Book Notices. SUNNY HOURS: Or Child Life of Tom and Mary. By Nellie Eyster. 16mo. 204 pages, Ashmead & Evans, Philadelphia. Price 90 cents. This is a delightful little book for children, and is written in a captivating style, calculated to create a taste for reading. It is divided into four chapters, each designed to illustrate some phase of each of the four seasons. It is just such a book as will be popular about the time of the holidays. The publishers have spared no pains to make it attractive. The illustrative cuts are done in the highest style of art. We recommend it to parents. [We have not seen this book, but the foregoing notice of it has been prepared by a correspondent who has examined it, and is capable of judging correctly of its merits.-ED.] OUR YOUNG FOLKS-for November, 1865: An illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls. Edited by J. T. Trowbridge, Gail Hamilton and Lucy Larcom. 64 pages in each number, published monthly. Terms $2 a year. Ticknor & Fields, Boston. Language, Barbarism, and of Solecism and Impropriety;and the third, of Style, Perspicuity, Elegance and Energy. The whole is preceded by an able and scientific Introduction. The style of the author is elegant, and the arrangement and handling of the matter evince broad scholarship and great experience in the branch treated of. The typography, paper, &c., of the book are beautiful. The work is one well fitted for the teacher's and general scholar's' library, and one also which should not be placed on the shelf till read. THE NORMAL SPELLER: embracing a systematic classification of over Ten Thousand of the most important words of the English Language; appropriate dictation Exercises; Exercises for Phonetic Spelling; Exercises for Syllabication; Systematic and Classified Exercises for false Orthography; Homophonous Words; Rules for Spelling; the Principles of Orthography and Othoepy, &c. By Albert N. Raub, M. S., Superintendent of Public Schools, Ashland, Pa. 224 pages 12mo. Sower, Barnes & Potts. Philadelphia. 1865. This is a Spelling-book. It embraces the whole of orthography,-from the alphabet, through all the steps of this branch of Grammar, to the fundamental principles on which it rests,-interspersed with classified rules and exercises for each department and lists of words often wrongly spelled. It is the whole in one book, and if carefully used and taught will avoid the need of two or three graduated spellers, which really are an expense to the parent without correspondent benefit to the pupil or the school. Several years ago we saw this work in manuscript and then thought highly of it. But it is evident that the intervening time has been well used by the author for its still further improvement. One of the best and most devoted professional teachers in the State, he is just the man to make a good text-book; and his fellow teachers will find in his work a most valuable contribution. Fully tested in his own schools, its principles and methods will stand the test wherever subjected to When this periodical for the young people made its appearance about a year ago, we saw the first number, and spoke as favorably as we could of an untried work. From that time till the other day, we saw it highly commended by exchanges; but, as it did not reach our table, we could not judge for ourselves of its actual merits. We are now in possession of a full file-from No. 1 to 11-and find it all that was promised. In proof of this is the fact, that it has been, since its arrival, in such request amongst our our own young folks and those of our near neighbors, that when needed for the purposes of this notice, it became necessary to institute quite a search for it, and it could only be procured on an express promise to return it immediately to the family in which it was found. This we think is saying about as much for the interest it excites, as any other form of words or statement we could substitute. Then, as to the matter which so pleases its readers, we can In our notice of these works, in the October Number of safely say that it is as sound as it is interesting, and as well expressed as it is sound. We, therefore, cheerfully and this Journal, we inadvertently expressed regret, which we cordially commend it as a valuable addition to family read-sincerely felt, that the old sterling works of the same au ing, and know of no better or more suitable present to a young friend, as a gift for the cheerful season which is now approaching, than this. DAILY CLASS ROLL OF STUDIES: Cheap, comprehensive and easily kept, and sufficient for a school of 70 pupils for 20 months. Published by George Wiant, book binder, Lancaster City, Pa. This form of Roll has been prepared by a Teacher of great experience, and we are informed has given full satisfaction wherever introduced. Simplicity and cheapness are its chief recommendations. Price 50 cents; by mail 65 cents. the ordeal. MITCHELL'S NEW GEOGRAPHY AND ATLAS. Published by E. H. Butler & Co. Philadelphia. 1865. thor were thereby displaced. We are now rejoiced to find that we were mistaken on this point, and gladly correct the error, by saying, as we are authorized to do,-""that Mitchell's old School Geography and Atlas, brought up to the present date, both in text and maps, is still published and will continue to be printed and kept up to date, as long as the sale is so great as to be equal to three times that of any other School Geography and Atlas published in the United States;-which it certainly is to-day." The new Geography and Atlas is a part of "Mitchell's New Series," including the First Lessons, New Primary, New Intermediate, and New Geography !and Atlas. The old Geography and Atlas is a part of the "old series," including Mitch PHILOSOPHY OF RHETORIC. By John Bascom, Professor of Rhetoric in Williams College. Author of Esthetics, or Science of Beauty, &c. 12mo. 251 pages, with an Inell's Geographical questions, and School Geography and dex. Crosby & Ainsworth, Boston. 1866. The author states that this work is designed chiefly "for the latter years of college life;" and a hasty examination shows it to be fitted for all who wish to go beyond the mere rules of Rhetoric as found in the text-books, to the principle in the laws of mind and language on which those rules are based. The first book treats of the Department of Composition, Prose, Poetry and Oratory; the second, of The Laws of Influence, Arguments, Emotions, Imagination and Memory, Wit, Humor, and Ridicule, Laws of Atlas. CLARK'S SCHOOL VISITOR. A Day-School Monthly; for the use of children and especially for pupils in school.16 pages 8vo. Published by J. W. Doughaday, No. 1308 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Liberally illustrated and handsomely printed. Price 75 cents a year.. This pleasant and instructive work has been more than once noticed in this Journal. It is now near the end of the 9th volume, and we are informed will be greatly improved at the beginning of the 10th. Already a most attractive work of its class, this will put it far in the front rank. NORMAL ELEMENTARY GEOMETRY: Embracing_a brief Treatise on Mensuration and Trignometry. Designed for Academies, Seminaries, High Schools, Normal Schools and Advanced Classes in Common Schools. By Edward Brooks, A. M., Professor of Mathematics in the Pennsylvania State Normal School, 2nd District, and author of Normal Primary Arithmetic, &c. &c. 12mo. 276 pages. Sower, Barnes & Potts, Philadelphia. 1865. This is really one book containing three Treatises,-one on Geometry, one on Mensuration and one on Trigonometry, each separate from the other. That on Geometry occupies the greater portion of the work, and seems to us to present valid reasons, (which is more than can be said for all the new text-books now issuing from the press,) for its own addition to the long list. Its author claims for it,and we think justly,-several improvements;-first, an abbrevation of the ordinary text-books; second, a simplification, so far as possible, of the methods of demonstration usually employed; third, the examples to impart the power of making a practical application of the principles of the science; fourth, undemonstrated theorems, to cultivate the power of original thought and investigation. The teacher and practical mathematician will at once recognize the great value of these features. The subjects of Mensuration and Trigonometry are also briefly treated and much practicalized. The publishers of Prof. Brooks's series of works on Arithmetics, inform us that they are receiving great favor at the hands of the teachers of the nation; and we believe that this advance of his into the great science of Form will be equally sustained. distribution with the reports and documents that are sent each year to the County Superintendents. There will be enough sent to the several counties to furnish to each director a copy, and 30 per cent. of the number furnished for directors, in order that Superintendents may have a supply on hand, to meet the calls that may be made from time to time, by directors and others. The book is not for general distribution; still it is desirable that the school law be as widely circulated, among the people, as possible. The arrangement is somewhat changed, but is believed to be more convenient for reference, inasmuch as the decisions and explanations are placed immediately after the article or section to which they refer. The form of the book is materially changed. This was done, both for the sake of economy and convenience. The stitched pamphlet form, which has heretofore been used, would last but about one year; and each newly elected set of directors required new copies of the law, because the old ones were used up. They were inconvenient to carry, and consequently, after they had been used a few months and the covers torn off, they were thrown away as waste paper; or given to the younger children to play with. As the present edition is put up, it makes a neat little book, in durable binding, of convenient size to carry in the pocket. The laws are published at the expense of the State, and should be carefully preserved by the officers for whose benefit they are published. When a director goes out of office, he is as much bound to pass over the copy of the laws in his possession to his successor, so he is to perform any other duty. The book does not belong to the man individually, but to the office which he holds, and should, in all cases, be given over to the successor, when the office is surrendered. A limited number of copies of the laws in German wil be printed for distribution, in the counties where th are directors who are not able to read the English language. Superintendents in whose counties German copies are required, will please to inform the department, at an early date, how many will be needed in their respective counties. TO DIRECTORS. Several Districts that are supposed to be entitled to their share of the State appropriation for the school year, ending on the first Monday of June, 1865, have not sent to this department the certificate and affidavit, and annual report required by law. Unless these documents are received very soon, the appropriation belonging to such districts will be forfeited. Secretaries and Presidents of the boards should give immediate attention to this matter. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 6. QUESTION: Can the directors collect the one dollar minimum occupation tax for school and building purposes both, when both taxes are levied in a district the same year? ANSWER: They cannot. The tax for supporting the schools, and the one for building purposes, are in fact but one tax. Although they should be voted upon, and their amounts fixed by separate votes; still, when they are made out, they should be put into the duplicate as one tax, and but one minimum occupation tax can be collected of any one tax payer, in the same year. school houses, approved May 8, 1854, can directors take 7. QUESTION: By the special act relative to sites for forcible possession of lands adjoining their school lots, for the purpose of enlarging said lots? ANSWER: The act referred to in this question declares, that in certain specified counties, "whenever the board of directors shall be unable to procure such eligible points for the erection of school houses thereon, as they may deem expedient, by agreement with the owner, or owners of the land, it shall and may be lawful for the board of directors, in behalf of the district, to enter upon and occupy sufficient ground for that purpose, which they shall designate and mark off, not exceeding in any case one acre." This law gives directors the authority, in certain cases, and with certain restrictions, to take possession of lands, without the consent of the owners, for the purpose of erecting a school house thereupon, but it does not give the right to forcibly take and occupy lands adjoining school lots, because said lots are, or are supposed to be too small for the accommodation of the school. When the site for the erection of the house was selected, the directors could have secured for the district a full acre, but if at that time they accepted a less quantity, after the house is built and the whole matter disposed of, they cannot, under this law, come in and claim more. as new pupils will be constantly arriving, it will be come pro. per to have their measures in order to prevent mis fits.— This was not necessary when a whole school was to be clad in the first instance, because all could be fitted from the large number of suits then provided. These measures, however, are only tobe sent in relation to the boys' uniform and winter working jackets, pants and caps or hats, and the girls' cloaks; all the other garments being made at the schools. The following measurements will be sufficient: Boys Pants & Caps measure. John Smith, Waist 27 Wm. Jones, Joseph Hood, Peter Lee, JACKET: Length of Back, means, from the prominent or socket bone in the back of the neck, to a point on the back-bone just below the top of the hip bone. Length of Sleeve, means, from the middle of the back, around the outside of the curved elbow, to the knuckle of the little finger. Breast measure, means, the girt around the chest, just under the arms and outside of the vest, or, if no vest, outside of the jacket. Waist measure, means, the girt around the waist, just above the hips and outside of the vest and pants PANTS: Waist measure, means, around the waist, above the hips and under the vest or jacket. Inside seam, means, from the crotch, down the inside of the leg to within one inch of the ground. Outside seam, means, from the top of the hip-bone, down the outside of the leg to within one inch of the ground. CAP: Head measure, means the girt of the head just above the ears, so as to embrace the forehead. Height of Round the Round the Length girl. shoulders. neok. of sleeve. Girls' Cloaks Northern Home, Susan Peters, 58 52 Mary Lee, Germantown 46 27 27 Jane Smith, 30 30 20 Height of girl, means, from the top of the head to the ground. Round the shoulders, means, girt around the outside and just below the top of the shoulders. Round the neck, means, around the neck just above the chest. Length of sleeve, means, from the middle of the back, From the schools marked (*) no report of admission has around the outside of the curved arm, to the knuckle of the These measurements are all to be expressed in Inches as boin the lists now given, and are not to be made TIGHT, cause all the garments are for growing children. In the boys list, it is to be specified whether each boy needs an every-day or a uniform suit, or both,-bearing in mind that the measure is the same in both cases. Lists of the above kind, giving the name and measurements of each pupil, are to be prepared, signed by the Prin. cipal of the school, and sent to the office at Lancaster, whenever suits are needed. As soon as possible after their receipt, the proper garments will be forwarded, with each pupil's name attached to those intended for him or her. In the case of schools recently opened,—such as those at Harford and Cassville,-it will be more convenient and en. sure better fits, to forward lists similar to the above, for the first supply of clothing for all the pupils. STOCKINGS. Inquiry has been made by all the more advanced schools, as to the best mode of providing winter stockings. For the present, the Principals will purchase good woolen yarn, by the quantity, and have the stockings knitted, as far as practicable, by the larger girls. But, when this cannot be done in time, they will employ females, in the neighborhood, to do this work at their own homes, giving a reasonable price per pair, and preferring soldiers widows when such apply for the work. EVERY DAY HATS FOR BOYS. A supply of black felt hats, for every day wear, will shortly be ready, and a sufficient number will be sent to each school. WILKESBARRE: It is expected that a Children's Home will be opened in Wilkesbarre about the first of January, into which the soldiers' orphans of that region of the State, of the more juvenile class, will be admitted. Till that time their relatives and others interested must have patience. HARFORD AND CASSVILLE: Orders have been issued in considerable numbers, for the admission of orphans into these schools, to take effect after the first Monday in November. By the first of December it is expected that both these schools will be fully in operation with at least one-half of their maximum number of pupils. M'ALLISTERVILLE: In a short time, a general transfer of the pupils from Blair, Huntingdon and some other counties, will be made from this school to Cassville, so as to leave room in it for orphans of Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, &c. now awaiting admission ;-the object being to have the pupils as near the homes of their relatives as possible. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. QUESTION: Our township is a non-accepting school district, and consequently there is no Board of Common School Directors in it. By whom shall the certificate, appended to the application for admission and intended to be approved by the school Directors, be signed? income thus be accumulated till his arrival at the age of 21. But in that case he would be without the kind of education which it is the wish of the State to impart, or see imparted, to all the children of her soldiers. On the other hand, it is out of the power of the guardian properly to provide for and educate him with the slender means at his disposal. The State will, therefore, admit him, add his income to the general stock, and afford him the full benefit of the schools;-in the hope that he may thereby become a more useful man and a better citizen, at maturity, than H in the mean time he was brought up in comparative ignorance, in order that his small capital might double itself. QUESTION: Capt. C., who has served during the whole war in one of the State volunteer regiments and been honorably discharged, lately visited this school, and now desires to place his son in it. He is willing to pay the same compensation for his maintenance and education as the State allows for the other pupils. Can his son be admitted on these terms? ANSWER: He can, so long as there is room for him with out excluding any of the proper claimants for admission.It is a compliment to the school that this application is made; and it is hoped that when the system of instruction now contemplated shall be fully in operation, these schools will attract many such applications. Annual Calendar OF SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. For Catalogues, &c., apply to the respective Presidents or Principals. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS: AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Centre County. Wm. H. Allen, M. D., L. L. D. President. One session yearly, divided into two terms of twenty weeks each. The first term opens on the last Tuesday in February and closes the third Wednesday of July. The second term opens on the fourth Wednesday of July and closes on the third Wednesday of December. Charge for board, wash. ing, tuition, room rent and fuel $100 in advance for each term, Address, Agricultural College, P. O., Centre Co., Pa. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 2nd District, at Millersville, Lancaster county. Prof. J. P. Wickersham, A. M., Principal. Commencement Friday, July 21. Winter term from September 11, 1865, till March 7, 1866, 26 weeks; summer term from April 2, 1866, till commencement, 16 weeks.June 27, examination of candidates for State Certificates. Fall vacation seven, and Spring vacation three weeks. Expenses about $200 for the school year. The whole number of students of all grades during the year was 697. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 5th District, Mansfield, Tioga county. Prof. F. A. Allen, A. M., Principal. Three terms of 14 weeks each, commencing 1st Wednesday in September, and continuing without any recess except one week at Christmas. Expenses during school year about $160. Number of students last year, 285. Though the last recognized of the State Normal Schools, all the rooms in the Normal building are already taken for the next term;-but boarding can still be had in the village. Additional buildings ANSWER: The application is not to be defeated by the fact, that the township rejects the common school system. In such case, let a Justice of the Peace, resident in the district, and before whom the "Statement" is sworn to, also certify that there is no School Board in the district, and then let him sign the same certificate which should have been signed by the Board, in his proper official capacity.This, with the certificate of the proper County Committee,,-at Edinboro' in Erie county. Prof. J. A. Cooper, A. will be sufficient. QUESTION: A boy of nine years of age, and the son of a Penna. Volunteer, who died in the service, his mother being also dead, applied by his guardian for admission to one of the schools for Soldiers' Orphans, and his claim was rejected, on the ground, that he has an annual income of about $48, and also expects the usual pension from the United States. His guardian now offers to pay into the general Soldiers' Orphan fund the above income, till he arrives at 16, and also his pension, if he obtain any, on con dition that he be admitted to one of the State schools as a Soldiers' Orphan. Will he be admitted on these terms? ANSWER: He will. It is true that this boy might be bound out to a trade, or put to a farmer, and his little for students will be erected this fall. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 12th District, the North-west M., Principal. Three terms: 1st. From last Wednesday in August, till last Thursday in November. 2nd. From first Wednesday in December, till first Thursday in March. 3rd. Brom last Wednesday in March, till last Thursday in June, when commencement takes place. Expenses for the three terms about $180. Total number of students of all grades the past year, 817. CURRY'S NORMAL INSTITUTE, Pittsburgh, Pa. Prof. R. Curry, A. M., Principal. The term opens on the first Monday of September. Price of tuition per year, $50. Boarding and lodging in respectable families at prices ranging from $3 to $5 per week. Pupils received at all times, but persons wishing to enter regular classes should enter at the opening of the term, or on the first Monday of January or April. Whole number of students during the year, 302. COLLEGES : PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, at Gettysburg, Adams county. Rev. H. L. Baugher, D. D., President. Commencement 2nd Tuesday in August. First term begins 6 weeks from commencement and continues 13 weeks. 2nd term 3 weeks from end of first, and continues till commencement. In addition to the usual College course there is a Professorship of German Language and Literature. Expenses about $163 the collegiate year. The No. of students of all grades last year 114. FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE, at Lancaster, Laneaster county. Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D.D., President. Commencement last Wednesday in July. Three terms: 1st. Begins 7 weeks from commencement and lasts 14 weeks. 2nd. Two weeks from end of first, and lasts 14 weeks. 3rd, Three weeks from end of second, and lasts 12 weeks. Expenses about $218. Number of students last year 61. ACADEMIES: UNIONVILLE ACADEMY, at Unionville, Chester county, Pa., M. Durnal, A. M. and H. S. Kent, principals. The school year consists of 40 weeks, and is divided into three terms:-The spring term of 10 weeks, commences the third Monday of April; Summer term of 10 weeks, the fourth Monday of July; Winter term of 20 weeks, the thirtieth of October, 1865: a vacation of 4 weeks occurs between the terms. Expenses for the year, about $200. Number of students last year, 85. CHESTER VALLEY ACADEMY for young men, at Coatesville, Chester county, Pa. The next term will commence on the 29th of the 1st month, (January) 1866, and continue twenty weeks. Whole number of pupils last year 121. J. B. Taylor, Principal, Silas Wright, B. E., 1st Assistant, Milton S. Parry, 2d Assistant, Emilie M. Potts, teacher of German, Prof. Keffer, teacher of Music. Original Communications. DENOMINATIONAL COLLEGES. MR. EDITOR:-It has long been a question with me whether our Pennsylvania Collegiate System is the right one. As I understand it, our Colleges are all denominational, each having either been established by or being now under the care and control of, one or other of the christian sects which prevail amongst us. My own impression when I first considered the matter, was against this arrangement. It seemed to smack somewhat of exclusiveness if not of bigotry, and to be inconsistent with that degree of liberality which should prevail amongst all christians. It seemed also to tend to proselytism and to encourage the mere profession without the substance of religion. In a temporal point of view, also, it appeared inexpedient, by ex cluding from pecuniary contribution to or support of the College, all who did not belong to the church to which the institution belonged. On the other hand, as a christian I could not tolerate the idea of having hundreds of young men collected and kept together, during the most critical years of their lives, without any provision for regular religious instruction and observances. Yet I could not see how these could be secured without form-sectarian form. Further on in my observation of this matter, I preceived at least one of our Colleges to dwindle and almost fail while it was not under special sectarian control, but instantly to revive and regain much vigor when committed to the care of one of the christian denominations. And I found, that the support and success of all the Colleges was owing to in proportion with this denominational feature in the system. The result is, that I am rather inclined, as the end of my observation on this matter, to favor the Sectarian feature in our Collegiate system. Still, I do not feel perfectly certain that this is the right conclusion. I think I have seen in some of your own reports or writings some remarks on this point, favoring the existing arrangement. I think you, or some of your correspondents, would benefit the cause of education by discussing this point thoroughly, and leading the public mind at this time, when the subject seems to be attracting attention, to a correct conclusion. Though not an old fogy myself, nor by any means afraid of attacking old institutions or customs merely because they are old, yet I must confess I would like now to be convinced that our existing Collegiate system is the best for us, and that we can safely embrace it in the broad folds of that great State system of education which is evidently growing up amongst us. A. T. ALLEGHENY Co., October, 1865. TEACHING BACKWARD SCHOOLS. The expression we so often hear that such a teacher" is not very well qualified, but he is plenty good enough to teach a Backward School,"—we think, when properly considered, will be found a mistaken idea. Most to be in most cases, scholars in backward schools not only lack the rudiments of book knowledge, but are very incompetent judges of the teacher's abilities, and the teacher's errors, receiving them for truth. If they have confidence in the honesty and ability of their teacher, they will generally consider him a model in every respect, no matter how unqualified he may be in reality. The consequence is, that if he be unqualified in most, or many cases, the injury to the pupils will be very great: for as the old adage says, “Ignorance is a blank sheet on which we may easily write; but Error is a scribbled one, which must first be erased, before we can inscribe truth on its pages." Now we do not wish to be understood to mean that it is just as necessary for a teacher whose pupils are all tyros, to have as extensive a knowledge of most of the branches, or that it is quite as necessary for such a teacher to understand as many branches of science, as it is for one whose pupils are very far advanced; but we think that teachers of backward schools ought to as well understand what is required to be taught in those schools, as teachers should be, who teach forward schools. Incorrect pronunciation is perhaps as objectionable as any other failure in the teacher of a backward school. One very common evidence of want of qualification is, to see one teaching who can not hear any |