we write, intelligence is brought that our army is retreating upon WASHINGTON! that JACKSON with a large army is moving towards BALTIMORE! No deliverance yet! Disaster greater than ever stares us in the face! What shall we do! Only one answer comes, have faith in God and our cause. It may be we are to suffer, and that terribly! We deserve to suffer. We have nursed a viper and must expect to writhe

under its sting. But God will not desert us. He lays his hand heavily upon us only that he may strengthen. He brings us to the flame only that he may purify. Disasters, we know not how many or great, may come upon us; but when we have been quickened into a purer patriotism, into a holier love of liberty, then His face will be turned towards us, His right arm will lead us on, and we shall look no longer in vain for a deliverer.

Many of us return to our schools feeling that we may be summoned from them to buckle on our armor and go forth to service upon the battle field, -all with extreme solicitude. The nation is imperilled, and among its brave defenders are brothers, friends, neighbors, and every battle brings sorrow, O, to how many hearts! But let us be patient and hopeful, day by day doing faithfully whatever work is assigned us. The world moves on. To-day we are in the shade; to-morrow we may be in the sunlight.

MEETING OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION.

WORCESTER, August 18th, 1862.

THE Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association was held in the City Hall, Worcester, on the 18th and 19th of August, 1862. The meeting was called to order by the President, John Kneeland, Esq., at 2 o'clock, P. M.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Hill of Worcester. Rev. J. D. E. Jones, Superintendent of Public Schools, Worcester, made an address of welcome, to which the President responded, and then delivered his annual address to the Association. The records of the last annual meeting were read by the Secretary and approved. The Treasurer, James A. Page, then read his report, which was referred to an auditing committee, consisting of Messrs. Hammond, Stone, and Hutchins.

Messrs. Green of Worcester, Parish of Springfield, Storrs of Amherst, Dickinson of Westfield, White of Williamstown, Boltwood of Lawrence, Sheldon of West Newton, Page of Boston, Putnam of Quincy, Rugg of New Bedford, Hutchins of Boston, Hammond of Groton, Bigelow of Framingham, and Stone of Plymouth, were appointed a Nominating Committee.

Wm. E. Sheldon presented the report of the Committee on "The Legal Recognition of Teaching as a Profession," as published in the last number of the Teacher. On motion of Mr. Page the report was accepted.

The following question was then discussed: "What is the Extent of the Teacher's Authority over his Scholars beyond School Hours?"

The discussion was opened by Hon. Joseph White, Secretary of the Board of Education. He was followed by Messrs. Parish, Boltwood, Hammond, Walton, Claflin, Page, Green, Hooker, Chase, Jones of Worcester, Jones of Roxbury, Bigelow, and the Rev. Mr. Souther; after which the Association adjourned till evening.

EVENING SESSION.

At 8 o'clock, a lecture was delivered by J. K. Lombard, Esq., of the Worcester High School, on "The Pleasures of Teaching." Adjourned.

TUESDAY MORNING SESSION.

Meeting was called to order by the President, at 9 o'clock.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. Merrill Richardson of Worcester.

The report of the Nominating Committee was then made and accepted.

The Committee were instructed to obtain printed ballots for the election of officers.

Messrs. Sheldon and Parish spoke in reference to the time of holding the meetings of the Association.

Moved by Mr. Walton, that the next Annual Meeting be held in the month of August, at the discretion of the Directors. The motion was passed.

At 9 o'clock, S. W. Mason, Esq., of the Eliot School, Boston, lectured on the "Utility and Practicability of Gymnastics in Public Schools."

Mr. Mason then introduced a class of twenty boys who gave an exhibition of gymnastic positions as practised in his school.

Voted, on motion of Dr. Lewis of Boston, that the unqualified and unreserved thanks of the Association be tendered to Samuel W. Mason and his fine class of boys, for their instructive and beautiful exhibition of school gymnastics.

Dr. Lewis offered the following resolutions, and spoke upon the importance of physical culture.

Whereas, The subject of Physical Education has evoked general interest throughout our country, and

Whereas, Several persons have invented systems of muscular training, each of which may possess valuable features, and

Whereas, It is important that teachers everywhere should enjoy the advantages of the experience of these inventors, therefore

Resolved, 1st. That this Association would respectfully suggest a National Convention for the discussion of Physical Culture.

2d. That all teachers of gymnastics should be invited to attend and present the claims of their various modes.

3d. That a committee of men and women might be selected who should report upon the various modes or systems presented, indicating the exercises which in their judgment were best adapted to schools.

4th. And that a class-book of Physical Culture which should contain the exercises approved by the committee, might extend to the schools of our whole country the best thoughts and practices of those who have given their attention to the subject.

J. W. Bulkley of Brooklyn, N. J., made a few remarks upon the resolutions, and upon his motion they were referred to a committee of three to report at the next annual meeting.

Dr. Lewis, Mr. S. W. Mason, and Rev. B. G. Northrop were appointed the committee.

Remarks were made further on the subject of Gymnastics by Prof. Russell, Messrs. White, Boltwood, Boyden, and Northrop. Adjourned.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

At 2 o'clock the following officers were elected:
President-Wm. E. Sheldon, West Newton.

Vice Presidents-Thomas Sherwin, Boston; Geo. C. Wilson, Taunton; Geo. N. Bigelow, Framingham; A. G. Boyden, Bridgewater; A. H. Cornish, Plymouth; B. G. Northrop, Saxonville; Ivory S. Cornish, New Bedford; Wm. Russell, Lancaster; J. W. Dickinson, Westfield; C. C. Chase, Lowell; Daniel Mansfield, Cambridge; Chas. Hutchins, Boston; James S. Eaton, Andover; Ariel Parish, Springfield.

Recording Secretary-T. D. Adams, Newton.

Corresponding Secretary―J. E. Horr, Brookline.
Treasurer-James A. Page, Boston.

Councillors-Chas. E. Hammond, Groton; Josiah A. Stearns, Boston; D. B. Hagar, Jamaica Plain; A. P. Stone, Plymouth; Chas. Ansorge, Dorchester; John Kneeland, Roxbury; H. R. Greene, Worcester; Chas. P. Rugg, New Bedford; Ephraim Flint, Jr., Lee; John D. Philbrick, Boston; B. W. Putnam, Boston; Granville B. Putnam, Quincy.

The retiring President appointed Messrs. Bigelow and Parish to conduct Mr. Sheldon to the chair, which duty they performed. The new President made a brief and appropriate address, thanking the Association for the honor conferred upon him. A lecture was then delivered by Geo. N. Bigelow, Esq., Principal of the Framingham Normal School; subject, "Something about many things."

At 4 o'clock commenced a discussion on "The best Method of increasing the Moral Sentiment of a School." The discussion was conducted by Messrs. Goldthwait, Dickinson, Richards of Washington, D. C., Allen, Green, Ward, Claflin, Hewett, and Russell. Adjourned.

EVENING SESSION.

Meeting was called to order by the President at a quarter before 8 o'clock. Mr. Walton of Lawrence, then offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be presented to those newspaper editors who have given gratuitous notice of this meeting; to the several Railroad corporations that have furnished us tickets at reduced rates; to the City Government of Worcester, for the free use of the City Hall for our sessions; to the keepers of the various Hotels in the city, for a liberal reduction in charges for entertainment; to the lecturers for their able addresses; to the Eliot boys for their excellent gymnastic exercises, and especially to the retiring President for the kindly and efficient conduct which he has given to the meetings of the Association during his administration.

The President and Mr. Kneeland then made some remarks in behalf of the Massachusetts Teacher.

The following resolutions were then read by the Secretary and adopted by the Association:

To the President of the United States:

Whereas, We regard with fearful interest the progress of the civil war now raging in our land; and whereas we have endeavored to comprehend the causes of the same, and whether in the light of reason, philosophy, and Christianity or in