Not less than seventy-five teachers attended the Association January 15th at Avoca, Pottawattamie County. Teachers were present from adjoining counties. State Supt. Akers lectured on the evening of the 14th to a large audience. Much of the success and large attendance were due to the labors of County Supt. W. W. Laird and Prof. W. C. Davis of Avoca, Prof. A. B. Warner of Harlan took an active part in the Association.

The Keokuk County teachers held an association at Sigourney January 7 and 8. Friday evening the 7th, Prof. E. R. Eldridge of Columbus Junction, delivered a lecture on "Professional Enthusiasm;" and C. G. Johnson gave an address on the "Relation of Directors to the School." The exercises on Saturday, the 8th, were opened with a "Model Recitation in Reading," conducted by Mabel White; Ada M. Gray read a paper on "Outside Work," which was discussed by J. A. Thomas and others. Supt. W. J. Dean of What Cheer, read a paper about “Aims and Methods of Teaching History." Prin. S. S. Wright of Keota gave a practical paper on the question. "Should Business Principles Be Taught in Our Public Schools?" The discussion on this question was opened by R. R. Talley. In the afternoon a paper on "Busy Work for the Little Ones" was read by Maggie Holmes. The paper was discussed by Maggie Hoffarth. An oration on "The Poet's Mission" was delivered by Viola M. Passig of Sigourney. Supt. J. A. B. Wood of the Sigourney schools read a paper on "What is an Education?" which was discussed by Prin. J. P. Dodds of the same schools. After a recitation by Gene Clark, J. A. Eastburn gave a paper on "The Country Schools," and M. L. Sweeney opened the discussion on the paper. Geo. Phillips read a paper on "Methods of Teaching Geography," and Supt. Nannie Torrance discussed "The Reading Circle." J. A. Thomas was president of the Association and R. R. Talley, secretary.

Boards of Education contemplating changes in Principalships, High Schools, Intermediate, Primary or Special Teachers should write early to the Teachers' Co-operative Association, 170 State street, Chicago, and get the names of the best teachers who are willing to make a change. Many of the leading schools of the West have secured their teachers through this Agency. All communications from Boards and Superintendents are held as strictly confidential by the Manager, Mr. Orville Brewer, who gives his personal attention to the selection of teachers for vacancies. We advise all Boards to correspond with him in confidence. We can vouch for his faithful discharge of all business entrusted to him.

THE EDITORS BOOK TABLE.

"SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE BANCROFT," is the title of a neatly printed volume of one hundred pages, in flexible cloth binding, edited by Prof. W. W. Gist, of the chair of English Language and Literature, Coe College, Cedar Rapids. The volume is published by Geo. Sherwood & Co., Chicago. The book is well adapted for many uses. On the title page the editor says: "For High Shools, Colleges and Reading Circles." In addition to a Biographical Sketch of George Bancroft, by Prof. Gist, the work contains twenty-four selections, with suggestive questions on each selection, also several blank pages at the close for notes. The following are the titles of the selections: Tribute to the English Language, Description of Colonial Virginia, The Pilgrims, The Reformation, Luther and Calvin, Roger Williams, Locke and Penn, The Christian Religion, The Puritans, Cornwell, The Hudson, Franklin, Lexington, Washington, John Adains, Abigail Adams, Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, The American Revolution, Influence of the Reformation, The Acadians, Wesley and the Revolution. These selections give the reader a brief, but delightful glimpse into the marvelous riches of that masterpiece of historical prose," Bancroft's History of the United States."

To one who has not the "fatness of purse" to invest in a set of "Bancrofts History in twelve volumes," Prof. Gist's little book of selections affords an excellent means by which to make an acquaintance with the style, and genius of the greatest of American historians, and one who ranks even above a Hume, a Hallam, a Gibbon, or a Macanlay.

A very valuable book of 125 pages, is Arthur Gilman's "SHORT STORIES FROM THE DICTIONARY," published by the Interstate Publishing Co., of Boston. In fifteen charming stories, the author leads the reader into the beautiful realms of the English Language, and teaches the "life and meaning" of many familiar words. Although these stories were prepared for young people, there are very few who will not find in them much of interest and profit. Not every one who knows of the riches of the Dictionary, uses it as much as would be profitable. There ought to be a Dictionary in every school-room in the land, and every boy and girl of proper age should know how to use it to the best advantage. Children, or older persons either, can turn what seems to them like dry study, into a very agreeable passtime, by taking, as Mr. Gilman does, words from the dictionary, and tracing their various changes in form and meaning down to the present day. The titles of some of the chapters in Arthur Gilman's book will suggest something of the nature of the stories: Names of Countries, Parts of the Body, Names of Noises, Handy Words, and Dwellings and Other Places.

How To ORGANIZE, CLASSIFY AND TEACH A COUNTRY SCHOOL. By W. M. Welch, A. M., County Superintendent of Jackson County, Iowa. The book is published by Donohue & Henneberry, Chicago, Ill. Iowa can now number not a few educational authors among her school men. In the

foremost rank of our educational authors is Supt. Welch of Jackson County. Supt. Welch's new book for country teachers is a volume of one hundred pages and contains " Multum in Parvo." The author avoids elaboration and puts everything in the fewest possible words. There is nothing in it that does not pertain to the immediate work of the country teacher. Most works on methods are so largely filled with matter pertaining to graded school work that they are of little benefit to the average country teacher, especially the beginner. The author gives the most practical helps in a brief yet comprehensive manner. No country teacher should be without the book, for it will help just in the way its title indicates: How to Organize, Classify and Teach a Country School. It costs only one dollar.

THE RISE AND EARLY CONSTITUTION OF UNIVERSITIES, with a survey of medieval education, by S. S. Laurie, LL. D.; D. Appleton & Company, N. Y. This is the third book of the "International Education Series," issued by the above excellent publishing house. Vol. I. is "The Philosophy of Education;" Vol. II. is "A History of Education." The subject of the third volume is as given above. The book is addressed to schoolmasters and others who wish to know something about medieval education and the rise of universities. The matter contained in the three hundred pages is put in the form of fifteen clear, forcible and interesting lectures on the following subjects: I. The Romano-Hellenic Schools and Thejr Decline; II. Influence of Christianity on Education, and Rise of Christian Schools; III. Charlemagne and the Ninth Century; IV. Inner Work of Christian Schools; V. Tenth and Eleventh Centuries; VI. Rise of Universities [A. D. 1100]; VII. The First Universities; VIII. The University of Bologna; IX. University of Paris; X. The Terms "Studium" and "Universitas," and ahe Constitution of Universities; XI. Students, Their Number and Discipline-Privileges of Universities-Faculties; XII. Graduation; XIII. Oxford and Cambridge; XIV. The University of Prague; XV. University Studies and the Conditions of Graduation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL BOTANY, is a new book by D. Appleton & Co., designed to give an elementary account of Structural and Physical Botany, or of the inner and minute mechanism and activities of plants. The work was prepared by Dr. Robert Bently, of England, and abridged for school use by Eliza A. Youmans, who is well known as an author of Botanical works. The book is arranged on the plan of Appletons' Science Text-Books, and is clear and comprehensive. It embraces a subject better adapted to school room exercise than descriptive botany.

One of the best review magazines published on this continent is "THE FORUM," published by the Forum Publishing Co., 97 Fifth Avenue, New York. Each number of the Forum is full from cover to cover of fresh, vigorous, interesting and instructive articles from the best known essayists. An excellent feature of the Forum is, that it is American and deals with popular American subjects of vital importance and of the deepest interest to the people. The February number of The Forum completes the second volume, or one year's publication. The series of articles, "How I was Educated," by eminent men, has proved a most valuable and attractive feature to educators especially. Another series will soon begin on "Books that have been Useful to me," embracing chapters from the lives of notable men, contributed by themselves.

A NEW VOLUME.

DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY.

A Practical Guide to the Classification of Plants, with a Popular Flora.

By ELIZA A. YOUMANS,

Author of "The First Book of Botany," Editor of "Henslow's Botanical Charts."

This volume has been written in accordance with the same philosophic principles of education that guided the preparation of the preceding volumes of the series. It introduces the pupil to the study of Botany in the only way it can be properly done by the direct observation of vegetable forms. From the beginning throughout, the pupil is sent to the plant itself to get the required knowledge. The book provides for the direct study of all those features that are used in classification, and illustrates, by practical examples, the uses to be made of these observations in Systematic Botany.

The popular Flora included has been prepared with much care, and will acquaint the pupil with the leading orders and genera of plants and their representative species. This book will take the place of the author's "Second Book of Botany,” and provides a complete course in itself, no other book being necessary.

A sample copy, for examination, will be mailed, post-paid, on receipt of $1.20.

Teachers in Quest of the Best, Should Examine Our FIRST BOOK OF BOTANY<

By ELIZA A. YOUMANS.

DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE THE OBSERVING POWERS OF CHILDREN.

In this book the true objective method is applied to elementary science-teaching. Plants, themselves, are the objects of study, and the knowledge thus gained becomes at once accurate and of practical value as a preparation for study in other departments of science.

Introduction Price, 64 Cents. Sample copy will be sent, post-paid, for examination, on receipt of introductory price.

HENSLOW'S BOTANICAL CHARTS

Modified and adapted for use in the United States. By ELIZA A. YOUMANS. Beautifully colored. Six Charts with Key, mounted on Rollers.

Send for our EDUCATIONAL CATALOGUE, SPECIAL PRICE-LISTS, &c.

D. APPLETON & CO., Publishers,

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1. Opens next year September 28, 1886.

2. The SCHOOL for TEACHERS to acquire a knowledge of the principles of PESTALOZZI and FROEBEL.

3. The ScHool for YOUNG TEACHERS to get PRACTICAL WORK at FAIR PAY. Graduates in Elementary Course being allowed to teach branches passed over.

4. The school for YOUNG PEOPLE seeking modern COLLEGE EDU

CATION.

5. The SCHOOL for YOUNG PEOPLE desiring a COMMERCIAL COURSE. Tuition one-third usual rates elsewhere.

6. The SCHOOL for YOUNG PEOPLE wishing a good MORAL and INTELLECTUAL atmosphere. Y. P. C. A., good CHURCHES and SABBATH SCHOOLS are found here.

7. The SCHOOL for YOUNG PEOPLE of limited means, making their OWN WAY in the world. Our tuition but two-thirds rates in other

Schools of "Higher Grade."

8. Boarding good and inexpensive.

9. The SCHOOL for EVERYBODY. The course carried on by CORRESPONDENCE, an entirely NEW FEATURE in SCHOOL ECONOMY, thorough, painstaking work being done. GRADUATION granted after SATISFACTORY EXAMINATIONS. METHODS in ACTUAL USE in the SCHOOL ROOM.

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