One noticeable feature of the meeting was that the discussions were wholly conducted by practical teachers. One thing, Mr. “Schoolmaster," I wish to say-not for your eye, but for that of your friends; you will please omit it in your reading, that the R. I. SCHOOMASTER is not only "abroad" in Massachusetts, but particularly at home here, and quite a favorite, too. Hoping that you will excuse this last item, should your eye inadvertently fall upon it, I am, sir, the horse is a very useful animal, notwithstanding railroads and telegraphs, and he knows also that this animal is valuable in proportion as his power and energy are under the contro! of man. The bridle is the means of exerting that control. Any improvement in the bridle, therefore, increases the usefulness of the horse and benefits his owner.John Wilson is tired of defective bridles. He has been a loser by them to the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars. His excellent, but somewhat fiery horse, took alarm at a kite and ran away, overturning the baker's wagon to which he was attached, or demolishing the carriage in which John Wilson, Jr., was about to take his lady-love riding; or, perhaps, the disaster ended in the total loss of the horse himself. Prospectively, John Wilson counted the advantage of a better bridle, and forthwith set himself to inventing one. He has succeeded, has obtained a patent, and I am glad of it, glad for John, and glad for the public. It will do good, this invention, an incalculable amount of good. Vicious and mettlesome horses will be kept in order, a great deal of damage will thus be prevented, and employ Manufactories will spring up, and agents will be wanted, business will be more active, and all because John Wilson was not contented with what had a radical defect. He who regards and guides us;-He can know, ment will be furnished to men and boys.— Kingston Hotel, N. H. John Wilson's Patent Right. DEAR TEACHER—Taking up a paper the other day I cast my eyes carelessly over the list of patents and found one granted to John Wilson for a decided improvement in the bridle for horses. It seems that this very far exceeds anything of the kind ever before invented. I confess I was pleased with John's success, and being of a somewhat desultory turn of mind, my thoughts went off on a ramble in the following manner: John Wilson is a thinking man; he has a reflective and a prospective mind. He knows I really grew quite warm in my admiration of John Wilson. John is no conservative; he does not say, "my father and grandfather used this bridle and so will I. To be sure, a horse now and then runs away and kills himself or his driver, but man is mortal and riches take wings.What is to be will be, and we must submit." No, no, he saw room for improvement, and went at it. Day after day, and night after night, did he think of the best way. He often failed; his first productions did not come up to his ideal; he could not say "Eureka," and he would not say " Despair."He abnegated the word "Failure," and took "Success" for his motto. And then I began to make an application. Dare I confess one application which I made? Dare I, with the denunciations of Prof. E. Duco ringing in my ears, with the thrill of Louis Agassiz. THE 28th of May, 1857, was the fiftieth birth-day of Professor Agassiz. At a dinner tendered to him on this occasion, the follow It was fifty years ago, In the pleasant month of May, "Manners is a great thing" quivering on evry nerve, knowing I was one of the guilty ones struck home by that terrible sarcasm? But I will confess, even in remembrance of all this, that I said if John Wilson had been a teacher would he have seen any need of im-ing poem, by Longfellow, was read from provement in his system? Would he, so sen- Dwight's Journal of Music: sitive to the loss of bread, the destruction of his carriage, and the disappointment of his son, would he have seen anything defective in his manner of imparting instruction, or of influencing the youthful minds under his charge? Or, would he not have folded his hands and said, virtually, if not literally, "Thus far shall the waves of improvement go, and there shall they be stayed by the rocks of my perfection." Perhaps he might have said I see no difference between those who try to improve and those who do not, and I will give myself no further trouble. Then came the question, 46 Who succeeds best in his business as a teacher," and reason as I best could, try as I might to prevent conscience from asserting that I had frequently put off opportunities for improvement to a more convenient season, I could not resist the conclusion, "The earnest, the persevering and the studious teacher is the successful one." 1 do not believe that any one, however great his talents or his experience may be, has arrived at such a point of excellence that he can learn nothing more in the art of teaching.And if a person declares himself unwilling or unable to improve his method of instruction, he gives the most conclusive proof that, by his want of talent and honesty he is unworthy of the responsible station into which he has intruded. For, if he is able to teach at all, he is susceptible of improvement, if he is unwilling to improve he is a mere pretender, and the sooner he sinks to his proper level, the better will it be for those unfortunately placed under his care. It is not on extraneous aid that the teacher must depend. Others may assist him materially, but his greatest help must come from himself. If he is unable to help himself, let him leave the business and become "A hewer of wood and a drawer of water."-REFLECTOR, in N. Y. Teacher Among the base, merit begets envy; among the noble emulation. A child in his cradle lay. And Nature, the old nurse, took Come wander with me," she said, "Into regions yet untrod, And read what is still unread In the manuscripts of God." And he wandered away and away, With Nature, the dear old nurse, The rhymes of the universe. And whenever the way seemed long, And she will not let him go, Though at times he hears in his dreams Genteel Bad Grammar. Ir is amusing to observe the broad line of demarkation which exists between vulgar bad grammar and genteel bad grammar, and which characterizes the violation of almost every rule of syntax. The vulgar speaker uses adjectives instead of adverbs, and says, "This letter is written shocking;" the genteel bungler uses adverbs instead of adjectives, and says, "This writing looks shockingly." looks, not the dress; but you can say, "This dress fits badly," because it is the dress that performs the act of fitting either well or ill. There are some peculiar idioms which it would be better to avoid altogether, if possible; but if you feel compelled to use them, take them as they are, you connot prune and refine them by the rules of syntax, and to attempt to do So, shows ignorance as well as affecta tion.-Zion's Herald. Teachers' Characteristics. An interesting paper lately read before the United Association of Schoolmasters of Great Britain, contains the following generalizations: 1. Teachers of limited capacity, or whose command of language is limited, invariably teach best with text books, or by the individual system of instruction. The perpetrators of the latter offense may fancy they can shield themselves behind the grammatical law, which compels the employment of an adverb, not an adjective, to qualify a verb, and behind the first rule of syntax, which says, "a verb must agree with its nominative." But which is the nomnative in the expression alluded to? Which performs the act of looking,-the writing or the speaker? To say that a thing looks when we look at it, is an idiom peculiar to our language, and means not that the thing actually looks, but only appears. Now a thing cannot appear beautifully; it may appear beautiful. It is improper, therefor, to say, "the moon 3. Decision of character almost invariably looks beautifully," "The flowers smell sweet- forms an element in the qualifications of a suly," "This writing looks shockingly;" be-perior teacher. 2. Men of fervid imagination, having great command of language and enthusiasm of character, almost invariably become superior teachers. cause it is the speaker who performs the act 4. Men who are deficient in general knowlof looking, smelling, &c.; and you should edge and enthusiasm of character are genersay, "The moon looks beautiful," The flow-ally bad teachers, even though they may posers smell sweet," &c. sess great technical acquirements. What an adjective is to a noun an adverb is to a verb; an adjective expresses the quality of a thing, and an adverb the manner of an action. Consider what it is you wish to express, the quality of a thing, or the manner of an action, and use an adjective or adverb accordingly. But beware that you discriminate justly; for though you cannot say, "The queen looked majestically in her robes," because here the act of looking is performed by the spectator, who looks at her, you can, and must say, "The queen looked graciously on the petitioner," "The queen looked mercifully on his prayer," because here the act of looking is performed by the queen. You cannot say, "These flowers smell sweetly," because it is you that smell and not the flowers; but you can say, "These flowers perfume the air deliciously," because it is they who impart the fragrance, not you. You cannot say, "This dress looks badly," because it is you that 5. An earnest man, imbued with the love of children, is rarely a bad teacher. 6. The love of teaching is generally associated with the capacity for it, but the converse does not generally hold true. 7. A man of superior teaching powers teaches well by the national method. But he will always teach best by that method which is suited to his peculiar capabilities. 8. Men generally teach badly when they attempt to teach too much, or when they do not duly prepare their lessons. 9. Presence of mind and that self-confidence which is based on self-knowledge, are essential elements in a good teacher's character. 10. Success in teaching is more dependent upon the capabilities of the master for teaching than upon his technical acquirements.Teaching power is not always associated with superior talents or acquirements. Philosophy in Court. The New York Post relates the following of Uriah A. Boyden, a civil engineer, of Boston, who recently offered $500, in two prizes,to the students of Harvard College who attained the greatest skill in mathematics. ty-six per cent., exceeds anything of the kind that was ever made. The wheel is one hundred and four and three-quarter inches in diameter.-New England Farmer. A Song with slight Alterations. THE SONG. This gentleman was concerned in a suit last year, brought by him in the Supreme Court WE find the following song of the wine cup, of Massachusetts, against the Atlantic Cotton in the Atlantic Monthly for December. The Mills, of Lawrence, which was of a very in-newspapers-and of course, they know-atteresting character, but has never, so far as tribute it to Oliver Wendall Holmes. we are aware, come before the public. Mr. We like the slight alterations. Boyden had agreed to make a turbine waterwheel for the Atlantic Mills, which should save or “utilize," as it is termed, seventy-six per cent. of the water-power; if he succeeded in saving that per centage, he was to have $2,000, if not, he was to have nothing; and for every one per cent. above that, he was to receive $350. Mr. Boyden went to work and produced a wheel which saved, as he affirmed, ninety-six per cent. The labor involved in this result may be imagined, from the fact that Mr. Boyden spent more than $5,000 in The the mere mathematical calculations. company had provided no sufficient means of testing the question practically, and as the per centage claimed by Mr. Boyden was altogether unprecedented, they contested the claim. Come! fill a fresh bumper,-for why should we go flow? Pour out the rich juices still bright with the sun, run. The purple globed clusters their life-dews have bled; How sweet is the breath of the fragrance they shed! For summer's last roses lie hid in the wines Then a smile, and a glass, and a toast, and a cheer, For all the good wine, and we've some of it here! THE SONG WITH THE ALTERATIONS. Come! fill a fresh bumper,-for why should we go While the logwood still reddens our cups as they Pour out the decoction still bright with the sun, The case went into court. No jury on the globe could comprehend the question, and the learned bench found itself at fault. The case was accordingly referred to three well chosen parties: Judge Joel Parker, of Cambridge, Professor Benjamin Pierce, the mathematician, and James B. Francis, of Lowell, the agent of the united companies of Lowell, in the management of the common water-power. Prof. Parker furnished the law, Mr. Francis the practical acquaintance with hydyraulics, and Professor Pierce the mathematical knowledge. That learned geometer had to dive deep and study long before the problem was settled. But, settled it was, at last, and in Mr. Boyden's favor, to whom the referees awarded the sum of eighteen thousand seven hundred dollars. Mr. Boyden had previously constructed turbine wheels that utilized respectively the extraordinary amounts of eighty-nine and In cellar, in pantry, in attic, in hall, ninety per cent. The last wheel, utilizing nine-Down, down, with the tyrant that masters us all! Numeration.-Large Numbers. AN English mathematician named Daily has been for some time past engaged in weiging the earth. Here are his figures: 1,256,195,675,000,000,000,000.000, or in words, one quardrillion, two hundred fifty-six thousand and one hundred and ninety-five trillions, six hundred and seventy-five thousand billion tuns avoirdupois. Is it Coldest just before Day? There is a theory among some, that the coldest part of a cold night is just before day. Althongh this is not invariably the case, yet, from some experience formerly had with night rides when in the practise of physic, we are inclined to think that it is generally the ease that there is a pretty cold point a little before sunrise. The above item is an example of the numeration of English writers, and which obtains Bishop Whateley has made some remarks among their followers in this country. It is upon the subject, which we copy for those of not the simplest and easiest system, nor is it our readers who may feel curious on such the one taught in our best schools and pracquestions. "Some say," says he, "that the ticed by our progressive scholars. This Eng-earth is gradually cooling after the sun has lish system many years ago, was the only one set, and consequently the cold must have among us, but is fast falling into disuse, and reached its height just before the return of the This theory sounds plausible, but he in our public journals, and public schools, sun. should be discountenanced. It may be exhib- thinks does not agree with the facts. The cold does not gradually increase during the night, but the temperature grows alternately warmer and colder, according as the sky is clouded or clear. All who have been accustomed to night travelling must have often ex ited as follows: 500,000,000 it calls 500 millions. 500,000,000,000 it calls 500,000 millions. 500,000,000,000,000 it calls 500 billions. 500,000,000,000,000,000 it calls 500,000 billions. Instead of this unwieldy system, to which the English and the old fogies amongst us cling, look at the French system, which has supplanted it in nearly all parts of our country and other places where both have been used. The French enumeration of the above figures is thus: 500,000,000 it calls 500 millions. 500,000,000,000 it calls 500 billions. 500,000,000,000,000 it calls 500 trillions. 500,000,000,000,000,000 it calls 500 quadrillions. The French system is not only simpler and therefore easier to use, but it is more scientific, as it gives each period of three figures an independent name; thus, aecording to it, the number at the head of this article is 1 septillion, 256 sextillions, 195 quintillions and 675 quadrillions, which is certainly much easier read and understood by one familiar with the terms than is the English numeration given in the same extract. The French should be followed in all cases.-Lowell Journal. Both Ways. John's wife and John were tete-a-tete; Says John, "I've earned the bread we've ate;" perienced many such alterations in a single night, and they also find that the cold at day break comes on very suddenly, so much so, that it catches the earth worms, which, on mild nights, lie out of their holes; you may often see a whole grassplat strewed with their frozen bodies on a frosty morning. If the cold had not come very suddenly, they I would have time so withdraw to their holes. And any one who is accustomed to go out before daylight, will often in the winter or fall, find the roads full of liquid mud, half an hour before dawn, and at sunrise as hard as a rock."—Maine Farmer. mon school system of Wisconsin has a fund |