which is in the town of San Diego. A new school is to be started soon at a settlement 65 miles from the town. The State apportionment received by the San Diego district, this year, amounted to $1,094.40, enough to maintain a free school all the year.

With the fund at command, the Trustees can well afford to raise the salary of their excellent teacher from $65 per month to $80, and they ought to do it. The female teacher we sent down there two years ago got married, probably on account of low salary; and if Capt. Thorne, of the " Orizaba," is to be believed, her successor intends to take the same melancholy course. Are there auy courageous young ladies who want to teach the San Diego School when the next vacancy happens?

We took a six days' vacation at San Diego-the first vacation we had enjoyed for four years-from the fact that we could not get away until the arrival of the weekly mail line from Los Angeles.

From San Diego to Los Angeles the distance is 120 miles, a two-days' stage ride. A cold, drizzling rain did not add to the comfort of the trip.

LOS ANGELES.-We passed two days in visiting the schools of this city. The city contains 1048 children of school age, of which number about 250 attend the public schools, and 150 the private schools, leaving about 600 not attending any school. There are two substantial, but poorly planned two-story brick school-houses, and one new brick house, two miles from the center of the city, which was erected last year. The new house is well arranged, well furnished, and is designed for an ungraded school, which is taught by Mrs. E. A. Williamson, who deservedly ranks as a first-class teacher. In the city schools proper, there is one Grammar class for girls, taught by Miss Mary E. Hoyt, a deservedly popular teacher, and also a Grammar class for boys.

One of the primary schools, mostly attended by children of Spanish descent, is well taught by Miss Maddigan; and the other is in charge of Mrs. Foster, who has been several years engaged in the schools. Los Angeles County contains 2054 children between 5 and 15 years of age, and its last State apportionment amounted to $8,012. The rate of county tax levied last year was 35 cents on a hundred dollars, and the same rate will be levied this year. Out of 2054 children of school age, only 581 were last year enrolled on the public school registers, and the average daily attendance was only 376. The school libraries of this county have all been purchased and distributed by the County Superintendent, Wm. J. McKee.

SAN BERNARDINO.-Our visit to this county was a brief one, in consequence of a heavy rain storm, which settled the fact that we must return by steamer to San Francisco, instead of by stage, by way of Kern County and Visalia, as we had intended. We had the discomfort of a 65-mile ride in the rain, to San Bernardino, one day—a rainy night, and a return ride in the rain, the next day, to Los Angeles.

From what we learned, during our brief stay, from some of the teachers and citizens, we think there has been some improvement in the schools during the

past two years; but there is room for still further progress. One of the public schools is taught by Mr. William Wozencraft, a son of Dr. Wozencraft. This county contains 1,149 children of school age, of whom 672 were last year enrolled on the public school registers.

CHUNCLE ON LYING.

Ever since I sent Charlie to the public school he lies like sixty. I'm sure I don't know how he learns to lie so, or who's to blame for it.-ANXIOUS MA. Yes, Ma'am; he has lied ever since he went to the public school, and always did lie before he went to it. Can you recall a time, ma'am, since he could talk, when he didn't lie? You know you can't. Lies like sixty, does he? So he does, ma'am, and before he went to the public school he lied like eighty. Don't know how he learned to lie? Why, you poor simple creature you, he learns it in the most direct manner possible; by example, ingenious, graceful, practiced, accomplished, powerful example. Who's to blame for it? Why, you, ma'am, his mother, the most efficient teacher he could have in that fashionable accomplishment. You needn't stare. It's true, and you know it. You've taken more pains to teach him to lie than you ever did to teach him to talk. How often have you, in his presence, told this neighbor that you were sorry she couldn't come last Tuesday; that one, that you were glad she had come at last; another, that you really couldn't get time to call on her, and so on, when he had seen you fairly hug yourself with delight because you knew the first couldn't come, thought the second wouldn't come, and got past the third one's house without being seen. How many tens of outright, fashionable, convenient lies have you told in his presence, and how many have you made him repeat? I see you blush to think of them, and well you may; but while you're about it, spread it on a little thicker at the thought of your meanness in trying to shift the responsibility from your own shoulders to those of his teacher, who really has taught the poor little fellow all the good he knows. Never mind, ma'am, you needn't apologize. I'll forgive you, but will your conscience let you off so easily? Try it. D. U. T. CHUNCLE.

SCHOOL FORMS.-Prof. Knowlton has laid us under renewed obligations by adding to the volume a sheet illustrating his valuable article in the November number. It is hardly necessary to commend to our readers a reperusal of that paper in connection with the addition which the Professor has enabled us to give this month.

OMITTED. In the list of holders of First Grade State Certificates published in the February number of the TEACHER, the name of MISS MARY J. MORGAN, of Downieville, was accidentally omitted.

CRITICAL SCHOLARSHIP.-We extract the following from the Marysville Appeal:

We are in blissful ignorance of the names of the teachers who gave the following answers at the late institute and examination, and we publish them with the kindest intentions, hoping that ambitious pedagogues and the too indulgent school trustees and parents may profit by looking at the naked facts. We wish the Trustees, especially, to remember that one of the persons who gave these answers can undoubtedly be employed at $40 or $50 per month, and board round, and perhaps they will lose the rainy days. Grammar-" Ess makes a masculine into a feminine." "A letter is a sound." "Gender means sex." "Add s and the apostrophe to make the plural." "Ix and ess suffixed to a word, change an unknown to a known gender." "A letter is a character to form words to express our ideas." "A claus jeneraly relates to some preseeding work." "Pronouns. qualify nouns, as, cool morning; cool expresses the quality of morning, and ling expresses the quality of these questions, as puzz-ling." Geography: Many failed to bound California correctly. "The inclination of the earth's axis is 45 degrees." "A degree of longitude is longest at the poles." "Stockton is situated on the Sacramento river." The mountain systems of the United States are "Coast Range, Nevadah, Blue Ridge, Allegany, White." "Birmingham is in jermany, and Melbourne is in Scotland." "The Nigar rises in Africa, flows northeast and empties in the Reed sea." 'The Southern county of California is San Barnidino." "6 'Mexico is bounded on the north by Arazona and Indian Territory, and on the east by Arcasses and Misses and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and southwest by Texas, on the west by Arizonia and Nevadah."

NEW BOOKS. The following new books have been received: PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF DISTINGUISHED GENERALS. By Wm. F. G. Shanks. New York: Harper & Brothers. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. pp. 352. This is a collection of papers from Harper's Magazine. The author was one of the ablest war correspondents during the rebellion, and had ample opportunity

to form opinions for himself as to the respective merits of the generals in command. He is by no means deficient in self respect, and he has the power to express his thoughts in clear and unmistakable English. He photographs Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Rousseau, Buel, and many other leaders; freely praises and freely criticises; and, on the whole, has furnished a very interesting and valuable book for the country.

THE LAWYER IN THE SCHOOL ROOм. By M. McN. Walsh, of the New York Bar. New York: J. W. Schermerhorn & Co. San Francisco: A Roman & Co. pp. 160.

This little volume compresses the laws of all the States on important educational subjects, and is a work of much interest to teachers and school officers. Some of the chapters were originally published in the American Educational Monthly, and extracts from them will be found in the Biennial Report for 1865, of State Superintendent Swett.

OUT OF TOWN. A Rural Episode.

By Barry Gray. With Illustrations. New

York: Hurd & Houghton. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. pp. 311. We welcome the author of "Matrimonial Infelicities" whenever he appears in print, not so much for any additions we expect to our useful knowledge, as for the quiet humor and the pleasant pictures he has always furnished. This volume is rather more sedate than his former productions were, and yet there is a new attraction in the softening down of his fancy by the ten years represented to have passed since he lived at "Hillside." Honest Barry Gray! May his shadow never grow less!

THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB. By Charles Dickens. With original illustrations, by S. Eytige, Jr. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. San Francisco: A. Roman & Co. pp. 464.

If anybody exists to whom the Pickwick Papers have hitherto been inacessible by reason of their expense, this edition will remove all excuse for ignorance; at the same time, it is a beautiful little volume which may well be welcomed by many persons who already possess more pretending copies of the invaluable and immortal Pickwick. The sixteen illustrations are well conceived, and are a fine relief to the sharp-cut diamond type of the pages. We are informed that the publishers purpose to issue a complete set of Dickens' works in the same unique style.

PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF THE FAIRE GOSPELLER, MISTRESS ANNE ASKEW. Re

counted by ye unworthie pen of Nicholas Moldwarp, B. A., and now first set forth by the author of " Mary Powell." New York: M. W. Dodd. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. pp. 237.

We think that no one who has enjoyed the work by which this author is best known, "Mary Powell," will fail to read almost anything that proceeds from her pen. In this account of one whose motto was, "Rather Death than false of Faith," we have many of the exquisite touches which abound in that other work; but as a whole the work before us will be less valued than any of its predecessors.

Two MARRIAGES. By the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman." New York: Harper & Brothers. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. pp. 301.

Two distinct stories, both sad; both told with the genius of Miss Muloch, though that genius is somewhat softened by gentle time. We need hardly say they are well told stories, but we must object to her frequent application of that genius to tales of this class. She can make us more hopeful of life, not less, as these stories do. But as there is a tragic side even to quiet lives, it may be well that it should be fairly written down sometimes, and therefore we send the book onward with our kind wishes.

NASBY. Divers Views, Opinions, and Prophecies of "Yoors Trooly, Petroleum V. Nasby, Lait Paster uv the Church of the New Dispensation." With humorous designs by Thee Jones. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. pp. 424.

"SWINGIN' ROUND THE CIRKLE." By Petroleum V. Nasby, Late Pastor of the Church of the New Dispensation, Chaplain to his excellency the President, and P. M. at Confederate X Roads, Kentucky. His Ideas of Men, Politics, and Things, as set forth in his letters to the public press during the year 1866. Illustrated by Thomas Nast. Boston: Lee & Shepherd. San Francisco: A. Roman & Co. pp. 299.

The two volumes above together form a most amusing memorial of political history during the past few years, and the letters, as quoted by the press all over the country, have had an influence not exceeded by more serious writings of statesmen and scholars. No styles could be separated by a greater distance than those of Junius and Nasby, but we question whether Junius was more effective in English affairs than Nasby has been in American. Mr. Lincoln himself is reported to have read the letters in the first named volume with great satisfaction, and to have laughed heartily at the remarkable statements of the "Lait Paster;" and we presume that even President Johnson would be unable to repress a smile at some of the views set forth by his devoted " Chaplain" and "P. M. at Confederate X Roads, Kentucky."

pp. 509.

Several of the recent works by this standard set in the "Schonberg-Cot

THE DRAYTONS AND THE DAVENANTS. A Story of the Civil War. By the author of "Chronicles of the Schonberg-Cotta Family." New York: M. W. Dodd. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. We are glad to receive this volume. author have seemed to fall below the high ta Family;" but here we find the sound ring which attracted us then. The scenes, too, in the Cromwell wars, are perhaps adapted to secure attention in America from the recent circumstances so sadly familiar to all. This is a book which can make no one weary, and which cannot fail to make the reader better. From the introductory note we learn that a subsequent volume will carry forward the historical sketch to the days of the Restoration, including some of the events connected with the settling of New England.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE. A Lecture delivered before the London College of Preceptors, October 10th, 1866. By Edward L. Youmans, M.D. New York: D. Appleton & Co. San Francisco: A. Roman & Co. pp. 41.