From the Western School Journal. local peculiarities of speech prevail, and this too, even

NEW WORDS.

in the land that grows schoolmasters"-the New England States, where school organization is most That continual change is taking place in our lan- perfect. The active spirit now at work in favor of guage, all are aware, though few are sensible of the education, in these and other States, must in time extent to which it is carried. In turning over the drive from their borders all tendency to departure leaves of "Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms," from approved modes of speech, while the constant we have been forcibly struck with the number of reference of all our elementary English School words and peculiar phrases, which, on this side of the books to certain standards of orthography and proAtlantic alone, have already come in common collo-nunciation cannot fail to secure to this nation in all its quial use. Many of these are downright vulgarisms. vast extent, the use of one language, which of itself Many, which, at first blush, appear to be such, on ex- will be one of our strongest bonds of union, and form amination, prove to be by no means so far removed a most important element in that which constitutes from the ancient roots as the words used in polite dis- our national greatness. course to express the same ideas. While still another Educators have no need to sit with folded hands class of new words, which may be called purely upon this subject. At no time while English has been American, have been coined to meet our absolute spoken, has there been a greater influx of new words necessities of speech, being expressive of objects or than at present,--at no time has there been greater ideas connected with our peculiar habits of life, in-need for words entirely new. We have so many new stitutions and pursuits, in all of which, there is much discoveries in science and in art, so many new rethat hitherto has been unthought of by speakers of English and which it is impossible, conveniently to express by our language as used in Britain.

INGENUITY OF SCIENCE.

sults flowing from application of old principles, such feverish activity of mind,-that words must be multiplied to keep pace with the increase of ideas and Our language must also undergo much modification objects for which no English expression has previousfrom our contact and intermixture with Germans, ly existed,-while the strikingly imaginative charac Spaniards, French, &c. The Germans in particular ter of our people-particularly of ourselves in the are very tenacious of their mother tongue, the others West-floods the language with singular expressions adopting ours with greater facility. In this city it was and igures of speech, many of them truly forcible found impossible to draw the German children to the and graphic, but too often of ridiculous and extravaEnglish common schools, till schools were established gant character. All these cant expressions, however in which both English & German are taught, by which forcible they may appear, are bad, and to be achieved means a good knowledge of English is obtained by as the products of depraved taste. The object of us the rising German generation while at the same all should be to use the English in its utmost purity, time, it is found that nearly as much progress is made and particularly with instructors of youth, it is a posiby the pupils in the common branches of Education, tive duty to discountenance all indulgence in such as is made in the schools where English is exclusive-language as we have referred to, and strictly to guard ly taught. It is impossible to fix a language. The against its use on their own part-thus, often unwit French Academy attempted, with but partial success, tingly, giving their sanction to that which deprives to tie up the French to a certain standard; the attempt our language of much of its beauty and power, has been only productive of injury to the language. In the reign of Anne, an attempt was made to establish a like institution in England which, happily, failed. As Luther's translation of the Bible into Ger- Who would have imagined, when gun cotton was man lies at the root of modern German literature, so produced by M. Schonbein, and the world was threatit was the Bible of King James, which, more than ened with de truction by being blown up by this terought else preserved the English of our own language.rible explosive material, that within a few months it Before that translation, the works of many elegant should be an excellent styptic for dressing cuts and writers had appeared which, however, were only fit- wounds. But so it is. Dissolved in either and apted for the perusal of men of literary tastes, and pro- plied to the severest cut, it forms an adhesive coverduced but little effect upon the spoken tongue. The ing of singular closeness and adhesiveness, protects translated Scripture was the book of the masses-of the wound and excludes atmospheric air, or any irrithose who ever preserve a language-of those, who taing matter, so that the process of healing is carried in England did preserve their language, when king on speedily and effectually; and, when all is well, the and court, and all who desired favor or ounty at their "protectionist," having done its duty, is removed. hands, spoke in a foreign tongue. Its language was So also has Dr. Simpson, of Edinburgh, we are inthe people's language. It came to the home and heart formed, similarly applied chloroform and gutt and understanding of every one of them, and the res-percha! This mixture, in a liquid condition, at about pect given to its sacred teachings naturally extended the consistence of fine honey, is kept in a phial or to the language, in which they were couched. It be- bottle, and when an accident of the kind to which came the language of the pulpit-of public and pri- we have referred occurs, it is simply poured upon the vate prayer, and thus has been preserved much which wound; the chloroform instantly evaporates, and the adds force and beauty to our tongue, and which, gutta percha remains a perfect, flexible, second skin. probably, would otherwise have been obsolete, ere over the injured part, preserving it for weeks if necesnow. But even this powerful influence could not re-sary, without the need of dressing, bandages, or any call the language of England, from its numerous cor- other appliance, till there is no more occasion for this rupt provincial dialects, fostered by centuries of admirable agent. When we call to mind how much ignorance and of difficult communication between its human pain will thus be alleviated, how many cures several parts, and which, even in our own day, ren-effected where hitherto there have been danger and der the language of many Englishmen altogether in uncertainty, and how a number of surgical operations comprehensible to those unaccustomed to their par-will be simplified, it may not be considered too much ticular dialect. to rank such inventions among the most valuable that In the United States, it may be said that no dialects could be discovered and applied for the benefit of exist; though in several parts of the Union marked mankind.-Literary Gazette.

THE MISCHIEVOUS BOY.

while yet the habit is ill-established, and malice has no settled predominance in the matter, it is still the fountain of extensive evil. He that is commissioned or in any way encouraged to exercise the functions of a spy over his fellow pupils, will never fail, while he excites their fears, at the same time to wake up against himself a plentiful supply of bitter antipathies, "Children of a larger growth" hate almost instinetively the name, person and character of an informer, and there is no reason to hope that the same thing will not among the members of a school arouse precisely the same feeling. See Proverbs, chapter xxvii. v. 8.

A BEAUTIFUL FIGURE.

I resided in Philadelphia, in the vicinity of a market. One evening, as I was quietly sitting with my family, I heard a loud rap at niy front door. I immediately went to the door, and was surprised, on opening it, to find no one there. I shut the door, and urned to go to the parlor. I had hardly proceeded a yard, before rap, rap, went the knocker again. I hastily opened the door, but no one was to be een. I concluded that some mischievous boy was disposed to have a little sport at my expense, but as I was not willing to be annoyed with mischief, I shut the door and kept hold of it. Very soon the raps were repeated. I sudenly opened the door; but nobody was to be seen. The evening was dark, and as I stood in the door, the raps were renewed for a few seconds. Life is beautifully compared to a fountain fed by a I stood in astonishment; but upon putting my hand thousand streams, that perish if one be dried. It is upon the knocker, the mystery was unraveled. Ia silver cord, twisted with a thousand strings, that part found a string tied to it, and my little persecutor was asunder if it be broken. Frail and thoughtless mortals standing behind one of the pillars of the market, are surrounded by innumerable dangers, which make with one end in his hand, operating upon my knocker it much more strange that they escape so long, than at his pleasure. I closed the door, and went out a that they sometimes perish suddenly at last. We are back way, passed down the street on the foot-way, encompassed with accidents every day, to crush the till I got some dist nce below the lad, when I turned mouldering tenements which we inhabit. The seeds and came up pd him, and took hold of his arm. of disease are planted in our constitution by nature. He was very me alarmed, and began to entreat me The earth and atmosphere whence we draw the breath to let him go, when the following dialogue took place. of life, are impregnated with death-health is made "Well, my lad, thou art amusing thyself at my ex- to operate its own destruction. The food that nourpense. I want thee to go home with me." ishes, contains the elements of decay; the soul that animates it by a vivifying fire, tends to wear it out by its own actions. Death lurks in ambush along our path. Notwithstanding this is the truth, so palpably confirmed by the daily example before our eyes, how little do we lay it to heart! We see our friends and neighbors perish among us, but how seldom does it occur in our thoughts, that our knell shall, perhaps, give the next fruitless warning to the world.-Guard.

Oh, you are going to whip me; please let me go, and I will never do so again."

"I will not whip thee, but thou must go home with me."

After repeated assurances that I would not whip im, at length the poor fellow consented; but he had to faith in my promise not to whip him, and went in with the full expectation that he was to be punished. seated him in the parlor, and took a seat by his ide. He was a fine, bright-looking little fellow, bout thirteen or fourteen years of age.

I asked him if he went to school.

He replied that he did.

"Canst thou read?" I inquired. "Yes."

"Well, let us read a few chapters in the Bible." I opened the Bible, read a chapter, and then gave t to him; and I was much pleased to discover that e could read so well.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN MUSIC.-"You will start at a strange notion of mine: if it appears even a mad one, do not wonder. Had I children, my utmost endeavors should be to make them musicians. Considering I have no ear, nor ever thought of music, the preference seems odd; and yet it is embraced on frequent reflection. In short, madame, as my aim would be to make them happy, I think it the most probable method. It is a resource which will last We spent about an hour in that manner, when them their lives, unless they grow deaf; it depends emarked, that we had spent the evening very pleas-on themselves, and not on others; always amuses and intly together, but I now thought it was about time soothes, if not consoles; and of all fashionable pleasor him to go home. ures it is the cheapest. It is capable of fame and without the danger of criticism-is susceptible of enthusiasm, without being priest-ridden; and unlike other mortal passions, is sure of being gratified even in heaven-Horace Walpole.

I

"If thy father or mother inquires where thou hast een," I said, "tell them that thou hast been spendng the evening with me; and when thou feelest an nclination to be a little mischievous, call upon me. shall always be pleased to see thee."

He left my house rejoicing, and never troubled me afterward.

ISAAC T. HOPPER.

TALE-BEARING IN SCHOOL.

THE MANNER OF DOING A SERVICE TO OTHERS.- -When your endeavors are directed towards doing good to an individual, in other words, to do him a service, if there be any option as to the mode or way, consider and observe what mode is most to his taste. If you Never encourage in any way the odious practice of serve him as you think and say, in a way which is tale-bearing in school. It is the foundation often of a yours, and not his, the value of any service may, by habit, that unconsciously follows its possessor to the an indefinite amount, be thus reduced. If the action very end of life, however long, however various, and of serving a man not in the way he wishes to be is everywhere the fruitful source of mischief and mis-served, be carried to a certain length, it becomes fortune. It becomes, in some souls, a perfect passion. tyranny, not beneficence; an exercise of power for It then works evil for the mere love of evil; rejoicing the satisfaction of self-regarding affections, not an act n the excitation of indignant feeling in one mind, by of beneficence for the gratification of the sympathetie he gratification of idle curiosity in another. In short, or social affections.-Jeremy Bentham.

DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL. the improvement of her family, will spend many time

SYRACUSE, OCTOBER 1, 1848.

"WHO EDUCATES YOUR CHILDREN?"

their cost for ribbons and gewgaws to meet the arbitrary and foolish demands of fashionable life, and plead the necessity of "keeping up appearances" for her gross perversion of the means God has given her to enrich the minds of those she loves. To such an one we say, when you stand before the glass arranging

In the year 1800, Bonaparte met the accomplished Madame De Stael, at Copet. She having requested a private audience, spoke to the first Consul of the pow-your useless ornaments, ponder well the question erful means afforded by his situation to provide for the happiness of France, and made an eloquent display of her own plans for the accomplishment of that object, which she was desirous to have that giant among great men adopt in his management of public affairs. He heard her patiently, until she had finished her speech, when he coolly asked, "Who educates your Children, Madame?”

who educates your children?" Cease to deny the proper means of improvement to your family-that you may consume their cost in doing homage to the shrine of fashion. There are thousands who pay the teacher most grudgingly, and ask almost a gratuitous service at his hands, and yet lavish money most freely to gratify a senseless vanity. They act as if the body was of more value than the soul, and as if a pleasure party was worth more to society than a school.

That mother who can find more enjoyment in a dress-displaying, gossip-making assemblage than in the well-conducted school to which her children are sent for instruction, will feel, unless the God of this world has destroyed her sense of maternal obligations no slight rebuke in the answer she gives to the ques tion "who educates my children?"

What must have been the effect of that very significant question upon the mind of that great woman! She had, in the opinion of the discerning First Con sul, neglected the most important of all duties-the education of her children, to waste the energies of her gifted mind upon a fruitless effort to ameliorate the condition of France. Her objects were laudable, but the sacrifice was too great, and therefore she found the most severe rebuke in the question, "Who edu- Would you give a satisfactory answer to this quescates your children?" We have no disposition to cen- tion, go to the school and there learn what are the sure the course taken by that most accomplished lady, privileges it affords your children—become acquainwhose writings will ever live to adorn the literature of ted with the Teacher-sustain him by a generous and France. We wish merely to put the same question grateful sympathy, in discharging those duties you to every mother in the land, and request her serious have delegated to him, and aid him by liberally proconsideration of its import. It was one that Madame viding for the educational wants of your children, and De Stael, the most learned and accomplished woman by faithfully devoting your time to their mental and of her day, could not answer; she had neglected this moral improvement when out of school. Act upon first and most binding of obligations, and consequent-common sense principles in this matter, and manifest ly felt more deeply the sting of self-reproach which as much interest in the adorning of the mind as you Bonaparte's question created. She neglected the ed-do for their bodily comfort, and you will be able to ucation of her children that she might elevate her own position, and shine among the most eminent of French authors. But how is it with mothers in our country? Is it not often the case that the most trivial things upon which the human mind can rest, will interfere with the sublimest of all the duties imposed upon the mother-duties which affect her own happiness and that of her children-duties which, if well performed, will bring the richest reward to society, and confer in-period of childhood miserable is a sin which the poor estimable blessings upon children and parents.

How often we are told when asking mothers to visit the school, that they have no time, by those who will waste hours in decorating their person to spend an evening at a party? How much time is worse than wasted at home, which should be devoted to the education of their children by those mothers who never inquire about the condition of the school, the character of the Teacher, or the appliances by which their sons and daughters are to be qualified for an honorable and useful career in life? To them we submit the question, "who educates your children?"

The same mother who can deny the child a necessary school book, or suitable reading matter at home and who can refuse to take a well conducted paper for

render an answer to the question "WHO EDUCATES YOUR CHILDREN?" that will satisfy your conscience, and meet the requirements of your obligations to your children and to society.

CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.-There are few continuous acts of wickedness that one could not sooner pardon than the wanton infliction of misery on children; none that rests so heavy on the conscience. To make the

victim, however amiable, cannot forgive. In the very nature of things it is impossible; its effects are enduring. Offences in after life may be expiated-may be overcome by benefits-may be effaced by remorse and atonement, but cruelty to children '-no, it is not in human nature to forgive it; those who are capable of the atrocity, are almost always the most dastardly cowards, and when brought into contact in after life with the victims of their cruelty, endeavor to propitiate forgiveness by the basest servility.

Teachers' Institutes are being held in most of the counties of the State under the provisions of the law for their support, and as far as we can learn with increased usefulness.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

OSWEGO, August 18th, 1844.

EDWARD COOPER, Esq.--The following letter is from the pen of the late Noah Webster, L. L. D., and as I have never seen his opinion expressed in a more clear and convincing manner on the same subject, I send it to you, according to promise, for insertion in your educational journal, if you think it entitled to that attention. I have the original in my possession, and this is a verbatim copy

Yours, truly,

GEO. SHEA.

To the Editors of the New York Tribune: "Your correspondent, Old Dilworth, seems not well to understand his subject. He objects to your spelling, but spells trave-ler as two syllables, as though le wanted another I to make out the word. Now if he would divide the syllables properly, trav-el-er, he would see that another is not wanted.

"You have answered his objections very correctly und with judgment.

"Old Dilworth' should learn not to write about

THE TRUSTEES of District No. 2,
WAWARSING, ULSTER COUNTY.

}

The material facts in this case, as agreed upon, and submitted by the parties, are substantially as follows: At an adjourned annual meeting of the inhabitants of the district, held at the school house, July 17, 1848, at 8 o'clock in the evening, a resolution was passed to raise by tax the sum of $1200, of which, the sum of $175 should be applied to the erection of a schoolhouse upon Hunkhill, upon a site given to the district; and the sum of $1025 be applied to the building of an addition to the school-house, and to making necessary alterations in the present building.

In pursuance of this vote the trustees made out their tax list according to law. But before any part of the tax was collected, some persons considering the sum to be raised quite large, and thinking the amount Hunkhill applied to the erection of a school-house upon too much, requested the trustees to call a special meeting, to take into consideration the propriety of raising the said $1200 by annual installments.

vhat he does not fully comprehend. The rule for pelling traveler with one l, a rule that extends to a great number of words, was laid down by Bishop owth, seventy or eighty years ago, and was approved by Walker, whose authority seems to have some weight with your correspondent, though I esteem it of little value. But Lowth and Walker did not follow their own rule. I have not only adopted the rule as A special meeting was called for the 4th day of correct, but have followed it throughout in my books. September, at 7 o'clock P. M. The people assembled One thing I claim as my right, that men who undertake at the appointed hour, and a vote was taken upon a to censure what I have done, should read my rules resolution offered, "That the sum of $1200, voted on before they condemn my practice. There is no English Monday, July 17, 1848, for building an addition to book, spelling book, grammar or dictionary, which the school-house, and for building a school-house presents any uniform or consistent or correct system on Hunkhill, be raised by five annual installments." of orthography. The rules I have adopted for correct-On this resolution the ayes and noes were taken, ing mistakes of English writers may be seen in the only twenty-eight voting in the affirmative, the resfollowing books: olution was lost. Whereupon the meeting adjourned till the next evening at 7 o'clock.

The Elementary Spelling Book, ch. 149, page 157. School Dictionaries, 12 mo. and 16 mo. in the Prefaces.

Large Dictionaries in 2 vols. octavo, lately published, in the Introduction, p. 49 and 71.

English Edition, in quarto, p 29. In the octavo abridgment of my dictionary by Worcester, the rules are not inserted.

and

Upon

Sept. 5, 1848, at 7 o'clock, the meeting again assembled, and the vote of the preceding evening was reconsidered, and a motion was made and seconded, "That the sum of $1200, voted on Monday, July 17, 1818, be raised by five annual installments." taking the ayes and noes, there were forty-two in the affirmative, and two in the negative. The number of In a work now in the Press, I shall publish a brief resident taxable inhabitants in the district being 82, view of the errors, anomalies and inconsistencies of it was decided by the chairman that the motion was English authors, in their explanations of the English Ann Bevier, and Rachael Bevier, voted in the affir carried, and the resolution passed. Two women, alphabet, in orthography, in grammar, in definitions and in etymology, that my fellow citizens may be able mative. The appellant objects to the vote on two to see what sort of authorities we have for the old jar-grounds: First, because two women were allowed to gon, and how many errors we read and teach to our vote. Second, because a majority of the taxable inchildren merely from reverence to those authorities. habitants did not vote in the affirmative. N. WEBSTER.

The qualification of voters in school district meetings, is defined in Section 59, Chap. 480, Laws of 1847, (No. 4 School Laws and Forms for 1848.)

"Every male person of full age, residing in any

GRADUATES OF COLLEGES.-The following table pre sents the number of graduates at the recent Commencements of the Colleges of New England, New-school district, and entitled to hold lands in this State,

York and New Jersey.
Harvard, Mass.,

59 | Bowdoin, Me.,
43 Waterville, "

32 Columbia, N. Y.
89 Union,

Williams, แ

Wesleyan,

25 Geneva,

Dartmouth, N. H.

51

N. Y. City,

Brown, R. Í

90

who owns, or hires, real property in such district subject to taxation for school purposes; and every resi33 dent of such district, authorized to vote at town meet6ings of the town in which such district, or part of dis23 trict is situated, and who has paid any rate bill for teachers wages in such district within one year prece 36 ding, or who owns any personal property liable to be 14 taxed for school purposes in such district, exceeding fifty dollars in value, exclusive of such as is exempt from execution, and no others, shall be entitled to vote at any school district meeting held in such district.' ""

27

15

71
14

The Mormon Temple, at Nauvoo, is now a Co`lege,

Every person to be a voter in a school district meetunder the patronage of the Home Missionary Societying must,therefore, be a male twenty-one years of age,