ORLEANS COUNTY.

At a Common School Celebration held at North Troy, Vermont, on the 2nd ult., the following resolutions were ably discussed in their order, by Rev. P. Himes of Highgate, D. M. Camp of Derby, L. C. Moore, M. F. Varney, L. H. Allen, and others, after which they were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That it is the duty of every teacher to read some portion of the Bible at the commencement of his school each day, and to comment upon the portion read.

Resolved, That thoroughness in teaching the different branches usually taught in our common schools, is the only sure guaranty of ultimate success for both teacher and pupil.

Resolved, That the success of teachers depends more upon the exertions of the parents of their pupils than upon

their own exertions.

Resolved, That the general apathy now existing in the public mind is the greatest obstacle in the way of improvement and efficiency in our common schools.

Resolved, That that parent who neglects to visit frequently the school-room, shows conclusively the want of a proper appreciation of the blessings of education, and a great lack of interest in the welfare and future usefulness of his child.

Resolved, That the present practice of requiring teach ers to "board around" the district is one of the few remaining "relics of barbarism," and that that parent who is not willing to pay his just proportion of a tax for boarding the teacher in one place, is "penny wise and pound foolish."

Resolved, That any person who should attempt to carry on a branch of business from which to derive his support and who should neglect the same as parents usually neg lect our common schools, would justly be called insane.

Resolved, That the great question concerning the training of the youth of our State should be regarded as the highest that can be asked, not only by parent, teacher and philanthropist, but by society and the commonwealth at large.

Resolved, That Common School Celebrations like the

present, tend strongly to awaken a public interest in the welfare of our schools, and are therefore both necessary and beneficial.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Orleans Standard, and the School Journal, for publication..

O. N. ELKINS, Secretary.

W. D. CRANE, President.

From the forthcoming Bennington County Number of the Vermont Quarterly Gazetteer.

WILLIAM A. BURNHAM-THE MODEL TEACHER. William A. Burnham was born in Derry, N. II., Dec. 29, 1805. Trained to a life of toil, he nevertheless possessed a mind thirsting for improvement, and early in life aspired to intellectual eminence. By industrious employment of seasons of respite from out-door avocations, the instructions of his father at home, and occasional attendance at the academy in his native town, he acquired the amount of knowledge necessary to qualify him to take charge of a common school. In this employment, undertaken first when scarcely eighteen years of age, he was uncommonly successful. Such was the reputation he acquired for tact and ability that his services as teacher were greatly in demand. Indeed the success which crowned his first labors in this employment strengthened an early predilection and led him to resolve that teaching should be his life-work. For a while he further pursued his studies at the Teacher's Seminary, Andover, Mass. In 1835 he was invited to take charge of the Preparatory Department of the Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt. Not satisfied with ordinary attainments, he resolutely pushed on until, though comparatively unaided, he mastered not only several modern languages, but likewise the Latin and Greek, to such a degree as at least to be deemed amply qualified to tako charge of the classical department in that institution-an institution, by the way, of which it is not too much to say, that, as a preparatory school for a college course, it

has been for many years without a successful rival in the State. With the exception of a year or two, in which he efficiently discharged the laborious duties of State Superintendent of Common Schools, Mr. Burnham remained to the close of his life, (May, 1860), connected with the aforementioned institution.

While at the Teacher's Seminary, at Andover, Mr. Burnham attained a settled hope of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. From a child he had known the Scriptures. His associations, moreover, had ever been strictly moral and correct; yet not until his 28th year did he find peace through the blood of the Cross. As a Christian he was very earnest, decided, active,—exemplifying in his walk, and inculcating not only by word, but by the spirit in which every duty was discharged, the doctrines he himself had so cordially and so savingly embraced.

As an instructor, Mr. Burnham was unrivaled. Gifted by nature with a bright and vigorous intellect, quick discernment, of character, an almost intuitive judgment of the right; plain, practical and direct in his method, and ardently devoted to his calling, we shall not, we feel assured, institute too high a claim in his behalf, if we characterize him as-THE MODEL TEACHER. R. H. H.

[For several months past we have hoped to secure a suitable sketch of the life of the lamented Burnham, but have hitherto failed. We therefore give the above article place, although not quite satisfied with its brevity and consequent meagerness of detail. Wm. A. Burnham, the subject of this sketch, was never State Superintendent, we think. He was invited to the position of Secretary of the Vermont Board of Education, but declined on account of the prior claims of his family.]

A workman of Paris has recently discovered a method of preserving gas and water pipes from rust, by enveloping them in a thick coating of clay. The city of Paris has awarded him a pension for life.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

The Springfield Republican says: "Miss Clark of the Bennington Female Seminary, has been negotiating for the removal of her School to Williamstown. The plan is approved by some of the College Faculty and all the students."

Wisconsin has 4,110 school districts, with 194,834 pupils, one-third of the children of the State do not attend school. Average monthly wages of male Teachers, $24,20; of female Teachers, $14,84. During the past year; $574,183,97 have been received for school purposes.

Illinois has 9,262 school districts, with 472,247 pupils ; average monthly wages of male Teachers, $28,82; of female Teachers, $18,80. The principal of township funds, $3,494,580.

Pennsylvania has 11,577 common schools, with 585,669 pupils. Average monthly wages for male Teachers, $24,20; for female Teachers, $18,11. Cost of common schools in the State, $2,619,477.

It is announced that the fifth volume of Lord Macaulay's History of England is preparing for publication, under the direction of his sister, Lady Trevelyan. It will be a continuation of that work as far as the revised manuscript was left by him. The continued narrative is com plete and consecutive, with two exceptions, ending with the death of William III.

Dr. Farr estimates that in England, one person dies annually in every 45; in France, one in every 42; in Prussia, one in every 38; in Austria, one in every 33; and in Russia, one in every 28.

Rev. Eli B. Smith, D. D., President of the Theological Seminary at Fairfax, died Jan. 6th, aged 55.

Prof. C. B. Haddock, for many years Professor at Dart, mouth College, and afterwards Minister to Spain, died very suddenly at West Lebanon, N. H., Jan. 10th, aged 67. Rev. Dr. Shurtliff, Ex-Professor of Dartmouth College, died at Hanover, N. H., Feb. 5th, aged 87.

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CATALOGUES RECEIVED.

NEWBURY SEMINARY AND FEMALE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. The Summary of these thriving schools, for the past year, exhibits the following results :-Graduating Class, 12; Ladies in the Collegiate Institute, 63; Ladies in the Seminary, 156; Gentlemen in the Seminary, 181; Total, 412. Average per Term, 152. Graduates from the Institute, 116. Attendance by Terms,-Winter, 104; Spring, 225; Summer, 80; Fall, 202.

Rev. Fenner E. King is Principal, assisted by four gentlemen and five lady assistants.

WESTFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL.-Fall Term of 1859: Males, 26; Females, 29. Fall Term of 1860: Males, 41; Females, 44, We learn from the catalogue that "this school was chartered in the Fall of 1857, and has met with a good degree of prosperity since that time, each term increasing in interest and numbers. * * * A large and commodious building has been erected." M. F. Varney is the Principal.

NOTICES OF BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, &c.

A Manual of Astronomy, and the Use of the Globes: by Henry Kiddle, A. M., Assistant Supt. of Schools; New York. This excellent little work, after having been in successful use for five years, is now presented in a new edition, illustrated, revised and enlarged. It is about the size of our ordinary school grammars, is well bound and neatly printed upon clear paper. The illustrations are numerous and good. The aim of the author has been to impart to it those features which are most important and desirable in a text book of this kind." From a cursory examination, we judge that he has been very successful.

Synthesis of the English Sentence, or an Elementary Grammar on the Synthetic Method: by J. M. B. Sill, Teacher of English Language and Literature in Mich. State Normal School. This is a grammar for beginners, and embodies the oral lessons given by its author, up to the time of its issue, to his classes. It follows the classification of sentences and nomenclature introduced in the Analysis of the English Sentence by Professor Welch.

Taking for his touch-stone-Utility to the Student, the author has discarded all distinctions and divisions, no matter how timehonored, in which he cannot find this utility. We commend the