Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

There will be no difficulty in understanding the several class tables; but the master's scheme may require some slight explanation. In column one, (headed 9 to 94, 9 to 10) and opposite Tuesday is the figure 1. This indicates that the master must be engaged with the 1st class from 9 o'clock till 10 on the Tuesday; and, on referring to the 1st class table, it is found to be a reading lesson. In the master's scheme, for the same day, and in the next column (10 to 11) are the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, superscribed superintend; this shows that on the "writing-day" the master has to superintend the first four classes during the whole time they write. Proceeding to the next column for Tuesday (11 to 11) we find 5 inserted therein; this directs the master to the 5th class, and the next column to the 6th.

In conclusion, I would recommend the master to select a situation in his schoolroom, to bring the several classes to, when their time for receiving instruction from himself arrives; and from whence his eye can command a view of the whole school. Thus he may superintend the whole, while he is actively engaged in instructing a part. I would also recommend the appointment of a monitor of the school, whose business, every half hour, shall be to go round to the classes, observe whether they are working strictly by the time tables, and to report upon the formation of the classes, their order, or disorder, whenever requisite. I am, Mr. Editor, Yours truly, JAMES GORING.

St. Mark's Schools, Hull.

THE ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH POSSESSIVE CASE IN

NOUNS.

ONE of our most distinguished living grammarians states, in his work on Etymology and Syntax, that "to form the genitive plural, we annex the apostrophe without the letter s, as eagles' wings. The geni

tive singular of nouns terminating in s, is formed in the same manner, as righteousness' sake."

From this I infer that, as the apostrophe in the latter expression denotes the absence of another s, omitted by reason of its causing too much of a hissing sound; so, in the former example, another s after the apostrophe is omitted for the same reason. Now I take leave to differ from this opinion, and beg a short space to endeavour to fortify my position.

The English language is the form which, in the lapse of time, the Anglo-Saxon has finally assumed by the gradual variation and rejection of its inflexions. In the substantive, the only case retained was the genitive in is or es. In the plural, all the inflexions were ultimately dropped, the three cases (improperly so called), being written in the same way as the nominative plural, which was generally the same as the genitive singular.

[blocks in formation]

Tha halige fant water is gelic odhrum waeterum (dat.) ac dhaes halgan gastes miht dhurh sacerda (gen.) bletsunge. (The holy font water is like (to) other waters; but the Holy Ghost's power, through the priests' blessing.)-Alfric's Paschal Homily.

And thei weren glad in the werkis of her hondis.—Wycliffe.
For drunkenness is very sepulture

Of mannes wit.-Chaucer.

They extol their masses farre above Christes passion.-Cranmer.

The quenes kindred and the kinges blood.-Sir Thomas More.

And there is grete melodie of aungeles songe,

And their is preysing him (them) among.-Richard Rolle.

The hymnis consecrat of lovis use.—James I.

Winter is worne that was the floures bale.—Earl of Surrey.

own.

* *

This is the fruit, when princes take all their subjectes thinges as their The princes watche ought to defend the poor mannes house, his labour the subjectes ease **.-John Pagnet (Bishop of Winchester.) And sing of knights and ladies gentle deeds.-Spenser.

Think not the erectness of man's stature a sufficient distinction of him from brutes.-Stillingfleet.

Weigh the men's wits against the ladies hairs.-Pope.

These examples are taken at random, and fairly represent the ordinary use of the writers from whom they are quoted, though many instances of the s' may be observed, especially in those authors who are nearer to our own times. From these instances, then, I think we are fairly entitled to conclude, that the apostrophe in the singular is a mark of elision denoting the omission of the e or i of the Saxon genitive; and that this is the only case (properly so called), in our present English nouns. The possessive plural in our early English or Saxon, as may be seen in the first quotation above, ended in a or ena; and, after the final rejection of the a of the genitive and um of the dative, was written

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors]

and Physical Training of Youth in Schools. At the same time he announces his intention, should the anticipations of its promoters be realized, of following up the volume with two others. Nearly the whole of the present volume having appeared originally in our own pages, we scarcely like to say what we think of it; there can, however, be no harm in our stating, that these essays are the result of long and thoughtful experience, the greater part of the author's life (more than twenty years) having been devoted to the benefit of the rising generation, in a sphere, too, perhaps best adapted for the gaining of sound experience the principalship of a select boarding school. It is something to say in favour of this unpretending volume, that it contains nothing which has not been tested by experience and sanctioned by success. The subjects of the essays are as follows:-(1.) On First Impressions. (2.) On the Order in which the Mental Faculties unfold themselves. (3.) On the Early Formation of Studious Habits. (4.) On Facilitating Youthful Studies. (5.) On the Means of Exciting Diligence in Study. (6.) On Familiar Lectures in connection with the Interrogative System of Instruction. (7.) On Discrimination of Character. (8.) Hints for a Practical Method of Teaching Elocution in Schools. (9.) On the Means of Promoting Quietness in Schools. Also an Appendix, containing two papers in Defence of Emulation as a means of exciting Diligence in Study. We look forward with considerable interest to the appearance of the other two volumes promised in the preface, one on the Moral, and the other on the Physical Education of Youth.

Thirty Chants, Selected from the Best Composers; Arranged for Four Voices, with an Accompaniment for the Organ and Pianoforte. Imperial 8vo. Hamilton & Co.

ANY effort, however humble, that tends to the improvement of congregational singing, is worthy of encouragement. There are, however, special reasons for recommending this new selection to the favourable notice of our readers :

(1.) It is a selection, and from the best composers, too, evidently made with the single aim of promoting congregational chanting: there is not one original, scarcely one very modern chant in the volume.

(2.) It is cheap in the right sense of the word. There is nothing poor about it. In addition to the thirty chants arranged in score with an accompaniment, it contains the canticles of the Church of England; and all for one shilling. The profits, too, will be applied to a charitable purpose.

(3.) Great care and skill have been employed in the distribution of the words of the canticles, the syllables being displayed in a manner plain enough for a child to understand at a glance. There is a short but excellent preface, explaining the principle upon which this is done, blending the syllabic and accented systems, so as to avoid the extremes of either. We shall be pardoned for borrowing the following quotation from the Rev. J. Jebb's Choral Service of the Church of England :—

DA A ZONTAL TUR. be never in the first part ought to be upon as fines: the second part po the last five; as in this

[ocr errors][merged small]

3r & sat altera be gains system, which is to give the last II Gas zit sills, whatever may be Za prack I moance. The firm of the words, and what is rust me piss a many cases altogether lost. On the Cat Dale, De kuni sistems by via the crison is altogether Se us tres being assigned to the last three DAT & DRAC Doo far, and by crowding so pa, te sundity of the chant is impaired, and TURG Lay wounding in so many consonants

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The Tija nelit la xetween these two extremes. Due attenZI NII MI I ZA Sense and I regard at the same time should De hal 2: 24 Hrs wettence and stunt erotation of certain syllalus VICT, TIM the process to Lirerate incident to all languages, vi ha de so the great detriment of melody."

Kranauta i tis xation, is the original and 22202 Vit 2 vil ta virs & act antide, being printed on Sud SE I 24 Kut at the hem of the page, and all but detached THE EP put at mad at me the notes of the music to WAT DOET ADET be sung the meet me dating the words, corresཅི བ |:ཀྱང གོ་ The 10 whichever side of the leaf the

[ocr errors]

In Baucarum. By the Ascur of “A Sponsor's Gift," &r. 252 Hatchard.

QUA IZACI Vis is to the volume by one or two remarks in LEONIEL t be with these words: This book, Hamast ja panis we tackers rely, is to be kept from children, to When the writer points out the faults A MEN S VALST. ASSIN then the it is in a faithful and tender sut. Dt Smithame the is a cow the effects resulting The wet was not clasaited any other work on aracadad del his merat receded her can experience." We began be 24 we dat net va gazine book, and we have not been extrum Liang every devine for low churchmanship, the NA SRI Rear the intile of young mothers, and others who have the bringing data. The author has studied her subject wa wiedzy but experime in the matter. Her method Oh Thabiskan ke gang dinge à tay seaside; she evinces great peROTING IN character, and dois largely in interesting anecdotes of CNN have been entrusted to be care. She is no advocate for Tanong polar

es, einstha, de vid zot begin to teach a was four years old, maintaining that she has inva

« PreviousContinue »