Our

several other districts have placed a set of Complete Charts in each of their schools. County Institute was an unusually successful one. The instruction was of the best for our schools and we think much good has been accomplished.

NORTHUMBERLAND.-Supt. Bloom: In the following districts commendable improvements have been made in the buildings and the furnishing of rooms: Gearhart, Little Mahanoy, Upper Mahanoy, Watsontown, and Delaware. In Lower Mahanoy, Washington, and Rush, new books have been adopted. The library and reading table established in the High School of McEwensville, H. I. Mauser principal, is another evidence of progress and a step in the right direction. A large and carefully selected list of books has already been acquired. The Cameron township schools have been supplied with reading charts. A Local Institute was held at Rushtown. I was assisted by Prof. Wm. Noetling, of Bloomsburg, and ex-County Supt. Grimes, of Columbia. All the sessions were interesting and appreciated. The object of these meetings is to aid the teachers and bring the patrons into closer sympathy with the schools. Judging from sentiments expressed by teachers and patrons, I have reason to believe that our efforts were not in vain. The schools have made creditable progress during the first half of the term. I have made numerous visits to date, and with few exceptions harmony prevails among directors, teachers, and pupils. My observations lead me to believe that more attention is given to professional_literature by our teachers than in the past. The attendance at our County Institute was very large. The instructors were State Supt. D. J. Waller, Jr., Dept. Supt. J. Q. Stewart, Supt. Geo. J. Luckey, Dr. E. O. Lyte, Prof. J. P. Welsh, Prof. L. I. Handy, Supt. R. M. McNeal, Supt. B. R. Johnson, Supt. Smith, and Prof. W. B. Hall. All acquitted themselves very creditably and won the approval of our teachers. The evening lecturers were Mr. L. I. Handy, Col. Geo, W. Bain, Dr. J. O. Wilson, and Col. L. F. Copeland. The attendance at the meeting of the Directors' Association was larger than in former years, nearly every district in the county being represented. The following topics were ably disscussed: The necessity of increasing Teachers' Salaries, Free Text Books, and Classification of Schools. In the afternoon a joint meeting of directors and teachers was held, at which addresses were delivered by Hon. J. Q. Stewart and Supt. Geo. J. Luckey.

PERRY.-Supt. Aumiller: The Teachers' Institute was held during the first week of December. Valuable instruction was given during both day and evening sessions. The papers and discussions by teachers bore evidence of careful thought and research. A set of cubical blocks has been placed in each of the Liverpool borough schools, and a clock in the high school. In Penn township five rooms were papered. The favorable change produced by papering school rooms induces me to favor and encourage the same. A coat of whitewash may be better from a hygienic standpoint, but it is un

suggestive to the mind and unpleasant to the sight Anatomical and physiological charts have been placed in the schools of Bloomfield, Spring, Saville, Juniata, and perhaps several other districts. The first of the seven District Institutes will be held at Blain, Jan. Ist and 2nd.

POTTER.-Supt. Kies: The County Institute held at Ulysses was the educational event of the month. The attendance was large and the interest unusually good. Our Institutes are becoming stronger each year. It is generally acknowledged that this was the best in the history of the county. It is our aim to make the Institute worth what it costs.

Hon.

SNYDER. Supt. Hermann: Selinsgrove borough and Monroe township purchased the Complete Charts for their schools. West Perry and Jackson furnish physiologies free. Adams is to have a new two-room building at Troxelville. The County Institute was the best, in many respects, we have had for years. Of the 116 teachers, 114 were present. The Directors' Convention was unusually interesting. E. W. Toole, member of the Legislature, vigorously urged free text-books. Dr. Herman read an able paper on School Buildings and Sites, and F. E. Bower talked on the Dog Tax. Two successful Local Institutes were held, one at Shamokin Dam, and the other at Fremont. Most of the teachers are taking hold of the work with a zeal and an interest that indicates more than usual success. Directors everywhere are feeling the importance of increasing school apparatus. Beaver township lately purchased an excellent manikin.

UNION.-Supt. Johnson: The School Boards of Gregg, White Deer, and West Buffalo have placed Teachers' Anatomical Aids in their schools. Improvements have been made by the Boards of Hazleton, Lewis, and Hartley. The County Institute proved to be interesting and helpful. Great interest was manifested throughout by teachers and citizens. Never, in the history of Union County Institutes, did the directors of the county attend the various sessions as this year. Directors' Day was a great

success.

WARREN. Supt. Putnam: A series of thirteen Local Institutes has been arranged for the winter. It is hoped and expected that these meetings will be of great value to teachers and schools. The Principal of schools in the village where each meeting is held will be chairman of the committee of arrangements for the meeting there, with the teachers of the vicinity as members of the committee. All teachers, directors and other friends of education are earnestly requested to attend these meetings and aid to make them a success.

WASHINGTON.—Supt. Tombaugh: During the month we held District Institute at Beallsville and Canonsburg. Both meetings were largely attended. At Canonsburg forty teachers, twelve directors, and 300 people attended. The Beallsville meeting was even more largely attended by patrons and others, but the number of teachers was smaller. These Institutes, by awakening an interest among the parents and people generally, are doing much good.

CHAMBERSBURG.-Supt. Hockenberry: We have lost a man who has been an honored and useful School Director for a generation. The death of Mr. Jacob N. Snider, one of our most estimable citizens, on the 5th of January, cast a gloom over the entire community. He was so trustworthy in his business relations, so kind and friendly, and so greatly interested in the cause of popular education, that all who knew him feel his death a personal loss. He was born here in 1822. A poor but plucky boy, he was early at work in a brickyard and in a ropewalk. He learned the trade of book-binder, which he followed in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. For nineteen years he was foreman in the bindery department of the Reformed Publishing House then located in Chambersburg. After the rebels burnt this place in 1864, he opened a stationary store and a bindery of his own, both of which he successfully conducted till his death. He grew up with the town, interested and active in the promotion of its welfare in all directions; and by his industry and integrity became one of its best known and most successful citizens. He was an Odd Fellow forty-six years, enjoying all the honors of his lodge and its representative to the Grand Lodge for thirty years, was secretary and treasurer of the Cedar Grove Cemetery Company thirty-three years, and a member of the School Board for twenty-nine years. Highly as he was esteemed in business and fraternal circles it was his career as school director for which he was particularly noted. He never sought nor permitted his friends to seek political preferment for himself. Becoming a member of the Board in 1863, he served thirteen years as secretary and fifteen years as president, with great satisfaction to the Board and the public. He honored and elevated the office of School Director. In the very best sense of the word he magnified his office. With limited educational advantages himself, it was his ardent desire that others should enjoy the largest opportunities for fitting themselves for complete citizenship. He very properly regarded every boy and girl in the United States as of the royal line, and heirs to the highest positions in the gift of the people; and as such he saw the necessity of a high standard in education. During his term five substantial brick school-houses were built, the number of teachers increased from eighteen to thirty-four, the highest salary from $40 to $77, and the lowest from $18 to $30. The community mourns his loss but honors itself by this proof of its ability to appreciate the noble traits of his character. His monument will not be found in an ante mortem column of granite or marble in the cemetery, nor in large buildings bearing his name, nor yet in a munificent endowment of a college or university. Had Mr. Snider possessed wealth in large amount, no doubt some educational institution, most likely the public schools of his own town, would have been his beneficiary. His monument, slowly but surely built up in the sixty-nine years of a noble life, is in the hearts of his fellow citizens and intimate friends, whose appreciation and esteem far outweigh the marble shaft

or granite column. At a joint meeting of school directors and teachers an eloquent and touching tribute was adopted to his memory.

HAZLE TWP. (Luzerne Co.)-Supt. Jones: Our new room at Beaver Brook is now occupied. It contains all the conveniences introduced of late into any of our township school buildings. One of the best Annual Institutes in the history of our county was held in Wilkes-Barre. The lecturers were well chosen, able, and satisfactory. Profs. Tompkins, of Terre Haute, and Leslie, of Chicago, were especially successful.

HUNTINGDON.-Supt. Shimmell: We had an entertainment in the Opera House, Jan. 7th, for the benefit of the library. It consisted chiefly of a musical performance by the Dickinson College Glee Club, to which was added the sword drill given before the State Association at Bedford, and a recitation by Miss Amy Sprague, one of our teachers. After adding the bookswhich the proceeds will enable us to procure, our library will number 1300 volumes. On the 21st January, John R. Clark will lecture for us in behalf of the same object.

NEWPORT Twp. (Luzerne Co.) — Supt. Dewey: The pupils of the High School gave an interesting entertainment Dec. 11th. The proceeds were used for purchasing pictures and books. School Directors have made sixty-one visits to the schools this year.

NORRISTOWN.-Supt. Gotwals: At the closing of the schools for the Christmas holidays, exercises, consisting of music, recitations, and readings appropriate to the occasion, were held.

PLYMOUTH Twp. (Luzerne Co.)-Supt. Gildea: All the teachers attended the County Institute, and the beneficial effects of their experience are already manifested in their work.

SOUTH BETHLEHEM.-Supt. Wilt: During the coming season our Board contemplates the erection of a new sixteen room building in place of the Penrose building. According to the present opinion of the directors, the central part of the new building will be especially arranged for the High School department, with a large hall in the centre, surrounded by suitable and convenient rooms for recitations, library, museum,. etc. After the completion of this structure, the Board expects to abandon the four small buildings which have been used for the last few years as a shift, and thus be enabled to effect. better grading in that part of the borough.

WILLIAMSPORT.-Supt. Transeau : The educational event of the month was the annual Institute held in the High School building. The display work of the schools was very good, and attracted a great deal of attention. There were present during the week as instructors, Supt. J. M. Coughlin, of Wilkes-Barre; Prof. H. P. Smith, Dr. Geo. G. Groff, Bucknell University; Prof. J. A. Sprenkel, Chorister, New Cumberland, Pa.; W. C. Gilmore, Esq., formerly Principal of our High School; Dr. D. J. Waller, Jr., State Supt.; Rev. Lewis Robb, Williamsport;. with the following evening lecturers: Dr. J. O. Wilson, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Supt. Jas. M. Coughlin. Our teachers attended the Institute very regularly, and what they learned will be productive of good to our schools.

THE training of the voice and the study of elementary principles should be commenced in early youth. After one has reached maturity his inclinations lead usually to that which directly contributes to his business or his favorite pursuits He soon tires of the essentials in learning to sing, and if nature has not endowed him with a voice fully equipped and ready to meet practical demands on short notice, he is quite apt to give up the undertaking before it is fairly begun. The public school can be made to furnish an elementary musical and sing. ing practice to the rich and poor alike, and with very little expense in money or time. What a grand thing

SOMEWHERE.

it would be for us all, as a people, if the children could grow up in the atmosphere of song in the school-room! It would enable many a heart to attune itself to love, duty, hope and benevolence, that must otherwise be listless and dumb. The wonderful utility and influence for good that well-regulated music has in the schoolroom is not usually understood by school boards and the public. Its sanitary effects, its softening influence, its recreative tendencies, its power to quicken the inertia of the school, are things understood only by wise teachers and others whose privilege it is to observe carefully the bearings and results of school work.-W. T. Giffe.

F. CAMPANA. ALFRED C. SHAW.