ENTERTAINMENT A Letter to the New Year. (Child holds sheet of paper and reads.) You dear good blessed New Year, I am writing you a letter, To ask if you won't try to fix up things some better. The best of us will make mistakes- I thought perhaps if I Should tell you how you might improve, you would be glad to try. Past years have quite forgotten that little girls and boys I wonder, now! - just take it in your head To have such things all growing in a lovely garden bed? And then I should plant always (if only it were me) And lemonade should bubble up in all the little springs. And best of all, it was Saturday! It surely must have been planned that way By old Boreas, benevolent soul! Who made up his mind that, upon the whole, The boys who stay In school all day Have a right to say There's a time for play; So down he sent with a single fling We built a fort; did you ever try To build one solid, and build it high? And thought they soon had victor, won; Had you seen us stand At the stern command, You'd have called it grand, Struggle and tussle and tug and clinch; Surrender? Never a single inch. Drawing from the object. A Bright New Year. The grand new year! "A year to be glad in, not to be bad in; A year to live in, to gain and give in; A year for trying, and not for sighing; A year for striving and hearty thriving; A bright new year. Oh! hold it dear, For God, who sendeth, He only lendeth." Politeness. "If a lady in the street, Or my teacher I should meet, "Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! Inconveniences. It's funny I never can find -Thomas Tapper. Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer, the well-known ex-president of Wellesley College, won golden opinions from men and maidens in a recent talk given before the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association. The necessity for culture, good breeding, lady-like ways, and gracious deportment in the school-room as well as out, was her theme. She was receiving letters from school officials, asking for teachers. with these qualifications, first of all after that what they could. There was a world of truth in all that Mrs. Palmer said. The day has gone by when a high percentage in examination results will atone for brusqueness in a teacher. Manners should be demanded before mental arithmetic, and graciousness before grammar. "Grosselin Methode Phonomenique." Notice the paragraph in the letter from Paris on page 14 of this number of PRIMARY EDUCATION, beginning with the above heading. Will some ingenious teacher make an attempt with this Methode, and give us the benefit of it. It sounds fascinating, and we believe there are American teachers who could "work up" something original and unique from the bare suggestion given by Miss Bacon. How the children would like it! Not as a regular thing, of course, but for variety. Pleasant Words. Two personal letters have been received from Minnesota and Colorado bearing similar messages concerning the presence of PRIMARY EDUCATION in the school-rooms. "My children do see the paper (referring to the suggestion on editorial page of December number), and always look forward to it as I do. They know your name, and they love the paper and Boston, because it is near John G. Whittier's home." "Every number of PRIMARY EDUCATION, as it comes, brings a ray of sunshine to the children and a stock of inspiration to me. The little children look forward with eagerness to its coming, because they enjoy the work done by children of other schools. I have told them your name, and that you love little children. They have learned to ask regularly, 'Will Mrs. Kellogg's paper come this week?' One would think my babies imagined you published the paper for them alone." It is not easy to tell of the joy these letters bring. They come like pure sunlight into the many gray days of an editor's life. Sending out a monthly paper to the primary teachers of America is like shooting arrows into the air. Will they fall to the earth or will they hit the mark? Blessings on these little folks, for whom, after all, this paper is made. Whether they work and wait for their future near the "Golden Gate" or beside the "Father of Waters"; whether in the little school-house at the corner or in the decorated school-rooms of modern date ;-my heart goes out to them ever, and their welcome is the sweetest praise that can be bestowed. Blackboard Readings. Will the teachers who make any use of the Blackboard Readings given in this paper from month to month, tell us how they use them and what the children think of them? Will teachers also suggest any way in which these Readings can be made more helpful? Is it not tedious work for the teacher to write it all out on the blackboard? Can any better way be suggested? These letters may be personal and not intended for publication, if preferred. The "sense of the meeting" is desired upon this matter. Hand-bells? Any hand-bells ringing in primary schools this year? The publishers say: Don't! Song Books. It will be noticed that Miss Baber in her Primary Geography serial this year (in this paper) closes almost every number by giving songs from Eleanor Smith's Song Books. Read the notice of them on the Book page this month. "The motive of the work is to present the wild flowers of America as they are, as we see them, as we ought to know them, and as we ought to remember them, preserving with the strictest truth the essential characteristics of each specimen; in short, to give the flowers so plainly that any nursery child will know the flower by the picture and the picture by the flower. Each part of this work will contain not less than sixteen colored plates." Interesting chapters are given about the flowers represented. The flowers given are from every state in the Union. Price, $30.00 a year. Teachers will do well to ask for a specimen copy for examination. The Crocker Number Wheel. This is a device to assist teachers. The maker of it says: The Number Wheel relieves the teacher from tiresome blackboard work; it saves her time; it saves her voice; it saves her strength; it makes the drudgery of drill, delight. The teacher does not make a sign nor speak a word, but the mysterious work of mind growth goes on as the wheel quietly revolves. It is an impressive illustration of that "silence which is golden!" We do not vouch for it; we only tell the tale as it was told to us. Before the teachers conclude that this is a means of grace to be desired at once, let them read on that the price is $5.00 ! It is endorsed and used by many of the most prominent educators in New England. Send for circular to Crocker Manufacturing Co., Boston. - Our Supplementary Picture. We take especial pride in our accompanying picture this month. Its quality is superior, as everybody will see at a glance, and there is a story—yes, half a dozen of themeager to be told in the faces of the children. The little scene is evidently a delineation of the distinctive qualities of this motley collection of animals by the young naturalist who is eager to give "the points. Don't attempt to exhaust this picture at one time, teachers; there is suggestive material enough for the entire month, if skilfully economized. It will, no doubt, find a permanent place upon school-room walls. A simple farme will not cost much. The North Wind and the Snow Princess. (Arranged by MARA L. PRATT.) The days are growing short. The trees and fields are brown and bare. No cheery song is heard in the forest save the chirp of the merry little chickadee. Now is the time to look for the gruff, old North Wind, who roars and growls and howls across the plains, scattering the brown, dry leaves and bending even the sturdy oaks beneath his power. A testy cross old fellow this North Wind seems to be, as he goes shrieking around the corners and up and down our chimneys; but after all he is not so cruel as he seems. Did you ever watch the beautiful cloudhorses that he drives across the sky; and the shining cloud-chariot in which he sits? The little stars laugh down at him; and the louder he roars, the happier their sparkling eyes shine out. "Boo-oo-oo!" he cries; but his cold breath lays a beautiful shining cover over lakes and rivers and ponds and the happy waters go sparkling along almost as happy as if the sun shone down upon them. But best of all he brings the little Snow Princess with him. And such a beautiful, little Princess she is! Her robes are snowy white; her eyes are sparkling in the sunlight, and she floats down from her home above and touches the brown leaves and shrubs, the bare rocks and fields with her soft and gentle hand. Often the little Princess comes in the still, gray morning when all the world is asleep; sometimes she comes when the darkness falls; and then she works all night long to make the earth beautiful for the Sun to shine upon. She floats over the fields and across the lakes; she dances along the hedgerows; she reaches up and kisses the tree-tops; she bends down and softly touches the tiny grasses and little shrubs. She strews her shining crystals up and down the forest paths, and all along the roads; she loads the branches with precious jewels; she covers the housetops and fences. But before they hurried away the old North Wind, whom some people think loves only to destroy the beauty of the autumn, called to the soft South Wind and to the little Rain Fairy who comes always with the soft South Wind. "The beautiful, tall trees are ready for you! And the tiny flowers are waiting for you!" the North Wind called, and the soft South Wind answered, "I am coming! I am coming!" And when the North Wind heard the soft whisper, he roared with joy and drove his cloud-steed across the sky with a speed that made the sun himself look with wonder upon the flying chariot. BOOKS CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, NEW The first thought in opening this book is of the vast amount of work involved in the compilation of this glossary of old time customs. But the author assures us that it has not been tedious, for the "charm in old letters, wills, inventories of estates, court records and eighteenth century newspapers" has repaid the effort, and preserved it from monotony. This work is designed for the use of artists and all who would imitate the dress of old colonial days in plays and entertainments of all kinds; -to such it must prove a valuable reference book. If one supposes that dress in the "first families" in the days of Washington was a matter of close economy, it will be a revelation to read the order sent to England in 1759, by the Father of his country for the personal wardrobe of himself and wife. HOUGHION & MIFFLIN, BOSTON. IN SUNSHINE LAND. By Edith M. Thomas, with illustrations by Katharine Pyle. When Miss Thomas brings her rich fancy into the kingdom of childhood, it is as natural to hear birds, flowers and children talk together as for all life to be bright and all nature happy "in sunshine land." Of the seventy-five little poems in this beautiful book not one can be mentioned as simply "verses." A poetic imagina ion has not only full play in every selection, but it finds expression in dainty language and happy phrase, that lifts the book far above the mere rhymes and Jingles that are deluging the little children of to-day in the multitude of books made for their especial pleasure. The thoughtful mother and discriminating teacher of little children will find a world of beauty in these "Sunshine" pages, sparkling with nature-life. and full of choice illustrations, whereby to train, cultivate and enrich the vivid imaginations of childhood. To memorize but a few of these fascinating little nature poems in early school days will bear fruit in after years in opening the eyes to hidden beauty and the heart to finer teachings than usually belong to work-a-day humanity. FREDERICK A. STOKES CO, NEW YORK. A TREASURY OF STORIES, JINGLES AND RHYMES. With one hundred and forty vignette illustrations in half tone after MAUD HUMPHREY. Short stories, fairy tales, Mother Goose jingles: verses by Edith M. Thomas, Elizabeth S. Tucker, and Helen Gray Cone. To say that this bok is generously illlus. trated is to give no conception of its rare beauty. There may be technical ways of expressing in words the wonder of these pictures, but to us that are not "up" in technique, there is no language to do them one-half justice; so soft are they in finish, so ideal, and yet so lfe-like! The possession of it would put any child into the seventh heaven of delight. So great is the variety of contents and so vivid and truthful are the illustrations that this "treasury" cannot fail to be a source of constant delight in every season, and in all conditions of child-life. The fairy tales are adapted to the child's desire for short stories, often told, and the Vocabulary is simplified that no little head shall be mystified with long words or ambigu. ous phrases. Every phase and well-nigh every make all children in the world about us MACMILLAN & CO., NEW YORK CITY. THE POPULATION OF AN OLD PEAR TREE: OR, STORIES OF INSECT LIFE. F.om the French of E. Van Brayssell. The In this book the excuse for its being is given on the last page instead of the first, viz: "To make nature beloved, and thus render the approach to science the easier." author lies down to sleep under an old peartree. From sleep he passes into a condition when "all the pores of his skin are furnished. with wondrously sharp and piercing eyes, and all his senses become marvellously acute." He beholds the ins: ct world in and around the old meadow pear tree, with all their wonderful ways and marvellous instincts. Waking, he tells the story. Children will be intensely interested in this book, and they will be a good deal sharper-eyed and reverent in feeling "THE OLD WOMAN IN THE SHOE" calendar toward the lower order of creation after read. for 1895. Just the thing to give a little girl for the New Year, who has heard of the "Old Woman in the Shoe" since she was born. Here she is at last with these troublesome children all doing duty as months of the year-just twelve of them. The bables in the primary school room Will understand this and learn to watch for each new baby face to appear the first day of every month. EDUCATIONAL PUB. CO., BOSTON. There is no writer whose works can be made COLONIAL CHILDREN. By Mara L. Pratt. the children who read it. ing it. Devotees of science will also find much here of value, as pure information, albeit it is told in fanciful language to arouse the imag. ination and stimulate the observation of the careless and unobservant mortals, who go through life with their eyes shut. LEE & SHEPARD, BOSTON. THE JEROME BANNER. By Irene E. Jerome. Four kinds in case, $2.0). "The Rest Banner;" "The Every-day Banner;" "The Joy Banner;" "What Will the Violets be?" Each leaflet or banner consists of four panels beautifully decorated in colors and gold, attached by ribbons of appropriate colors, combined with choice extracts from popular authors and enclosed in decorated envelopes. These banners are usique in design, and the reputation of their author for the production of beautiful things in the world of art is a suffi. clent guarantee for the delight they will give as a home decoration. Children will feel rich in the possession of such a banner in their own rooms, and teachers will find them well adapted to school rooms. A Morning Talk might be made from each quotation. LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., NEW YORK CITY. A HISTORY OF PAINTING. By John C. Van Dyke, L. H. D. This is one of a series of text-books (College Histories of Art) intended to provide concise teachable histories of art for class-room use in schools and colleges. It is planned to meet the needs of the students of the average educational institutions, whose time is too limited to enter into archæological discussions. One valuable feature of this book is the enumera. tion, at the close of each chapter, of the principle extant works of an artist, school or period, and where they may be found. MILTON BRADLEY CO, SPRINGFIELD, SONGS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. Parts I., II. The preparation of these books is based upon the belief that while music for little children should always appeal to enjoyment, yet it must also have in it real help for the development of the true, the beautiful, and AMERICAN BOOK CO., NEW YORK CITY. the good. There is need for something else ECLECTIC ENGLISH CLASSICS. Continuous with the already well-known series of school-room classics from the American Book Co. we have received Macauley's "John Milton"; "Midsummer Night's Dream"; "Silas Marner"; "L'Allegro," "Il Penseroso," "Comus," and "Lycidas"; also Sir Walter Scott's "Woodstock." These books are clearly printed, and are bound in strong, inexpensive board covers, so placing them within the reach of all school board "supply commit tees," who mean to place best literature in the schools. "Woodstock," for its historical char acter, and that, too, touching upon the times of Cromwell, ought to be of especial value in the broadest teaching of American history, This series is especially well worth examination by those making arrangements for schoolroom libraries for older children. beside the choice of pretty tunes in the selection and arrangement of music for little children. The author believes that there should be in all songs a unity, a simplicity, a sympa. thetic element which, while satisfying the fickleness of child nature, will point steadily and surely to higher ideals. Another claim for the book is the good accompaniment to the songs. The children may not seem to notice these, but the ear, nevertheless, is being well trained. Part I. contains eighty six, Part II. one hundred and twenty-two songs, embracing a great variety of subjects for kinder. gartens and lower primary schools. These books are firmly and handsomely bound, and will be a mine of wealth to all teachers of little children. They will never tire of the delights of rhythm and action found in these facinating songs so carefully adapted to their needs and capacities. |