Supt. Breckinridge says in the Decorah Republican, "Some schools in the country are left to take care of themselves, and frequently poor schools are the result. The directors of the poor schools always wait for poor teachers to come to them, and the first one to apply is generally employed to teach the school."

The Leon board have revoked their contract with one of their teachers because she got married. She threatens to sue the board and make a test case of it.

Supt. Klinefelter writes that "the unholy, because unhappy, alliance hitherto existing between Clear Lake village and Clear Lake rural is soon to be dissolved by mutual consent, making four new independent districts.”

Jasper County has an exceptionally able corps of teachers.The rural schools of that county are to be supplied the present term as follows:

HICKORY GROVE TP.-No. 1, Clara Aplin; No. 2, Addie Davis; No. 3, Lizzie Pickens; No. 4, Grace Craven; No. 5, Martha Thompson; No 6, Alice Work; No. 7, Em. Tomlinson; No. 8, Mary Buffington; No. 9, Lotta Stuart. MALAKA. No. 1, Nora Condit; No. 3, Mary Robb; No. 4, Mrs. Delia Hart; No. 5, Alice Coffin; No. 6, Emma Kerr; No. 7, Hester Fehleisen; No. 8, E. Edmundson; No. 9, Clara Hardesty. PowESHIEK.-Greencastle, Josie Scott and Lydia Fisher; Union, Dora Fisher; Hickory Grove, Addie Bateman; Walnut Grove, Lizzie Fisher; Liberty, Clara Hardesty; No. 8, Sadie Dotson. NEWTON.-No. 1, Amelia Harvey; No. 2, Florence Kirk; No. 3, Anna Thomas; No. 4, Mr. D. M. Kelley; No. 5, Carrie Lambert; No. 6, Stella Wright; No. 7, Mrs. Ida Carrothers; No. 8, Mr. W. H. Aplin; No. 9, Ida Little. KELLOGG.No. 1, Mollie Miller; No. 2, Lillie Erwin; No. 3, Emma Stanley; No. 4, Jennie Roberts; No. 5, Mr. M. Miller; No. 6, Ella Spellman; No. 7, Mary Wigand. ROCK CREEK.-No. 2, Clara Hardesty; No. 3, Carrie Harvey; No. 4, Kate Quaintance; No. 6, May Logan; No. 9, Miss E. Covert. RICHLAND.-No. 1, L. M. Kennedy; No. 4, Mr. H. E. Weld; No. 5, Belle Boyd; No. 6, Libby Deane; No. 7, Cora Burke; No. 8, Emma Gray. PALO ALTO.-No. 1, Miss H. Porter; No. 4, Della Smoke; No. 5, Emma Gipson; No. 6, Jennie Janeway; No. 7, Kate Moyer; No. 8, Clara Porter; No. 9, Belle Mathews; No. 11, Jennie Little. MOUND PRAIRIE. -No. 1, Nettie Wood; No. 2, Nettie Walsh; No. 5, Mamie Larkin; No. 6, Mary Hayes; No. 7, Sue Johnson. WASHINGTON.-No. 2, A. Dowden; No. 3, Mr. C. H. Scott; No. 8, Mr. C. L. Dotson; No. 10, Mary Nason. DES MOINES.-No. 4, Miss L. Gregory; No. 5, Ida Austin; No. 8, Susie Timmins; No. 9, Mr. R. C. Porter; No. 10, Sallie Perkins; No. 11; Miss S. W. Keeler; No. 12, Ida Putnam. FAIRVIEW.-Bellview, Laura Shaw; Fair Prairie, Anna Croft. ELK CREEK.-Dairy Grove, Emma Bishop; McKinney's, Mr. M. Zink; Sand Point, Maggie Wright. LYNN GROVE.-No. 2, Ida Macy; No. 3, Helen Braden; No. 4, Anna Brand; No. 5, Myra Sheridan; Chester, Jennie Johnson; Hart's, Emma Kiser; Wymer's, Mary Brand; Reiter's, Lessie Mayo; Miller's, Hannah Hawley.

Who loves not Knowledge? Who shall rail
Against her beauty? May she mix
With men and prosper! Who shall fix
Her pillars? Let her work prevail.

But she is earthly of the mind,

And Wisdom heavenly of the soul.-Tennyson.

GLEANINGS.

The following extracts are taken from a letter on Education in England, written by President Magoun of Iowa College to the N. E. Journal:

"There is, I judge, steady progress on this side the sea. At Oxford University, for example, one of the two professors of Arabic, —a supernumerary,-is to be dispensed with, and a professor of English literature takes his place. At last, the ancient university attempts to do justice to the works of genius in our mother tongue!

The great movement for technical and industrial education goes steadily on. St. John's College, Oxford, is to provide the university with a professor of applied mechanics as soon as its revenues may permit. In the House of Commons, the subject of extending the advantages of art and industrial museums to the workmen in the manufacturing centers throughout the kingdom, as well as to those in London, Edinburgh and Dublin, the three ancient national capitals, came up in connection with the annual educational statement of expenditures and results. It was hardly legitimate, which only the more shows the deep interest on the subject. It was discussed from the business and economical points of view. 'Provincial centers of art and industrial museums,' said one M. P., 'are admitted to be absolutely necessary if our industrial supremacy is to be maintained. What is wanted is grants to local institutions for special industries. It is not merely a local, but a national question. Even the humblest workman profits immensely by having the opportunity to study the best models of workmanship in his craft, and the best works of art generally.' Mr. Mundella, in reply, showed that a good beginning had been made, and no country in Europe,' he thought, 'is doing so much for the application of art to industry as England, through the medium of South Kensington' (Museum).

The number of scholars in elementary schools has now risen from 1,693,000 in 1870, to 3,895,000 in 1830. 'The normal increase according to the growth of population, would be about 70,000 a year; but it has actually been 185,000 a year.' There are now 4,000,000 on the rolls, and accommodations for 4,250,000, nearly.

Much was due to compulsory attendance; while the voluntary schools, which in 1870 had 1,949,000 pupils, now have 2,750,000. The increase in attendance upon board schools has been 275,000 more. The progress in attendance and in attainments has been higher in Scotland than in England. Many local magistrates in England refuse to enforce compulsory attendance through dislike of the law. From a single board school in Argyllshire, seven quarrymen's sons have recently obtained bursarships at the Univer sities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.' Through the kingdom the percentage of those passing examinations in the three R's' has risen slightly, while in higher subjects it has gone up from 22.1 to 24.61."

Two young ladies, who had previously passed, with great distinction, examinations in Greek, Latin and Italian literature in the Ro

man University, have just taken doctors' degrees in natural sciences. Each having obtained the maximum number of votes, became thereby entitled to have her thesis printed. The Opinione of Rome says that, as far as it knows, no woman has, until now, taken a degree in the Roman University since its foundation by Innocent IV. in the thirteenth century.

The exhibit, at the New England Mechanics' Institute now in session in Boston, of work done by the colored and Indian pupils at Hampton is highly creditable.

When Stephen Girard died, fifty years ago, he little thought of the magnitude to which his bequest for the formation of a college for orphans would grow. The college commenced with three hundred orphan pupils. It now contains one thousand, and accommodations for still more are in course of construction. Its finances have been managed with the greatest fidelity and judgment, and its gross revenue for 1880 was $896,753. The real estate he left to the college, especially the coal mines, has increased in valuation beyond all expectation. The main buildings thus far have cost about $2,000,000. The principal one, in form of a Corinthian temple, is 169 feet long, 111 feet wide, 97 feet high, and is said to be the finest specimen of Greek architecture of modern times.

It is hoped that the sudden death of Senator Burnside will not prevent the passage of his education bill, which passed the Senate, but not the House, last winter. The bill provides that henceforth all the proceeds from the sale of public lands, and the net income of the Patent Office shall be applied to promote public free schools in all the states.

We take the following items from the newly issued Report of the Commissioner of Education for 1879. We avail ourself to a considerable extent of the labors of Brother Jones of the Inter-Ocean, who has selected and arranged many interesting items from the Report.

In round numbers, the school population of the states and territories is 15,000,000; the annual income, $84,000,000; and the annual expenditure, $78,000,000. The expenditure is divided as follows: $8,457,194 for buildings, apparatus, &c.; $808,549 for salaries of superintendents, and $54,078,321 for teachers' salaries. The estimated real value of sites, buildings, and all other school property is $178,294,155, nine states and three territories not reporting. The expenditure per capita of the school population varies from 95 cents in Georgia to $15.26 in Massachusetts, and per capita of enrollment in public schools from $1.41 in North Carolina to $17.18. in California.

The number enrolled in the public schools of the states is 9,328,003; of the territories, 96,083. The number in daily attendance in 32 states is 5,223,100; in 8 territories, 59,237. The number of pupils in private schools in 19 states is 358,685, in 4 territories, 7,459. The number of teachers in all the states is 270,163; in 9 territories, 2,523. Thirty-four states report 104,842 male and 141,161 female

The

teachers, and 8 territories report 985 males and 1,342 females. above figures do not include the teachers of Idaho, which did not report, nor any in Indian Territory except among the Choctaws.

There are sixteen different school ages in the states and territories, 17 years being the longest period and 6 years the shortest. The earliest age at which children are admitted to public schools in any state is 4 years.

The duration of the school year is longest, viz., above 170 days, in the following states: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island. In the District of Columbia the period is 189 days.

In the states, New Hampshire pays the lowest salary to women, $22.83 a month; South Carolina the lowest to men, $25.54 a month; Nevada pays the highest salaries to both sexes-$83 to women and $84.46 to men. In Maryland and the Choctaw Nation the average salaries of men and women are equal; in Massachusetts we find the greatest difference between them, the men averaging $67.44, the women $33.50.

Ohio had no state normal school; Kentucky, Louisiana and Oregon none supported by public funds; and Delaware, Florida and Nevada none of any class. The number of graduates was 3,347, of whom 2,094 have engaged in teaching. Drawing was taught in 132 of these schools, and vocal music in 157. Ninety-seven reported chemical laboratories; 119, philosophical apparatus; 72, museums of natural history; 32, gymnasiums; and 90, model schools. In the libra ries, there were 129,254 volumes, an increase of 10,364 over the same for 1878.

THE MARTYR'S PORTRAIT.

We could wish that Garfield's picture were hung on the wall of every school house, that the youth of the Nation in looking upon his face might catch inspiration and struggle on as he did. We have therefore made arrangements by which we can furnish all our subscribers fine portraits, 19 by 24 inches in size, without any expense whatever to them.

To every person sending us $1.00 between this and the 1st of January, we will send the NORMAL MONTHLY one year, and a beautiful lithograph of President Garfield, 19 by 24 inches in size. This offer applies alike to new subscribers and to the renewals of old subscribers. Old subscribers who have already renewed can avail themselves of this offer by renewing for next year in advance. A three-inch band of black cambric, which any teacher can easily arrange, forms an effective and appropriate frame for the portrait, which is really a beautiful one, the finest we have ever seen. It will not only adorn the school-room, but will keep constantly before the eyes and minds of the pupils a noble example and a heroic life, besides gratifying the universal desire to show honor to the Nation's Martyr.

REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

1MISS KELLY'S OUTLINE HISTORY.-This is, according to the title page, a "brief, but complete history of England, France and Germany, giving the contemporaneous sovereigns, literary characters and social progress of each century from the Roman conquest to the present day." Its most striking feature is the printing of the contemporaneous history of the three countries in parallel columns on every page. This involves very wide pages, 78 of which constitute the book. The plan certainly has its advantages; it is very convenient to have the three histories side by side in this way. The table of sovereigns, by dynasties, would be of greatly increased value if it had marginal dates. The style of the writer is a lively-indeed, a breathless-narrative of events. There is not much attempt at preserving historical perspective, or at making the reader perceive the relation of events, but neither is there the utter barrenness of the catalogue style, somewhat prevalent in general histories for schools. There is an occasional puzzling ambiguity of expression and some serious blunders of either author or printer. There is also a great lack of accuracy in the lists of prominent literary characters at the close of each century. For instance, in the 15th century, "the best versifiers" were Wyatt, Caxton, and Sackville. Surrey is not mentioned. In the 17th century, Ben Jonson is not given among the poets, but is reckoned a 'philosopher and prose writer." In fact, the literary history in general is about as bad as it well can be.

2SPIRITUAL SONGS FOR THE S. S.-The publishers have now issued an edition of this book giving the hymns only, omitting the tunes. It is a neat little vest-pocket book, as finely printed and as attractively bound in scarlet muslin, as the other edition. The work remains undeniably superior, in its appearance, its poetry and its music, to all other collections of Sunday School songs.

3MERGES'S PRACTICAL RULES FOR PIANO-FORTE PLAYING.-The author claims for this little book that, as it contains the rules for scale and chord passages in their regular order, it will, if faithfully studied and learned, greatly expedite the progress of pupils, and enable them to dispense with a large proportion of the "voluminous and costly studybooks" now so generally used. It is suited to organ practice as well as piano.

4PFRIMMER'S BRIEF OUTLINE OF GOVERNMENTS.-Seldom does a tiny ten-cent pamphlet contain more convenient information than this. The items given in regard to each government are these: Form of government, title and name of ruler, title and name of state minister, name and title of U. S. minister abroad, name and title of foreign minister in the United States. There is also given a summary of the principal features of the constitution of each country.

5THE TRAGEDY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.--This "tragedy," modestly labelled "the play of the future," and written by S. Whitaker Crowe, A. M., M. D., comes to us marked, "Editor please review and send bill." We are not accustomed to charge anything for the expression of our opinion, and in this particular case the publisher is even more than usually welcome to our views, if we could only find words to express them. To say that the play is composed of one part stupid and feeble imitations of Shakspeare's historical plays, and two parts ditto of a modern variety and negro-minstrel show, would give entirely too flattering an impression of it. To call it the worst piece of work we ever read seems 1E. Claxton & Co.: Philadelphia, 930 Market St. 2The Century Co.: New York. Lee & Walker: Philadelphia. Normal Publishing House: Danville, Ind.