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in vain as to what I should do with those girls. Finally the 4 o'clock bell rang for prayers and I went in to conduct them; still I did not know what to do with those girls. I read the longest chapter I could turn to, but I did not find anything in it as to what to do with those girls. I picked out the longest hymn aud had every stanza sung, but still I did not know what to do with those girls. When the singing stopped there was only the Lord's prayer between me and those girls. It was customary for the principal to lead and the students to join in. I started it, still my thought on those girls; but when I got to “Give us this day our daily bread," to my dismay I could not remember what came next. My mind had so wandered that I had lost the connection, and a most painful pause followed. Now. I could be cool enough to go back mentally to the beginning and let the momentum carry me over the hummock; but then I was too embarrassed to do that, and it seemed half an hour that the school waited. Finally I reflected that the students knew the prayer if I did not, and that the moment they heard my voice they would continue it; so I murmured in an indistinct tone, "Thine earthy Sabbaths, Lord, we love," and the school went on, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

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All this did not prepare me any better to deal with those girls; but I said in my severest tone that Miss So, and Miss So, and Miss So, would retire to the principal's room. Two or three students came up to the desk to ask questions as they passed out, and I detained them as long as I could; but finally the room was vacant and I had to face those girls. I went in with my heart in my heels, but to my astonishment they were in tears. I straightened up. One of them said:

"Mr. Bardeen, can you ever forgive us? We felt guilty all the time we were doing it. Everybody in the school has been so kind to us that it was a shame to be anything but obedient. If Mr. Carleton had stayed we should not have thought of going. Somehow when he went away we felt mischievous, and rather wanted to see what you would do with us. But you have been so sad and solemn all day that we just hated ourselves, and when in the Lord's prayer you made that impressive pause before 'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,' to show us that you forgave us, we broke right down; and now if you really do forgive us we will apologize to Mr. Carleton when he comes back, and you may be sure you will never have any better scholars in this school."

That was the only case of discipline I had under Mr. Carleton, and it was my success in dealing with it that led him to recommend me as a disciplinarian. I suppose it must go on record as a somewhat unique illustration of the efficacy of prayer.

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM.

NCE in a while the Keystone State

ONCE

gets ahead of New England. This was recently acknowledged in connection with the opening of the Philadelphia Museum. The director, Prof. W. P. gable industry in arranging the exhibits. Wilson, deserves credit for his indefatiHe has made arrangements for visits by schools, of which he writes us as follows:

"I have now succeeded in getting the Museum so adjusted and arranged that very much in the way of educational instruction can be readily gotten out of it both for teachers and pupils. I have about thirty rooms arranged monographically, each room including a given material as found in all parts of the world. In other parts of the building we have about thirty or forty countries arranged geographically so that almost any country may be studied with reference to its products which are brought into commerce, and also more or less knowledge given referring to the habits of the people.

"I am also elaborating the project of large collections of the raw products and foreign materials which will fully illustrate commercial geography, and which may be donated to schools both in the City and in the State.

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We have a fine audience room already provided with seats for about 250 people. I am arranging it with illustrative matter so that talks on any subject may be given at a very short notice with material already at hand. I have attendants who have a knowledge of the products or instructive material throughout the Museum, to accompany parties and explain.

"Last and not least, we have approached the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Reading and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad through the Pennsylvania, and have arranged for half rates on all these leading into Philadelphia from a section as far out as Harrisburg in every direction from Philadelphia. I shall now notify the superintendents and principals of schools in various towns to arrange times when they can visit the Museum, both for themselves and their pupils. I can arrange all the details of the tickets and other matters, which will make the excursion always a pleasant one. I should like to bring in 10,000 teachers and pupils in the next four months to the Museum, explaining our work here and its educa

tional interests to them.

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THE meetings of the Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association will be held at Chatta

ern Passenger Association has adopted a rate of one first-class fare for the round trip to Chattanooga, and favorable rates are expected from the other passenger associations. The views of scenery from Lookout Mountain are unsurpassed. The municipal authorities of Chattanooga are taking steps to provide for the superinfendents and educators who will attend the meetings, a grand good time.

AN OLD LAW.

Evening Bulletin gives an account

nooga, Tenn., on Tuesday, Wednesday The finding of a yellowed volume

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and Thursday, Feb. 22-24, 1898. The morning and evening sessions will be devoted to regular discussions, and the afternoon sessions to conferences on important subjects. "The Mission of the Elementary School," "The Township High School," Vacation Schools,' and "Continuous Sessions at Normal Schools," are among the topics which will be discussed by experts from the Superintendent's point of view. "What can Child Study contribute to the Science of Education?" is a question that will be treated with a view of ascertaining the limits of the services that may be rendered by investigations in this line, The aesthetic side of education will receive attention in a paper on "the Influence of Music and Music study upon character," and in an address by Dr. Harris on "The Value of the Tragic and the Comic in Education." Gov. Robt. L. Taylor, one of the famous orators of the South, will deliver an address of welcome. The famous Dr. Scovel of Wooster, Ohio, has promised an address on Realizing the Final Aim of Education.

State Supt. Grace R. Patton has agreed to organize a conference of State Superintendents. The Herbart Society promises an interesting programme for its sessions. The afternoon conferences will take up "School Hygiene," "Promotions" and "The Improvement of our Common Schools." A youth who passes through the elementary schools, the high school, the college and the professional school enters his profession in America two or three years later than if he had studied in the schools of England, France and Germany; and it is hoped that these conferences will bring to light some causes of this waste of time and effort in schools.

The hotels have agreed to make the usual reduction in rates. The Southeast

of with frayed edges that contains original laws of the province of Pennsylvania enacted two centuries ago, for which search had been made in vain both in England and in America. It was locked in a vault of one of the rooms of the American Philosophical Society. This discovery enables the State to make up a complete collection of its laws, a task which is said to be very difficult if not impossible in the case of the other twelve original colonies. The collection contains acts to govern whaling in the Delaware, to regulate marriages, to prevent fires, involving the prohibition of tobacco smoking on the streets, and also acts decreeing the sizes of bread, and providing for the education of youth. These laws will no doubt be printed in Volume I of the Statutes-atLarge, a series in which the second and third volumes have been given to the public. We quote the act relating to education as matter of historic interest:

"The Law about Education of Youth -And to the end that the poor as well as the Rich may be instructed in Good and Commendable Learning which is to be preferred before wealth: All persons in this province and territories thereof having Children, and all Guardians and trustees of orphans (having sufficient estate and ability so to Doo) shall be instructed in Reading and writing soe that they may be able at ease to read the Scripture and write by that time they attain to twelve years of age, and that they be taught some useful trade and skill that the poor may work to Live, and the rich, if they become poor, may not want, of which every County court shall take care and in case such persons, guardians and other persons shall be found deficient in that respect, every such parent, guardian or other person shall pay for every such

child five pounds, except there should appear a deformity in body or understanding to hinder it." This law is dated as early as May 16, 1693.

OUR OLD BOOK-BINDER.

THE late Charles P. Krauss, who died

THE

a few days since in Lancaster, was for nearly twenty-five years the man who looked after the binding of The School Journal. He talked but little, enjoyed his pipe, and was a master-workman at his trade, always seeming to put his conscience into his work. The best job of binding we have ever had done stands yonder on the shelf, a set of Harper's Magazine upon which he worked con amore, resolved to make it a model for imitation that would pass inspection anywhere. By some twist of abbreviation he always spoke of The School Journal as "The Sk'urnal," and he never thought of calling it anything else. He had enough varied experience in his life to make a very interesting story in the hands of a skillful biographer. He was impulsive, and now and then flashed fire, the sort of man that is not to be trifled with. He was noted for his sturdy German pluck, and was uncivil at times, but only to those whom he disliked or despised, for he cared little to hide his feelings. Brave and honest himself, he hated, a liar, a selfish man, a coward, or a sneak. He did his work for the writer from month to month for many years, and we saw him tried many a time. But we always respected "Charley Krauss" for his frank honesty and fearless temper. He was the son of a Lutheran clergyman in Germany, and would occasionally talk of old times. Once, when in a mood for reminiscence, in reply to some question which we do not now recall, he told us the thrilling story of the sudden ending of his military service in the Fatherland.

He was a private in a cavalry company in the German army. A Lieutenant of the company, a pampered sprig of nobility, handsome in face and form and vain as a peacock on this account, was in the habit of cutting his men like dogs with his heavy riding-whip, when he was angry because of any fancied or real negligence or fault on their part. His ill-temper, injustice and brutality had caused him to be regarded with bitter hatred. He was of the Capt. Lovering

sort of officers, who was recently tried by a military court at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, for having a private soldier dragged about by the heels with a rope, and other brutalities.

One day the officer was more a brute than usual. Everybody was angry, and many would have been glad to see him killed on the spot. Suddenly, for some trifling offense, as perhaps a speck on his uniform, he cut the "chum" of Krauss, and a warm friend of his, violently over the head with his whip. At that moment he happened to be standing but a few feet from "Charley," who, raging with hate and caring nothing for consequences, quick as a flash dragged his heavy cavalry sabre diagonally down across the face of the officer, cutting through eye and nose, and making a frightful gash. In speaking of it he said: "I didn't want to kill him, but I wanted to spoil his beauty forever."

The officer fell unconscious, as if dead, and Krauss sprang to the best horse within reach in the company, for he knew them well, and was off in a moment. In the excitement and confusion he managed to get a good start, for he was tough, wiry, a hard rider, and was riding for his life. His fellows in the company did not want him to be overtaken, so they were in no hurry to mount; but soon they were in hot pursuit, their officers determined upon capturing him. He knew all the roads, and that his only hope was to reach the nearest seaport at the earliest moment, and, if possible, to get aboard an American vessel. There were no telegraph lines in that day (it was in 1847), and he kept his lead, and ahead of the news, throwing his pursuers off the track and making it necessary for them to scatter at one point and another. When his horse was worn out he left him and took to his feet, making his way for the most part at night until he was in hiding at the port.

Finally, after very cautious inquiry, he was so fortunate as to learn of an American vessel lying in the harbor nearly ready to sail. He hired a boat to take him out to the ship, and told his story to the captain, who determined to save him. So hot had been the pursuit, and so warm was his trail, that before the ship got away the German officers came out to it and demanded his surrender. The captain refused their demand, would not let them come aboard, and brought

Krauss with him to the United States. He was outlawed, and could not inherit directly some money that was left to him years afterwards by relatives in Germany, though at last he managed to get it in some indirect way.

For years he did not know whether or not he had killed the man whom he had cut so savagely. He went into the Mexican war, caring little for danger and not much for life. He drank hard at times, and was ill at ease, for the thought that he had killed a man was heavy upon him. Rough though he was in those days, impulsive and passionate, and often reckless of consequences, he seems never to have got very far away from the teachings of childhood in his father's home.

He had not seen or heard from any of his old comrades from the moment he sprang to horse and away until, long years afterwards, strolling into a saloon, whom should he meet but an old trooper of his company! From him he learned that the officer had survived the cut of the sabre, but that the scar across his face was a frightful disfigurement.

As he told this part of his story the old man's vigor seemed to come back, and his eyes and face were lighted with a manly joy that was good to see. “I was never so glad in all my life," he said, with ringing emphasis, "as when I found that the man was not dead. I hadn't heard a word of him from the time I dragged the sabre across his face. I thought he was dead, and it was hard to think that I had killed him. It made another man of me to hear such good news. I had something to live for after that."

ITEMS FROM REPORTS.

ALLEGHENY-Supt. Hamilton: With the assistance referred to in my last report, two hundred and eighteen schools have been visited. During this month the splendid new building in Duquesne was dedicated. It contains nine rooms and is fitted up with every modern equipment. A large and enthusiastic audience of citizens took part in the exercises. The ninth annual session of the Directors' Association was held November 16th. More than 200 directors were present, notwithstanding the fact that it was a rainy day and very disagreeable. The session was full of life and interest. Many directors took part in the discussions.

ARMSTRONG-Supt. Jackson: The thirtyfirst annual Institute was held at Kittanning. The instructors were Hon. N. C.

Schaeffer, Dr. A. E. Winship, Supt. R. M. McNeal, Dr. D. J. Waller, Supt. Geo. J. Luckey and Prof. J. F. King. Entertainments were given by Hon. Wallace Bruce, Gen. O. O. Howard and the Mozart Symphony club. On Monday evening, instead of the usual lecture, the teachers and their friends held a very enjoyable sociable in the court house. The different sessions of the Institute were well attended by the people of the town as well as by many from different parts of the county, and all agreed in pronouncing it the best ever held in our county. The Directors' Association held its annual meeting during the week with an attendance of about fifty. The Association was addressed by Supt. McNeal, of Dauphin county, and many interesting topics were discussed by the members. Dr. J. D. Orr, of Leechburg, and J. F. Graff, Esq., of Washington, were elected delegates to the next State convention of Directors.

BEAVER-Supt. Moore: On Friday evening and Saturday, November 5th and 6th, educational meetings were held in Raccoon district, and although the weather was very disagreeable, it did not prevent a large number of teachers and patrons from attending. A pleasing feature of the meetings was that nearly all of the fifteen young teachers took an active part in the different discussions, mainly on "Methods."

BEDFORD-Supt. Potts: During the month included in this report schools have been visited in several sections of the county. One of the houses built in Napier township is a first-class job; the same cannot be said of the other. The latter is the one in the Napier district. Since the building has been taken off the contractor's hands, half the ceiling has come down. Directors, in letting contracts, should keep clear of contractors who will not do honest work. Instead of the chart-fiend, I hear indirectly that block-peddlers are in some sections of the county. It has been reported to me that a few sales have been made. Blocks that would be well paid at five dollars are being sold for twenty-five. It has not been my pleasure to see these agents yet, nor the goods that they handle. St. Clair West put stone slate boards in all their houses. These were needed. Would that more such expenditures were made. Fully two-thirds of all the houses in the county are now supplied with excellent slate surface. Local institutes are organized in nearly all the districts in the county. In the main, these are well attended. One has been organized in Bedford borough and Bedford township. All the teachers of the borongh are regular in attendance. We dare not say this of the township teachers. There are thirty-two teachers in these two districts. The organization is largely due to D. C. Stunkard and E. S. Ding, of the Bedford schools. E. H. Hershberger, of the township, is chairman, and does his part of the work well. The next meeting will be held at Imlertown, in

the township. The New Paris schools, under the management of J. W. Gephart, are doing good work. The best music Í have heard in the schools of the county was here. The largest educational meeting held during the month was in Broad Top township. Prof. C. C. Ellis, of Huntingdon, spoke on "Inside and Outside." Director Wm. Lauder spoke on the needs of the schools of the township. The children of the schools gave some recitations.

BERKS-Supt. Rapp: November 19th was set apart as Patrons' and Parents' Day, and from reports received from all over the county, it was a decided success. In several districts every one of the patrons was present; in others, however, it is to be regretted that not one appeared in the schools. The coming together of parents, children, directors and teachers in the schools on a given day to listen to exercises in honor and praise of the home and family, is certainly a good thing to do for all concerned; it is in the interest of mutual understanding and coöperation, without which the cause of education cannot flourish at its best.

BRADFORD-Supt. Putnam: The annual institute was held at Towanda. The attendance was the largest ever had and included many persons not engaged in teaching. The instructors were Dr. N. C. Schaeffer, Hon. Henry Houck, Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, Com. O. T. Corson, Prof. F. H. Green, Dr. Byron King and Prof. H. E. Coggswell, musical director. The evening lecturers were Rev. Thos. Dixon, Dr. Wm. H. Crawford, Dr. Byron King and Dr. Thos. Dinsmore. The closing performance was a fine musical entertaintainment by the Lyric Ladies, of Chicago. The Directors' meeting was largely attended, nearly one hundred directors being present.

BUTLER—Supt. Cheeseman: Our teachers, with few exceptions, are earnestly at work. During November, local institutes were held in Cranberry and Adams townships. On November 12th an institute was held at Portersville; it was well attended by teachers and the general public. There was an exceptioually interesting institute in Zelienople on the last Saturday in October. A new school has been added in Adams township.

CARBON-Supt. Beisel: A local institute was held November 13th in Lehighton. About half the teachers in the county were present. Prof. W. W. Deatrick, of Kutztown, gave two interesting talks on "New Light on the Nervous System," and in the evening lectured on "A Child in the Midst." The directors of Banks township erected an eight-room building at Audenried. It is the best building and the most convenient for the cost in the county. Mr. Reibe, of Lansford, was the architect and builder; much credit is due him for good judgment in planning and constructing this handsome building. The dedication took place on Thanksgiving day-a very appropriate

day, and a practical reason for the Audenreid people to give thanks.

CENTRE-Supt. Gramley: The principal educational feature of the month was the dedication of the new school building in the borough of State College. Addresses were made by Dr. Colfelt, of the State College, several resident ministers, and the County Superintendent. A beautiful flag was presented to the Board by the P. O. S. of A. The building is a two-story brick structure with spacious rooms, corridors and wardrobes. It is entirely modern and presents a pleasing appearance. The directors are entitled to much credit. The entire cost is a little over $8000. I visited 67 schools during the month. A large majority of the teachers are doing excellent work. A few have taught too long to believe that a uniform system of grading is advisable.

CHESTER-Supt. Bye: Our Institute this year was an exceedingly successful one. The corps of instructors was one of the strongest that we have ever had, and the many expressions of satisfaction from our teachers, together with many letters of commendation and appreciation received since the close, are exceedingly gratifying to its managers. Our morning work was divided into two sections-one on academic lines, the other on professional lines. Our Directors' convention, held Thursday, was enthusiastic throughout. The discussions were full and free, and there was scarcely a director present but took some part in it. We havea number of local institutes forthcoming this winter; the dates of two have already been fixed--Atglen, January 28-29, and Parker Ford, February 4-5. We anticipate much profit from these auxiliary organizations. Our County Circulating Library is now fairly under way. Over 138 books are in circulation at present among 62 different schools. More townships are continually coming in, and we are about to place another order for books to supply the demand. In the purchase of these books we aim to reach every grade of the children in the elementary course, providing not only books to assist the grammar grade pupils in their history, literature and geography work, but also selecting such along the lines of ethics, patriotism and science as the primary teacher will find it profitable to read to her chart class. This circulating library project, which is new to this county, and, I believe, to the State, was thoroughly discussed at the meeting of the Directors' Association. Strong and hearty words of approval were spoken for it there, and that body gave its estimate of the value of the movement in the following resolution, passed without a dissenting voice: "Resolved, That the directors of Chester county, in association assembled, learn with pleasure of the Circulating Library recently established, and recognize in it a useful agency for placing good books in the hands of the youth. We hereby commend the Circulating Library to

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