For the Schoolmaster. A Treasured Book. BY MANFRED. I HAVE a book-a treasured book- And none can trespass there. No hand but mine can ope the book, No cye but mine can read therein No heart but mine can understand Some tales are written there of love- Some leaves therein are bright and fair, But other leaves tell other tales, In this quaint work, ambition's dream Have left their with 'ring blight. And thus throughout this treasured book And though full dark its pages are, And brighter far is every page Whereon these gleams are traced, Than they would be were each dark scene From out the work effaced. I guard with care this strange weird book, As sacred from a stranger's eye, When firelight shadows on the wall Play well their witching part, I read this book of Memories FRIENDSHIP is a silent gentleman that makes no parade; the true heart dances no hornpipe on the tongue, From Chamber's Journal. What is a Gentleman ? THE subject of this paper occurred to me in the following manner:-I had paid my Hansom cabman, who had brought me to the Paddington station, his precisely correct fare -it being a weakness of mine, contrary to the general custom, to give cabmen, in common with other honest folk, their dues, and not to present them with that sixpence in addition which is the silver medal awarded to ferocity by fear: I had paid him, I say, and he held the money, as a matter of course, in the palm of his horny hand, and demanded, "What was that for?" as though there was no such thing as a table of cab-fares in the world; and I had replied-there being plenty of time before the train started-by entering into the supply and demand question in general, and the charge and convenience of street-locomotion in particular, just as Mr. Macculloch might have done, which I find to be a nice little annowing plan with cabmen, and better than the very strongest language, which, indeed, has no more effect on them than portwine-and-water upon an opium-eater. When I had finished a rather elaborate treatise upon this subject, which I hope enlarged his mind, I showed him Moggs on Distances, which convinced it. He climbed up slowly like some ungainly parrot into her perch, with his horny fingers itching for a personal assault on me, I know, and grunted out: "You a gentleman!" There was no doubt, by his tone and manner, that the expression was elliptical, and meant that I was not a gentleman. They were so intensified and pregnant with emphasis, that he seemed to say: "Well, of all the fraudulent imitations and absurd parodies upon a gentleman that ever I saw, you, my fare, are the most transparent and the least like life. You a gentleman!” "My dear sir," said I, with a blandness, I flatter myself, scarcely exceeded by that of the present First Lord of the Treasury-" who ever said I was?" The man drove rapidly away without reply. This circumstance afforded me food for reflection all the way down to Devonshire: it set me thinking upon what a gentleman is supposed by different classes of people to be and not to be; how almost everybody has a particu- very tenacious of this title. "A gentleman lar and private account of him to give; how, of my acquaintance," they say "was telling despising each other's definitions most pro- me," &c., instead of "A man I know," or foundly as we do, we still don't like to be left" A friend of mine," as it is expressed by the out of our neighbor's catalogue; and, finally, how we are deterred, by various shibboleths and empty phrases, from doing what is natural and right, whereof "not gentlemanly" is perhaps the chief. The Hansom cabman had done wisely in concentrating his sarcastic feelings in that form of words he used; and had I not happened to be a philosopher-which my all-round collar and light-colored kid gloves put him far from suspecting-I should have been aggrieved and imposed upon. But what did the insult amount to in other words? That I was not in the habit of throwing away my money upon undeserving objects; or that, having it to spare, I did not use it to the detriment and discomfort of future travellers poorer than myself. higher ranks. The Chartist, almost without exception, begins his speech with "Gentlemen." Upwards in the social scale the word gets many a new meaning; but the leading idea is still that of pecuniary superiority. At the great public schools, it is not considered quite "gentlemanly" among the boys to be "upon the foundation" at all, although the school was intended for such and such only; and the town boys who get their education a little cheaper are called for that reason "clods." The "gentleman" commoners of the University are not better born than the rest of their college-companions; but they are richer; the countryman whose ancestors have come over with William the Conqueror, and who has fat beeves and bursting barns in plenty, is still denied this title in full, unless he has property independent of his farm. His gentlemanliness is mitigated; he is a gentleman farmer." I am afraid that this term "gentleman" is mostly applied by the lower classes to those of their superiors who are most lavish and extravagant. When the last scions of the noble house of Fitzplantagenet, in the play, In cities, this term is considered somewhat are compelled to remove from their ancestral fanciful, and is certainly less cared for: the hall into furnished apartments in the same "gent" is not indignant at being so designaneighborhood, and that insolent ironmonger, ted; he thinks it short-he doesn't know how Bodgkins, reigneth in their stead, it is cus-short-for "gentlemen." In society, a man tomary for the villagers to deny him any title who was otherwise unexceptionable, and posof respect, and to remain unchangeable in sessed in all the virtues, and who could give their devotion to the fallen race: but we don't most cogent and unanswerable reasons for find this at all true upon the stage of the preferring a cap to a hat, would certainly be world. As long as Bodgkins scatters his coin not a gentleman if met in Regent Street with broadcast, he need not fear any rivalry; but a cap on. He would also be deprived of that becoming prudent, it is natural enough that honorable name if he were seen eating fish by he should meet with unpleasant comparisons. help of a knife, and not, at the hazard of “He a gentleman! Noa, noa; there's nothing choking himself, with an unpleasant piece of loike blood"-except money. When I heard bread, that he does not know whether to eat from our parish-clerk concerning the double or drop after each mouthful. A man of high marriage of the squire's two sons, the elder title may do, however, pretty much as he of whom had made what is called a good likes. He certainly may commit an incredible match, and the younger married the governess, amount of vicious actions without losing this -that Master George was well enough, but designation; and, on the other hand, a man that Master Harry was "twice the gentle- of humble fortunes, however worthy, scarcely man”—I had an immediate suspicion that the ever has it bestowed upon him even by the one had given him half a sovereign after the wisest. One of our coldest-hearted and most ceremony, and the other a whole one-which, profligate princes was denominated by this indeed, was true. time "society" for years the first "gentleThe middle classes-by which everybody man" in Europe. When, therefore, we hear means the class that is below himself-are ourselves or others proclaimed to be "gentle men" or "no gentlemen," we should consider, before being flattered or annoyed, who says it, and what he or she is likely to mean. "He is not a gentleman, you know," says Lieutenant Chifney of the Heavies, who can't spell, and whose father keeps a livery stable, Why, bless you, he gives drawing lessons!" "A gentleman ?-oh, dear no," says the rector's wife. "The man is a dissenter!" 66 66 “A worthy man—very much so," says the squire. But did you never hear it? Ah! his father was a wool-stapler!" "What is a pound?" was a question that puzzled the national wisdom, as discovered by franchise, a good deal. "What is respectability?" remained unanswered until this present century, wherein it was described in a court of law to be the keeping a gig. "What is a gentleman?" still stands unresolved. Like genius, it is in truth to be well discerned by rare and sympathising souls, but not to be defined. Johnson, with his dictionary account of it: "A man of birth," satisfies nobody, and least of all, perhaps, the men For the Schoolmaster. The public schools of New York are to have reception days hereafter, every month; when the public are invited and expected to attend to witness the proficiency of the scholars in their respective studies. THIS recent notice, from the New York Tribune, should call attention to the plan in Providence. Many parents wishing to visit the schools attended as pupils by their children, are apprehensive that to do so, excepting on examination days, is an intrusion. The above plan obviates that objection, and, if adopted by our school committee, will secure many more visitors to the schools than they now have, or would have under any other invitation. The public schools receive so few visits from parents or others, that the knowledge of their perfections or imperfections is not so generally diffused as it ought to be. Men and women will take pains to inform themselves of other matters concerning their interest, and think themselves well compensated for thus spending their time; but the most important worldly matter which can engage their thoughts is left to the care and discretion of the teachers of their children, they seldom, if ever, visiting the rooms where so many of the hours of their offspring are passed. Some parents, with an inclination, do not feel the freedom to enter a schoolroom, unless kept in countenance for so doing by the company of others, or by a quarterly examination. The New York plan seems to present an opportunity for visiting the schools matter. How hard, how rare a thing it is, and would, undoubtedly, tend to promote an which ought to be extended to other places, they understand, to hear of birth. The churl in spirit, up or down Along the scale of ranks, through all, The bard sings truly: and indeed the poets, as it should be, seem to know most about this interest among parents generally concerning the studies and the most convenient arrangements for the comfort of their children as regards their seats and desks. ROUGH CUSTOMERS.-It is not the roughest bark that denotes the coarsest man. Beneath the hardest human shell is often to be found a nature as soft and gentle as a woman's. We have known men as rough as a nutmeg grater, who upon acquaintance were found to possess qualities that made their characters loveable, and their friendship most desirable. We have known one of these rough customers, with a voice as loud and severe as a north-wester, and with an oath mingling with it at times shocking to extreme propriety, who would cry like a child at a tale of sorrow, and give his last cent for the relief of distress, whilst abusing the recipient of his bounty in terms anything but mild. We have often wondered how such fine qualities came done up in so queer a shape, and as we look on such it seems to us that they come under the same division among men as sperm whales do among fish. Though huge enough and unwieldly, there is light and warmth beneath it all to cheer and bless men with. Refinement with such would make their great excellence seem less plain. The illumination shining out through the rough exterior, is made all the more brilliant by the contrast. We love to receive a shake of the hand from such. The huge hand like the paw of a white bear, grasps ours in an all over embrace and squeezes it with a heartiness that leaves no doubt of its sincerity, as if the pressure were the expression of the infernal battery of feeling at the heart.-Boston Sat. Eve. Gazette. STUDIES IN SCHOOLS.-We do not believe that any quicker progress is made in schools by putting heavy tasks upon the children. Yet from the numerous studies in schools, or some other cause, children are compelled to employ their evenings, or the time in which they should play, in learning their tasks for the next day. Short lessons would admit of a thorough understanding of them, and, if a show of proficiency is desired at the end of a year, a better exhibit would be made on examination day of real attainment than could be possible if the little heads were crammed with over measures of studies, revealing but a smattering of knowledge of any of them. We have been shown geography lessons and arithmetic lessons, given to a child for a nextday exercise, that hours of painful effort at home were required to master, and on being spoken with about it, the little thing said she must do it or be subjected to "checks" for failure. The road to learning is a hard road to travel, at best, but fearfully so when the ones who travel it are compelled to carry such heavy loads. Teachers should be considerate.-Boston Sat. Eve. Gazette. From Poems by Isa. Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh. The ae Lamb of the Fauld. IN yon rude lanely sheilen, Near nae ither house nor hauld, There dwelt a hillside shepherd Wi' the ae lamb of his fauld. A gray haired, rugged carle was he, Wi' broo fu' stern an' bauld, Wha said his sweet wee Janet, Was the ae lamb o' his fauld. O! blithe and bonny was the bairn, Her we'el lo'ed mother de'ed when she An' left the shepherd lanely Wi' the ae lamb o' the fauld. He took her in the summer where An' wrapped her in his plaid; With the ae lamb o' his fauld. In winter she would trim the fire To guide him through the snaw; Then, laid aside his drippin' plaid, Her arms wad him enfauld, When he came back weet an' weary To the ae lamb o' his fauld. The mountain blasts are bleak an' chill, Ae winter's mornin' cauld Lay the ae lamb o' the fauld. He stood uncovered in the drift An' saw the wee grave made, Nane daured to comfort when away He tearless turned and said "There's nae licht in the sheilen noo; My heart will aye be cold, I've nocht on earth to care for, Sin' my ae lamb's i' THE FAULD." The people were rousing from their lethargy, and learning that something more than a great school fund was needed to secure the blessings of good schools. Incidents of the past are occasionally mentioned in contrast with the present. At a recent public meeting in this city, it was related that in 1839 Mr. Barnard, then Secretary of the Board of Education, was announced as a lecturer on the subject of education, in our court-house. Though an extended notice had been given, only three persons appeared as auditors. Such was here the state of public feeling at that time. Our schools, though miserable indeed, were regarded as good enough, and every effort to improve them was distrusted and resisted. But the evil day at length came. While But a radical change has at length been the battle was waging abroad for the advance-effected. Indifference to the public-school ment of education, the people here rested on movement can hardly be said to exist in New their oars. They had good schools and had provided the means of maintaining them. Why then agitate the subject of reform? Why trouble themselves in a matter that did not seem to require their attention? Thus did they reason, feel and act, and the consequences at length became painfully manifest. Connecticut descended to a secondary rank in respect to the character of her common school system. Thus situated, the work of reform was commenced, in 1837-8, by Barnard, Gallaudett and others. The struggle was warm and earnest, and success for a time crowned their efforts. A Board of Education was formed, and progressive measures were adopted which promised the happiest results. At one period, however, the friends of education met with a signal defeat. The law establishing a Board of Education was abolished, and its leading officers retired to a neighboring State. But Barnard could not long be spared from Connecticut. Returning from Rhode Island, as Luther from his castle at Wattbury, a better preparation and a stronger influence he brought to his work. The field was open, and he entered it with his wonted enthusiasm. The fruits of his former efforts were manifest. Indifference and opposition were giving way before advancing light and knowledge. Plans and views which had been before opposed as visionary, were now regarded as practicable and even indispensable to the public good. London, and no organized opposition appears. Our schools are regarded with deep interest by our people, and every measure tending to their improvement is encouraged. Though the District system still remains, the schools are well graded, and are in a healthy and improving condition. In connection with our District schools, we have two High schools, whose privileges appear to be fully appreciated. At an Institute which was held here last autumn, upwards of a hundred and fifty teachers participated in the exercises, and for five successive evenings our large churches were filled with attentive listeners. Though a few years since scarcely a school journal was taken in the place, fifty copies of the Connecticut Common School Journal are now taken, and twenty-five copies of Barnard's American Quarterly, besides a number of educational periodicals from neighboring States. Though we have not yet model school-houses, a spirit is awake here, which will ere long supply this defect, and produce still higher reforms. Changes correspondingly great have taken place in most of the cities and large towns of the State. Shool-houses have risen which do honor to the taste and public spirit of the people. The signs of progress are numerous and various. District school-libraries are being established in every direction. The State Normal School at New Britain is accomplishing a truly good work. A new life is infused into our teachers, and they, in turn, are ennobling |