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size of the different political divisions of this department, instruction from Text the globe, their relations to each other, Books need not extend beyond a few physical social and political are absolutely months. The precepts of the living teachessential to the American freeman. And er will be needed constantly, whenever here let me protest against so much time any habits prejudicial to health are obbeing wasted upon dry, unimportant de- served, or wherever favorable opportunitails in these studies. These may be more ties present themselves for impressing upsuccessfully learned in after years. It on the mind some useful hints.

should be the aim of the common school Here the course of study for the large to implant firmly in the mind general mass of our public schools must end.principles, the beams, posts and girders We would willingly extend it to meet the of the structure. The smaller timbers requirements of our higher schools, but and finishing touches may be supplied af- this may be deferred, until such time as terwards. The most important part of these schools are not so rare exceptions the time devoted to these branches in our to the general rule. Our object is to treat public schools, should be spent in teachof schools as they are, and not as we would ing how to study them aright. Their like to have them. We look for their imstudy must be a life work. The longer the time spent in school, the farther may Public School. provement in a fuller appreciation of the the pupil progress, but at farthest he can become acquainted with only the first rudiments of these branches, and it is useless to attempt any finishing of education here.. History is of daily growth and its increase will equal the advance of the best mind.

Platteville, Wis.

J. L. P.

[For the Journal of Education.

PRECOCITY OF INTELLECT.

SOME children seem by nature endowed

For a

He who neglects his health is guilty of a threefold crime, for upon the health of with unusual mental activity. In the the body depends that of the intellect and years of infancy they seem mentally maheart. There is such an intimate con- ture. The body small and undeveloped, nection between the physical, mental and is freighted with a giant mind. moral powers, and the physical are so es- few years they dazzle the eyes of the sentially at the foundation, that a knowl-world, then, in a vast majority of cases, edge of the laws of health is highly im- go out and are gazed at no more. Early portant. Some elementary work in Phys- maturity is generally accompanied by iology should be introduced as soon as early decay. Is it absolutely necessary the ideas contained in it can be under- that the most gifted should die in early stood and appreciated. This branch of youth? By no means. This precocity study in our common schools is sadly is of two distinct classes. The first arises neglected; and its neglect is one that will from an unhealthy or diseased brain.be felt in after generations. We cannot That disease sometimes produces rapid expect to make thorough physicians of growth and development, is a well estab the little ones in our schools, but we can lished fact in the physical world. Nor is give them such an idea of their little bod- it less true in the mental. The senses beies and the laws governing their healthful come exceedingly acute, sometimes painaction, that medical schools would be less fully so under the influence of certain plenty, or more sparingly attended. In diseases. The memory, the fancy, the

reason, the judgment are doubtless sus- ulants. Nor is it less sinful to goad on ceptible to like impressions. In the second the powers already doing more than their class are found those who are endowed part, even if they be perfectly healthy in with unusually active mental powers, their action.

which rightly checked may bless the world The fact cannot be disguised that inbut, encouraged and flattered break by tellectual murder is very prevalent in our their own weight. Is it strange that so land. Would teachers and parents cease few, who exhibit in early years wonderful to strive to obtain notoriety and worldly ripeness of intellect, ever realize in later praise by the exhibition of the unusual life the expectations they have raised?-mental strength of their more favored pu The strangeness of the thing vanishes as pils and children, the world will have we look into our families and our schools. less occasion to mourn the early fall of Who are the praised, the petted, the those whom God designed to be a blessing stimulated? Those who need an entirely to mankind. different discipline. A mysterious Procidence' often visits those who charge upon their Creator the result of their own indiscretion, not to use any harsher term.

Natural as it is, and gratifying as it may be to the pride of a parent or teacher, to push forward the smart and promising youth, I can look upon it in no other light than that of a positive wrong, and a wrong not often enough proclaimed against. A healthy and vigorous mindcannot long retain its standing in a diseased, dwarfed or overtasked body. One or the other must yield. The body must be entirely prostrated and die or the mind at first unusually active become all the more sluggish on account of its early acuteness. If we would have a giant mind we must have proportional strength of body. To use a common illustration, an engine of immense power will do very well in one of our ocean steamers, but would be of little service in one of our smaller river craft, unless to ensure its own destruction with the hull containing it.

If disease be the cause of precocity, it is without doubt absolutely sinful to foster it. The mind needs depletion at some times as well as the body and the skillful physician is he who knows when to reduce as well as when to administer stim

Platteville, Wis.

P.

[From the N. Y. Tribune. IN THE MEADOWS.

"I LIE in the summer meadows,
In the meadows all alone,
With the infinite sky above me,

And the sun on his mid-day throne.
The smell of the flowering grasses

Is sweeter than any rose,
And a million happy insects
Sing in the warm repose.

The mother lark that is brooding,

Feels the sunshine on her wings,
And the deeps of the noon-day glitter
With swarms of fairy things.

From the billowy green beneath me
To the fathomless blue above,
The creatures of God are happy

In the warmth of their summer love.

The infinite bliss of Nature

I feel in every vein;
The light and life of Summer

Blossom in heart and brain.

But darker than any shadow

By thunder-clouds unfurled,
The awful truth arises,

That Death is in the world!

And the sky may beam as ever,

And never a cloud be curled,
And the airs be living odors,

But Death is in the world.

Out of the deeps of sunshine

The invisible bolt is hurled; There's Life in the summer meadows, But Death is in the world!

BAYARD TAYLOR.

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ADAMS COUNTY. No. Children. Apportionment. CRAWFORD COUNTY.

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$106 40 Eastman,

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Grand Marsh,

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69 30 Highland,

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62 30 Marietta,

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