the places of many who ought to be discharged for want of a sufficiency of the right kind of knowledge, natural adaptation, and attachment to, and love for the profession. In the course of our school inspections, during the last three years, we have noticed many instances of ill-adapted instructors of youth, occupying important and prominent positions in our public schools. Occasionally we have seen the principal male or female teacher so deficient in good temper and patience, and so self-sufficient withal, that they were constantly in hot water with the scholars, scolding, fretting and beating them. And on the other hand, and in juxta-position, have seen junior teachers of an opposite character and constitution, maintaining order and peace, and good will, and getting their pupils along with comparatively little trouble and annoyance. Again, we have noticed others who have such a love of exactness, such an hankering after perfectly said long lessons, that they seemed almost to forget that the great object is, that children should understand what they read or repeat. Throughout our observations of, exceptions excepted, the whole of our public school instructions, we become impressed with the conviction that there is too much anxiety evinced by injudicious and aspiring parents, and unwise or incorrectly directed teachers, to produce and exhibit infant prodigies, and prematurely developed mental energies. That more relaxation during school hours is absolutely requisite, and that far too little attention is paid to health and physical education. Athletic and other pleasureable exercises might be adopted, and extended with much advantage. Ventilation, cleanliness, and a well regulated heat, in schools, are very important, not well-understood, and indifferently attended to-especially in country places. In most of the schools we have visited, and we have overlooked a considerable number in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New-York, and Pennsylvania, the desks and seats are all of the same height, and chiefly adapted to boys and girls of from seven to ten years of age; so that scholars four feet high may be found on the same form with cthers, varying from five to six feet in height, bestowing upon the latter through the unavoidable process of learning, bowed backs and narrowed chests. This defect would be easily remedied by having the legs of the seats and forms constructed upon the sliding principle, so as to be raised and lowered at pleasure. It further occurred to us, that our public school institutions have been made more than is proper and desirable, a large field of speculation to book writers, and compounders and publishers; and that more discrimination, more caution, and less favoritism is wanted in their selection, and in making alterations. Books for our public schools should be plainly expressed, divested of pedagoguism and technicalities, and condensed as much as they well can be, with due consideration and prudence. We wish to avoid the accusation of invidiousness, so that we are prevented from naming any improper books which have come under our notice; if, however, Mr. Mitchel will pardon us, we would ask him, if he does not think that his geography, second part, is not too voluminous and burdened with a great many particulars which are, to children, of little or no use? Let a simply written, condensed general geography be used, and then short well understood lessons will be more effective than long and tiresome ones; and so on through every grade and branch of study.

In view, then, of the coming convention, and what we have now said, we would, with the utmost respect, and all kind feeling towards all per

sons, parties, and religious denominations, suggest, that any attempt to take steps for introducing religious teachings into our public schools should be voted down at once. That our high schools ought to be changed into normal schools, for the sole purpose of educating teachers; and that no persons, male or female, should be admitted, unless they were found upon investigation to be naturally adapted to the calling, and had determined to follow the occupation when duly qualified. That the departments in our grammar-schools, hitherto employed in preparing pupils for the high-school, should in future be occupied in teaching physiology, anatomy, morality, political economy, and agricultural chemistry. That reading-books on these subjects should be introduced, and often used, by the upper classes. That teachers, as a whole, should be better paid. That particular attention should be given to the health and relaxation of the scholars to ventilation, a proper degree of heat and cleanliness in the schools, and to a proper height of seats and desks. That none but well-informed, intelligent men, of sufficient leisure and fitness, should be appointed directors. That paid and talented superintendents should be employed in rural districts, who should be constantly visiting schools and consulting with directors and teachers. That no new books should be introduced until after a most rigid, careful, and unbiassed examination and approval; and the whole system be made as uniform as possible in every way. That as Latin, Greek, geometry, algebra, mathematics, rhetoric, and elocution, are of no use to ninety-nine per cent. of our citizens, they should be excluded immediately. That as agriculture is, and ought to be, the legitimate and pre-eminent business of our country, on account of its fertile and extensive territory, it should be a particular instruction to teachers to impress the minds of scholars with its nature and advantages. And lastly, that all branches of education should be made, as far as possible, a source of pleasure and attraction, rather than as heretofore, compulsory lessons, which must be learned on pain of punishment and disgrace.

We might with much propriety have extended our remarks, in many ways, particularly as to the prudence and necessity of establishing laborschools: that is, school learning, in connection with practical agriculture and horticulture. But our present writing is long enough, and we fear we have trespassed too much on the time and patience of our readers. As to ourselves, we shall feel well rewarded for our thoughts, attention, and trouble, if we can only have the satisfaction of believing that we have assisted, even in a slight degree, the progress and extension of common sense education.

EARNING A LIVING;

A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

ROBERT HOLLYBUSH, a retired Merchant of VANSITTART, a New-York Lawyer.

CHARLOTTE,
MARY,

daughters of R. HOLLYBUSH.

MR. and MRS. CAMPION.
MINETTA, their daughter.
MISS DUBARRE, an heiress.
DUPERU, a Broker.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Old HOLLYBUSH's house. R. H. reading. Enter JACOB. Jacob. Good morning, brother.

R. H. Good morning, Robert, how are you?

J. Well, I thank you; how is all within? are the family well?

R. Yes, very. I'm sorry I can't inquire after yours.

J. That's rather late. I've been a bachelor so long now, I never think of it unless you remind me of it, and when you do, I don't take it kindly.

R. What news out?

J. The steamer is in, cotton is up and flour down. Nothing else of importI saw Vansittart just now.

ance.

R. Well, what did he say?

J. He said he had drawn up all those contracts just as we directed, and had them ready for signing. He is very diligent in such matters.

R. Yes, I think he is.

J. And then he told me an odd conversation he had yesterday about you, with a man named Glumly.

R. Glumly, Glumly-I don't know such a man.

J. No, but Glumly knows you, or would know you. He wants to marry one of my nieces.

R. Oh, that's all, is it? and he expects a reasonable dowry, I suppose, does he not?

J. Undoubtedly; but what I like is, he is plain spoken and says so. He says in plain terms he wants money, and would be glad to get some in this way. R. That's honest, or at least impudent. Which of my daughters does he honor with a preference?

J. He leaves that to you. He will take whichever you will pay best to be rid of. He says he understands one has been crazy; he will take that one if you choose.

R. Crazy, Jacob! one of my daughters crazy!-What the devil does the fellow mean?

J. Oh, I suppose it is some story grown out of poor Charlotte's delirium last year when she had the fever at Saratoga. That's nothing; Mr. Glumly gets his information in bar-rooms, or at the Racket Court, where it is apt to be old and a little exaggerated.

R.

Not at the Union Club, you think.

J. No; we always have it there fresh and genuine.

R. And plenty.

J. Yes, that is undeniable.

R. But who is Mr. Glumly?

J. He is one of those damned fellows that make books, and set up newspapers and magazines. And he has talent they say, too.

R. It does not appear in what he said to Vansittart.

J. No, perhaps not.

But you know, knowing V. to be your legal adviser, and presuming therefore a sort of intimacy, he goes there to sound, and talks this kind of stuff in a joking kind of way, ready to back it up with earnest if he could find encouragement. His object was to get introduced.

(Enter JOHN, announcing MR. and MRS CAMPION. Enter the ladies.) R. H. and J. H. Good morning, ladies.

Mrs. C.

Good morning, gentlemen ; are the young ladies within? R. H. I believe not, but John is gone to see. Will you take chairs? Mrs. C. I met Charlotte walking this morning, but that was an hour ago. She looked beautiful, and so thought her beau.

R. H. What beau ?

Mrs. C. Oh, a very pleasant one, and one who admires Charlotte more than words can express.

J. H. Words can express a good deal.

Mrs. C. That depends on who uses them. You would express a good deal, if you put your talent to it, I am sure.

J. H. Don't give me too much encouragement, or I may try it upon Miss Minetta.

Mrs. C. Oh, Minetta is too obdurate. All her school friends are married off, and she won't quit her single blessedness.

R. H. But who is this beau of Charlotte's-this admirer?

Mrs. C. Oh, a very clever, talented person indeed, and a great friend of mine, Mr. Glumly.

R. H. Mr. Glumly? why, where did he get acquainted with my daughter? Mrs. C. Oh, last evening at my house. He is there constantly. He comes to all our reading parties. Reads us his own verses, too, sometimes; he writes poetry like an angel.

R. H. Made his acquaintance last evening, and joins her in Broadway this morning. No need of Vansittart now, eh, Jacob.

J. H. No, it seems not.

(Enter JOHN.)

John. The young ladies are both out, Ma'am.

Mrs. C. Ah! both out; I'm sorry. Good morning, gentlemen.

[Exit.

[Erit with Minetta.

R. H. Well, Jacob, this Glumly stock is rising. Mrs. Campion praises everybody, and always has a lot of pet phenixes of her own, and on them she lays it on double. But the man must be an absolute idiot to talk as he did to

Vansittart.

J. H. I tell you, Robert, that was a coarse joke. It was bad taste, and bad enough to prejudice us strongly against the man; but if he comes here, do not kick him out of doors.

R. H. Well, perhaps not. In the mean time do you take Mrs. Campion's hints, and lay siege to Minetta, the obdurate. J. H. I'll think about it.

SCENE II.-Room in the same.

[Exeunt.

CHARLOTTE and MARY at a table, with books and needle-work.

Mary. Charlotte, why did'nt you go down to receive Mrs. Campion's visit?

C. I was occupied here, and besides I don't like her.

M.

But you ought to like her. You are such a particular favorite of hers. C. Yes, I know. In her emphatic way, such a parteecular favorite.—So is everybody else in turn.

M. But you like Minetta.

C. Yes, much better. She has not the same faults as her mother.
No, her mother has one that would fit her awkwardly.
Which one?

M.

C.

M. Manoeuvring to get her a husband.

C. Yes, that is true. If Mrs. Campion would have been quiet, Minetta would have been married years ago. I wonder if she will succeed with uncle

Jacob ?

M. Aunt Minetta! That would sound oddly. She is a nice enough girl and has a fair fortune.

worse.

But we might fare worse. Uncle Jacob might do much

C. What I dislike in Mrs. Campion, is her eternally talking to me about beaux. Beaux-beaux-I hate the word, don't you, Mary?

Mary. Why so, dear Charlotte?

C. It is a vulgar, cant expression. It is worn out. It don't mean a gentleman now; it means a common fellow made fine for a holiday. Chambermaids have beaux.

M. Mrs. Campion says, Mr. Glumly is a first rate beau.

C. Yes, that makes it perfect. First rate beau-I shan't want to see him again these two months.

M. She said the same thing of Hartington. That ought to conciliate you. C. No. I would as lief she should have called him a jack-pudding.

M. And the same of Rupert Hay; but that was to Papa. I wish she had said anything else, for Papa's whole objection to both him and Hartington might be summed up in that very idea. He thinks they are first rate beaux, and does not believe they can ever be anything else.

C.

Ah, Mary, don't let's talk about our troubles.

(Enter HARTINGTON.)

H'n. Good morning, ladies.

C. & M. Good morning, Mr. Hartington.

M. We were just speaking of you.

H'n. Then you put me among troubles, for I caught the last word.

M. You are among our causes of trouble—you and Rupert Hay. But if you

had any grace about you, you would be thankful and not sarcastic.

H'n. Dear lady, so I am. But has anything new occurred?

C. No. My father is a reasonable man, and does not break out often into novelties. But he keeps up the old song

M. Ye are idle, ye are idle.-Pharaoh's ditty.

H'n. It's very hard. What would he have me do, or Rupert Hay, either? We cannot make bricks.

H'n. No, nor with straw, by any process 1 know of.

C.

Straw is figurative. It means talents and industry.

M. And bricks are figurative. They mean money.

H'n. And so I am to make money like bricks, before your father will sanction my pretensions here, (taking C's hand.) Is that it?

C. In some measure. But, Hartington, do not think me too calculating; but I really wish you had a profession.

H'n. Why, I profess a great deal.

M. But you do nothing, and my father hates you. I do believe it, he is civil to you, and indulgent and confiding to us, but I believe he actually hates

you.

(Enter JACOB HOLLYBUSH.)

M. (runs to meet him.) Come in, uncle Jacob. There, now, he proves what I was saying. Uncle, you see Mr. Hartington there?

J. H. Yes, certainly.