youth, in order that she may prove his inheritance to his titles and his fortunes.

She sings a lullaby that she had often heard chanted by his cradle; perchance this will revive the memories. It begins:

Hush, thee, my baby! thy sire was a knight, Thy mother a lady, so lovely and bright. And while she sings the light of other days comes to his eyes, and he recalls his place and his people. Match that with the nugget from Pennsylvania-German life that Pennypacker picked up somewhere. Some of you have heard it.

A German family named Hartman, in the early part of the last century, settled beyond Reading. They had a daughter, Regina, aged nine years, and the pious mother had taught her from infancy to sing the glorious Lutheran hymn beginning:

Allein, und doch nicht ganz allein,
Bin ich in meiner Einsamkeit.

After the defeat of Braddock in 1755 the Indians came pouring over the Blue Mountains, and in the absence of the mother attacked the home, killed the father and son, and carried little Regina into captivity far West, beyond the waters of the Ohio. For nine years nothing had been heard from her. In 1764 General Boquet defeated these Indians in a battle at the Great Meadows, in western Pennsylvania, and imposed as one of the conditions of surrender the restoration of all captives; so they were gathered from the tribes and brought to Pittsburg, and those who remained unidentified were taken to Carlisle. The German mother, with hope still flickering in her heart, trudged the weary distance to find her lost child. Among the captives was a young girl of eighteen. After all means of identification failed to the despairing mother, she began to sing:

Allein, und doch nicht ganz allein, Bin ich in meiner Einsamkeit. The old familiar tune and words revived the recollections of the girl, and mother and child rushed to each other's arms. While the one circumstance would fitly help out the lively fancies of Sir Walter Scott, the other could only be remembered in the deeper Gemuthlichkeit of a Schiller or a Goethe.

Much of this valuable folk-lore has already perished, but much can yet be rescued. The pathetic story I have given above comes back to us by way of the Fatherland; but the old garrets of Eastern Pennsylvania, I doubt not, if faithfully searched, would give up records that would enrich German-American literature beyond conception.

with the Celtic infilnences that surrounded them and remaining during all that period essentially Teutonic. Here in Lancaster county you have precisely the same wonderful race tenacity.

Penn attempted to engraft on his English stock here other scions, trusting to the virility of his masterful race to preserve the English type, but the strong German sap has outworn them all in Lancaster county. The descendants of the early English, who own acres of land here to-day, are becoming rare. The children of the Scotch-Irish, by a kind of natural selection, have quit farming and taken to politics and business, and their ancient acres are covered with big red barns that betoken another kindred. The Welshman has been lost in the shuffle, and the Quaker is marrying the Dutch girl in self-defense. So reads the record at the end of the nineteenth century. It has taken almost two hundred years to get there. But 'by their fruits ye shall know them."

I like that book of Ian McClaren's, "Beside the Bonny Briar Bush," because it teaches that life in the small is not life in the mean. Our ancestors were not as showy a race as others of Penn's followers, I will admit. In their unremitting toil they did not indulge in great enterprises. Their battle with the forest and the clod and the field was not calculated to nourish "a youth sublime with the fairy tales of science and the long result of time." But they were pious, patient, peaceable, hospitable, self-respecting, industrious, sincere, earnest, and, if their handing over to their descendants such a legacy as Lancaster county is not on the whole a brilliant achievement, I do not know where you will find one.

I am rather disposed to think "The Lancaster Dutchman" has done well enough in the land of his ancestors' adoption. I welcome you to that land.

ITEMS FROM REPORTS.

BEAVER-Supt. Moore: Franklin and New Sewickley townships each erected a oneroom building and fitted them up comfortably with good furniture and the necessary apparatus.

BEDFORD-Supt. Potts: The schools visited in Southampton and Monroe are small. Slate board was put into one school in Southampton. Several others are needed and may be supplied soon. Rainsburg celebrated Arbor Day by planting several trees on the beautiful grounds. I say beautiful, for the reason that there are few grounds in the county more pleasantly located than these. Until late years little has been done to beautify them. Rev. H. McClintock was present on Arbor Day and delivered an address to the schools on the value of preserving the forests of the state. Wm. H. Beegle accompanied the superintendent in his visit.

The schools in King and Kimmel, except that at Mowry's mill, are large. The tworoomed building erected in the Imler district in King township will accommodate all the children. This house should have been built several years ago. We are glad that the boys and girls of this district are able now to occupy the new house. We look for good work here. The new house built in Union township is one of the best, if not the best, in the township. Directors Gordon and Corle visited schools with me. The slateboard put in the new house is the best I have seen in the county, if thickness is an indication of goodness in slate. This township, although in debt, should supply a few more houses with good board surface. West St. Clair put slate boards into all their houses. This is money well expended. It is to be hoped that a few more districts will do the same even before this term of school is over. More than two hundred of the schools of the county have now the very best kind of boards. Local institute work is going on in almost every district in the county. The twelve teachers of Bedford borough have united with the twenty teachers in the township to hold monthly meetings. Some of the teachers of Snake Spring also desire to join in the work in Bedford. They, however, have their own organization. King and St. Clair East have united in institute work. Union township has been invited to join the two last named. The teachers of South Woodbury are to hold twelve meetings during the term. Broad Top holds one all day and evening meeting each month, and in addition to that has reading circle meetings each week. The call for public meetings is coming from all parts of the county, and the term now opened promises to be marked with unusual enthusiasm in all lines of school work.

BERKS-Supt. Rapp: The annual institute was held in October. Of 501 teachers all but five were enrolled. The instructors were Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, Dr. Byron W. King, Rev. O. S. Kriebel, Dr. C. C. Boyer, Dr. S. C. Schmucker, Dr. F. H. Greene, Prof. C. A. Albert, and Prof. W. W. Deatrick. The teachers and press pronounced the Institute the best ever held here. The fifth annual meeting of the directors was held on Thursday of the Institute week. Nearly 200 directors attended. Recent school legislation was ably discussed by Dr. Frank R. Brunner, of Eshbach. "What a director should see and hear in a visit to an up-to-date school?" was discussed by three of our wide-awake and progressive directors, viz., Oscar Wanner, of Leesport, F. M. Richardson, of Strausston, and Dr. C. D. Werley, of Topton. Addresses were delivered by Dr. Brumbaugh and Dr. King. The Round Table conference of Grammar and High School teachers was interesting and profitable.

BLAIR-Supt. Wertz: Local institutes have been organized in various districts of the county. The meetings have been largely

attended and the exercises interesting and instructfve. A course of professional reading, including Educational Foundations, Halleck's Psychology, and the Pennsylvania School Laws, has been adopted for the county. Teachers have also been requested to pay special attention to the geography and history of Pennsylvania. The school board of Antis township deserves special mention for improvements made to the school property of that district during the past summer. Every house was repainted and a number of them papered and renewed inside, making the school property of Antis second to no other rural district in the county. The work done among our schools thus far indicates a prosperous school year.

CAMBRIA-Supt. Gibson: An encouraging feature of school-work in this county is the attention that is being given to minor improvements in the care of school property. The paint-brush has been used with good effect on a number of school-houses, inside and outside. New furniture and blackboards have been placed in others. Much cleaning and scrubbing was also done before the schools opened, and is being kept up. In nearly all the districts, it is the customand a good one-for the Board to appoint one or more members, whose duty it is to see especially to the wants of each school; and the marked improvement in the condition and appearance of the school property, as compared with other years, is due in part at least to this custom. Successful local institutes were held in several districts during the month of October, and arrangements are being made for the holding of others in nearly all the districts of the county.

CARBON-Supt. Beisel: During the month we held two teachers' meetings and two local institutes. The Lansford local institute was attended by 60 teachers-all but four in the district. The Weatherly institute did not have a large attendance-for reasons best known to the teachers. Of the fortyfive teachers belonging to this district eighteen were absent. The teachers' meeting at Stemlersville was not as well attended as it should have been. The Mahoning meeting, however, was well attended, fortysix teachers being present. We still have some teachers who prefer a game of base-ball or a bicycle spin to a teachers' meeting or a local institute. We hope for the speedy coming of the time when the profession will be rid of such instructors.

CHESTER-Supt. Bye: There is an unusual attendance at our schools this year, and hardly a district but feels the pressure upon the seating capacity of its schools. This condition is no doubt in great part due to the compulsory law, but I think a liberal share of the credit belongs to the live educational spirit that is manifesting itself in every part of the county. One County Public School Circulating Library is organized and in operation. Nine townships have joined in the movement, with forty-seven

others. The instructors and lecturers were Supt. Coughlin, Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, Prof. George E. Little and Dr. John B. DeMotte. The music was in charge of Prof. W. H. Young of New Castle. A musical entertainment given by the "Lyric Ladies' of Chicago on Thursday was greatly appreciated by the large audience present. The

intendent is ex-officio Secretary and Librarian. Our aim in this is to furnish the greatest possible amount of good reading to our pupils at the lowest possible cost, and our simple and economical plan meets with general approval among those who stand for education and culture.

ELK-Supt. Sweeney: During the month, Spring Creek township completed its new Central High School building, and opened up with thirty-two pupils in the course, requiring one year's work over and above the common branches. The Benzinger schools were much disturbed and distressed by the sudden death of the supervisory principal, J. H. Renscher, but they are again working satisfactorily, under the management of Prof. W. G. Bauer, who was elected to fill the vacancy. On the whole we feel that our schools are doing better than ever before.

INDIANA-Supt. Hammers: Seven new houses have been built during the summer. One at Blacklick was dedicated October 30th with appropriate ceremonies. It is a two-room house, built from plans prepared by a well-known architect, and cost about $2500. The schools of the county are all in session, and quite a number of local institutes have already been held. These are all well attended and are doing much to secure the co-operation of the patrons of the schools.

JEFFERSON-Supt. Teitrick: Young township has lengthened the term to eight months; Polk, McCalmont, Snyder, and Washington, to seven months. Slate-boards have been placed in the schools in several districts. Arbor Day was observed in a number of places. With few exceptions a spirit of interest and thrift is manifested everywhere in educational matters. The conditions are such that it is a pleasure to visit the schools.

LAWRENCE-Supt. Stewart: The Annual County Institute was held in the City of New Castle, October 18–22. All the teachers of the county, with one exception, and all the teachers of the city attended the institute. The interest from the opening session until the close, as shown by the prompt and regular attendance and by the close attention given to the proceedings, was most commendable. The self-reporting system, which was introduced last year, was contidued with satisfactory results. The directors and patrons were well represented at the meeting on Directors' day, October 21. Addresses were made by Supt. J. M. Coughlin, of Wilkesbarre, Supt. J. W. Canon, Revs. H. G. Dodds and J. Q. A. McDowell, of New Castle, Mr. L. F. Cain of Ellwood City, and

acter as to enlist the co-operation of the public, and the institute as a whole will doubtless prove to be a marked success from an educational point of view.

LEHIGH:-Supt. Rupp: The County Institute was the great event of this month. All except three of our teachers were in attendance, and these three were reported sick. One of the features of the Institute was the collection of $61.30 for the benefit of one of our superannuated teachers, Mr. G. C. Souders, who, it was learned, has been in destitute circumstances for the last few years. He has taught for fifty-one yearsnine years in the schools of Germany and forty-two in the schools of Pennsylvania. Six years ago he went before the State Board of Examiners at the Kutztown State Normal School and passed a very creditable examination for a State certificate. Owing, however, to his extreme age, he failed to secure an appointment for the last few years, and our teachers very generously contributed towards his temporary relief.

MIFFLIN Supt. Cooper: Forty schools were visited during October. The new building at Milroy is completed and the schools are all in session. Edward Myers, of Boalsburg, was elected principal. It is an excellent building, with eight rooms well heated and thoroughly ventilated.

NORTHUMBERLAND--Supt. Shipman: During September and October I made eightyfive visits to schools, nearly all in rural districts. In some, the teachers were found to be working at a great disadvantage, because of a limited quantity of supplies or delay in receiving them. Why not order supplies a month or two before schools are to open? The attendance in the schools visited is very good and bids fair to continue. Some rooms have been put in very inviting_condition. The interior of many of our school-rooms now is in striking contrast with that of former years. Arbor Day was appropriately observed in many of the schools.

PERRY-Supt. Bryner; Penn township recently erected in the Cove one of the finest country-school houses in the state. The school is known as the Middle Cove, and as early as 1837 an old one was located there. The new one was dedicated on September 20th. The principal addresses were made by Rev. O. B. McCurdy, of Duncannan, James Nickum, President, and H. J. Secrist, Secretary of the board of directors, B. T. Shull, principal of the township high school, and Jas. White, a pupil in the first old house erected at that place. Music by a choir, and recitations, were also a feature of

the exercises. The structure is brick, 30 by 36 feet, with a handsome porch 8x12 feet in front. The whole is surmounted by a belfry in which is a fine bell donated by the citizens. The roof is of tin. The main room is 30x30, with two cloak-rooms adjoining partitioned off by hoisting windows, so that all can be thrown into one. The building is heated by a furnace in the cellar, and the ventilation is according to modern ideas. The room is supplied with cases for a library, and first-class slate blackboards are across the entire front. New folding desks for the pupils and a teacher's desk and chair of latest designs have been placed in the room. The material is all first-class, and the cost of the building was $1,800. It might be interesting to state that all three school houses, the earliest 1837, are still standing. Penn township is to be congratulated on her fine building.

PIKE-Supt. Sawyer: The County Institute was held in Milford the last week in October. The instructors were, Dr. Geo. M. Philips and Prof. E. L. Kemp-each of whom gave us an evening lecture-Hon. J. A. Reilly, of Philadelphia, and Rev. F. H. McKenzie, of Port Jervis, New York. But few teachers were absent during the week. The interest manifested by the teachers in all the proceedings of the institute, and by the public, especially in the evening sessions, was very encouraging.

SOMERSET Supt. Pritts: Our enrollment is considerably larger than heretofore. We look forward to a prosperous term. The directors are enforcing the truant law, and the effect on the attendance is apparent. In Somerset borough the opening of school was delayed by the unfinished condition of the new building until October 25. Somerset now has the finest and largest school building in the county. It contains nine rooms, a library, an office, and a large assembly hall capable of seating at least 300 people. The building is heated with hot water and has an excellent system of ventilation.

The

TIOGA Supt. Raesly: The annual Institute was held during the week beginning October 25th. At several sessions the attendance was limited only by the size of the hall in which the exercises were held. day instructors were Hon. Henry Houck, Dr. M. G. Benedict, Dr. G. G. Groff, Dr. F. H. Green, Miss Lelia E. Patridge, Supt. J. G. Becht, Dr. Daniel Fleisher, and others. The evening entertainments consisted of lectures by Dr. A. W. Lamar, Rev. Sam P. Jones, and Dr. Jas. Hedley, and a concert by the Lyric Ladies of Chicago.

WARREN-Supt. Putnam: The directors of Sugargrove township have made some improvements in several of their school buildings, which will add materially to the comfort and convenience of the schools. The directors of Brokenstraw have placed globes in each of their schools. The tendency seems to be to purchase apparatus that is of practical value to the schools, rather

than blocks and charts sold at fancy prices. The schools of the county are in good hands this year and the attendance is large.

BEAVER FALLS - Supt. Boak: Smead's system of closets has been placed in two buildings since my last report; and a new piano procured for the High School. Systematic work is done in our grade meetings; all lessons are discussed and outlined one week in advance. In this work different teachers are assigned different branches for specialties. October has been a very succesful month.

CARLISLE-Supt. Shearer: Arbor Day was duly observed in our schools. The class of '98 planted a Norway maple with appropriate ceremonies. Miss Cora Fitch, the gifted elocutionist of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, did honor to the occasion. The directors have placed "History for Ready Reference" on the reference-book shelves in the High School. They have also given us 150 copies of the latest and best High School music books published.

CHAMBERSBURG--Supt. Fickinger: By resolution of the Board of Directors the use of the rod is forbidden, except in extreme cases, and then only by permission of the Superintendent.

MAHANOY TWP., (Schuylkill Co.)-Supt. Noonan: I am pleased to report the attention given by our directors to the grounds surrounding the Suffolk, St. Nicholas, and Hill buildings. The improved appearance of these places will do much to increase the feeling of respect for public property in the district. The following have been added to our list of text-books: Hull's Algebra, ShawBackus' Outlines of Literature, Thorpe's Government of the U. S. and Pennsylvania, and Hart's Composition and Rhetoric. We expect to open fourteen evening schools during November.

MCKEESPORT Supt. Brooks: The first month's work was very encouraging. We have a larger attendance and enrollment than ever before. Our directors have had to provide additional rooms and teachers. At the last meeting of the Board it was resolved to build a new High School. Our present building is not suited to High School work, and the step taken by the Board is a wise one.

NEWPORT Twp., (Luzerne Co.)-Supt. Dewey: Our teachers all read The Pennsylvania School Journal and find it very helpful. All our directors attended the annual County Institute.

ALL structures, large or small, simple or complex, have a definite rate of vibration depending on their material, size and shape, as the fundamental note of a musical chord. At one time considerable annoyance was experienced in one of the mills in Lowell. Some days the mill was so shaken that a pail of water would be nearly emptied, while on other days all was quiet. Experiment proved it to be only when the machinery was running at a certain rate that the building was disturbed. The simple remedy was in runing it slower or faster, so as to put it out of tune with the building. We have here the reason of the

rule observed by marching armies when they cross a bridge-viz., stop the music, break step, and open column, lest the measured cadence of a condensed mass of men should cause the bridge to vibrate beyond its sphere of cohesion. The Broughton bridge gave way beneath the measured tramp of only sixty men. Tyndall tells us that the Swiss muleteers tie up the bells of their mules, lest the tinkle bring down an avalanche. The breaking of a drinking glass by the human voice is a well-attested fact, and Chlanni mentions an inn keeper who frequently repeated this interesting exper iment for the entertainment of his guests.-Lovering

"Poor fellow! he walks in the snow and the sleet,
And has neit her stockings nor shoes on his feet;
I pity him so! for how cold he must be!
And yet he keeps singing his chick-a-dee-dee.-Cho.

"If I were a bare-footed snow-bird, I know
I would not stay out in the cold and the snow,
I wonder what makes him so full of his glee;
He's all the time singing that chick-a-dee-dee.
"O mother do get him some stockings and shoes,
A frock, with a cloak and a hat, if he choose;
I wish he'd come into the parlor, and see
How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-dee-dee.

The bird had flown down for some crumbs of bread,
And heard every word little Emily said:
"What a figure I'd make in that dress!" thought he,
And he laughed, as he warbled his chick-a-dee-dee.
"I am grateful," he said, "for the wish you express,
But I've no occasion for such a fine dress;

I had rather remain with my limbs all so free,
Than to hobble about, singing chick-a-dee-dee.
"There is One, my dear child, tho' I can not tell who,
Has clothed me already, and warm enough too.
Good-morning! O who are so happy as we ?"
And away he went, singing his chick-a-dee-dee.