see no intimations in any of them that suspension on account of the war, is thought of.

OUR ACADEMIES. We hear from the Liberal Institute So. Woodstock, and from Townsend Academy. They now have about one hundred pupils each. Wm. R. Shipman, A. B., a Preceptress, and four assistant teachers in the several Departments, constitute the Board of Instruction at South Woodstock. G. E. Lane, A. B., Principal, and Miss F. M. Webster, Preceptress, have charge of Townsend Acad

emy.

Died, at Hanover, N. H., the 14th inst., PROF. C. LONG, D. D., aged about 55. This is the fourth Professor of Dartmouth College who has died within the last three years -Professors Young, Haddock, Shurtleff, and Long.

Our Last Comet, it is said, is still visible by the aid of the telescope. It is now not far from the Star Eta in the Constellation Hercules. This Comet seems to have met with a misfortune since it left us, in the loss of its tail. "Nothing remains but a nebulous shroud, the whole not unlike in appearance to a small planetary nebula."

What an English Statesman says of us. "In Education Americans are in advance of us. There is no such thing as an American born child above ten years of age who cannot read and write. Every parent is bound to educate the child; and if the parent does not send him to school, the State does. In regard to the observance of the Sabbath-day and the maintenance of their churches, especially in the States of New England, they are also before our country. And as I traveled through America and saw those magnificent churches, all raised by the voluntary subscriptions of the people, I smiled and said, 'Dear me, we have people in our country who say, if that smal! thing called church-rates is removed, the Church of England will go to decay! They have no church rates there they have no taxes for the maintenance of the church, and yet, if we take the number of churches in proportion to the number of inhabitants, there are

more places of worship in America than in England." As Mr. Lindsay expresses a strong sympathy for the South, in the same speech from which this extract is taken, he ought to know that there are in the Southern States, a million of children," American-born," who are forbidden by law to learn to read and write, and as many more whites not well instructed. It is only in the free states that any sufficient legal provision is made for popular education.

TO TEACHERS. We offer Northend's Teacher and Parent or Northend's Teacher's Assistant (the trade price of either is $1.25) and a copy of Gleanings from School Life Experience, for $1,00. Sent by mail for $1.25.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION. In our Dec. number we shall publish an article upon Gymnastics in Schools from the pen of Dr. Dio Lewis, with wood cut illustrations. If the Journal continues other. articles will follow.

Dr. Lewis's Normal Institute for Physical Education will open its second course on Jan'y 2nd, 1862. Those interested can send to him for a circular. O.

NOTICES OF BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, &c.

Adams' Improved Arithmetic.-This work is based upon the analytic and synthetic methods of instruction. These two methods were first combined by Mr. Adams in 1827. His first work, the "Scholar's Arithmetic," was issued in 1801, so that the venerable author has been before the public sixty years. Now, in his eighty-eighth year, he presents to their patronage and favor this, his last, edition, re-written in a style much condensed, carefully revised, and clothed in a neater and better finished dress than heretofore. Mr. Adams may almost be called the Father of Arithmetical Science in this country. He first introduced diagrams for the illustration of Square and Cube Roots. The paternity of the system of Topical Questioning may also be justly accorded to him. Through his "New Arithmetic," he was our own instructor in this science. Knowing so well the value of his work to the diligent scholar, we hesitate not to recommend it, in its revised form, to general use in our schools. Published by Collins & Brother; New York.

Elements of Geometry and Trigonometry, with Practical Applications, by Benjamin Greenleaf, A. M. Improved Electrotype Edition.—This work is a continuation of the well-known author's Mathematical Series. Much attention is given to the converse of propositions. The application of Geometry to Mensuration, the Miscellaneous Exercises which follow, and the application of Algebra to Geometry, arc all eminently practical.

The Elements of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry appear to embrace all that is essential in this branch for academical instruction. The trigonometric functions are regarded as ratios, according to the method now generally adopted by the best American mathematicians. We think the work well adapted to instruction in the branches of which it treats. Published by Robert S. Davis & Co.; Boston.

Fasquelle's French Course.-This justly popular work needs no commendation from us. Combining the analytic and synthetic methods rightly proportioned and carefully blended, it presents to the student in this polished language a complete guide to an accurate knowledge of it. The author is a distinguished professor in the University of Michigan, and has endeavored to furnish a work that an experience of over twenty years practice in teaching the modern languages has both taught him the need of and fitted him to supply that need. The test of the school-100m has already fully acknowledged his success. Published by Ivison & Phinney; New York.

Vermont Quarterly Gazette.-An Historical Magazine, embracing a digest of the history of each town, civil educational, religious, theological, and literary. This publication is to consist of a series of fourteen Quarterlies. The numbers for Aadison and Bennington countie; are already issued. The latter is before us and has been chiefly prepared under direction of Hon, Hiland Hall, an excellent steel-engraving of whom prefaces the number. It contains much interesting matter connected with the early history of our State, especially in regard to the troubles with New York, the defeat of Burgoyne, etc. The Chittenden county number is to appear early in the coming year. Edited and published by Abby Maria Hemenway; Ludlow, Vt.

The North American Review.-Contents of the October number: Chas. Albert, Victor Emmanuel II and Piedmont in 1858, and the History of the Congress of the Deputies of the Italian States at Vienna; Law a Perfectible Science; The Ansaireeh of Syria; Modern Theoretical Astronomy; De Tocqueville on the French Revolution; Lord Macaulay as an Historian; St. Anthony; Habeas Corpus and Martial Law; Buckle's History of Civilization in England; Critical Notices. This number possesses more than ordinary merit, and will richly reward all intelligent readers.- Published at Boston by Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Co. Terms, $5 a year in ad

vance.

Harper's Magazine.-The November number of this popular and truly valuable Magazine completes the twenty-third volume. Among the contributors to this volume may be noted J. T. Headley, J. S. C. Abbott, B. J. Lossing, T. S. Arthur, Charlotte Bronte, Bayard Taylor, and many others prominently known to the American public. The illustrated articles in the present number are very interesting.

Atlantic Monthly.-Among the contents for November are: George Sand, The Flower of Liberty, Alex De Tocqueville, Agnes of Sorrento, Health in the Camp, Concerning People who carried Weight in Life, Why has the North felt aggrieved with England: Wild Endice, and 'The Washers of the Shroud.

Peterson's Magazine.-The November number contains thirty-seven articles and sixty-seven illustrations. The thrilling story-The Broken Life, is continued. l'hiladelphia.

Arthur's Home Magazine is just the thing for home reading, being full of morel and instructive, as well as entertaining, reading matter.

It

The Home Monthly we can always speak of in the highest terms. adapts itself to every member of a family, and is truly worthy of the patronage of all who regard the right culture of the mind and heart of primary importance.

SCHOOL JOURNAL AND FAMILY VISITOR.

VOLUME III.

DECEMBER, 1861.

NUMBER XII.

DOES THE INVESTMENT PAY?

The education of a young Prince or Princess is regarded in royal governments, as an important matter, affecting, as it must, the welfare of nations. The selection of a proper tutor for such an heir to the throne, always excites a deep interest and solicitude throughout the kingdom or empire.

But we are a Nation of Sovereigns, and our children all princes of a future generation. Yet, with how little comparative solicitude, do parents and teachers in our community, enter upon the great work of Education. How little interest is felt in the character and success of our Common Schools. How small the capital invested in school-houses, apparatus, books and teachers, (if we may judge by the amount paid for their services.) And do parents expect a liberal income from this investment? Would they expect it in any other department of labor or trade, under similar circumstances? Suppose the mechanic, the farmer, or the merchant, should invest so meagerly, as a means of carrying on his business, what but a disgraceful failure would be the result? Yet there is no investment that pays so well as the necessary expense of a first class district school; a spacious, convenient and tasteful house, a good apparatus and suitable books, and a well qualified, efficient and expensive (because well qual ified) teacher. As a mere matter of dollars and cents, we repeat it, no investment pays so well.

Railroad and Bank stock is often below par. Manual and mechanical labor may, for various reasons, fail of their reward. But intellectual and moral culture, a sound and

practical education for our children, is always available ; is a better security against future want, than any amount of money can be.

The great object which every parent professes to have in view, is the welfare of his children. He spends toil some days and sleepless nights for their support, protection and happiness, while yet under the paternal roof. And the source of his solicitude in regard to their riper years, is that they may be well provided for and "well started in the world." But how often do parents misjudge in this important matter, and as a consequence, not only waste their own energies but ruin their children. The choice usually lies between the accumulation of wealth on the one hand, and the education of their children on the other, and in a majority of cases, their early education is neglected for the sake of saving money. To prove this, we have only to refer to our common schools, as they are. How poor and ill-adapted our school-houses; how destitute of suitable apparatus and books, as above suggested: how cheap many of the teachers employed. The reason assigned is that "the district is too poor to provide better." Stil! these parents have erected comfortable houses and splendid barns; have employed the most efficient help on their farms, and purchased the best implements of husbandry in the market. They are not too poor to provide well for their animals and the successful prosecution of their business, but too poor to educate their children! Now, it can be demonstrated that any family of children left in the world with no inheritance but a good character and a thorough education, are infinitely safer and more sure of an honorable livelihood, than with a fortune without the advantages of education. How often the wealth accumulated by the industry, self-denial and toil of a miserly father, who could not afford to educate his children, has been squandered by his ignorant and dissipated And how numerous the instances where children, reared in poverty but educated by the labor and self-de

sons.