thought, and would ask everybody to help out some way in having a pleasant time.

It had been decided to hold the party at high noon on New Year's day in the beautiful pine grove that was Mr. and Mrs. Bluejay's home. At half-past eleven the guests began to arrive and soon every one who had been invited had come. It was a bright, sunshiny morning, and the sunlight, streaming in through the soft pine branches made everything look as cheerful as possible. Mrs. Bluejay, who stood read to shake hands with each guest as he or she arrived, looked very trim and stylish indeed. She had spent a long time that morning preening and dressing her feathers, and was really in fine feather, so to speak.

As soon as all the guests had come and had been introduced-for some of the Northerners, as they called the Kinglets and Nuthatches, had never met some of the others-Mr. Bluejay proposed that there should be a dance. At this every one seemed much pleased. Little Madame Goldfinch, in her olive green gown, paired off with one of the Juncos, Mr. Bluejay took Mrs. Flicker for his partner, while Mr. Downey Woodpecker asked if he might have the honor of dancing with the hostess. Chickadee and the Tree Sparrow went waltzing around together, and the Nuthatches and Pine Siskins did the same.

Everybody agreed that Mr. Bluejay and Mrs. Flicker made the handsomest pair of dancers. They did not dance as well as some of the others, but they were both so handsome and so well dressed that all the others had to stop now and then to look at them. Mrs. Flicker would lift her wings every now and then just to show off the beautiful soft, yellow color with which they were lined. Then she would hold her head very high, so that everybody could see the beautiful spots on her breast.

Pine Siskin whispered to little Lady Nuthatch that he thought Mrs. Flicker was very vain, but the Nuthatch only laughed at him, and told him he ought to remember that probably Flickers have their failings just as well as other folks.

It would take too long to tell about all the dances they danced, but it ought to be told that they all enjoyed themselves, and that nobody said unkind things about anybody else.

At last Mrs. Bluejay said she thought there had been enough dancing and that now they would have some music. Then she invited Mr. Junco to be bandmaster and to appoint a part for each one to sing. In that way, she said, they could make themselves into a great chorus, and it would be like the grand

opera.

Mr. Junco was a little bashful at first. He thought Mr. Bluejay ought to be the bandmaster, but at last he said that if everyone would excuse him if he made mistakes, he would do the best he could. He was a little out of practice, he said; he seldom sang except during the summer, but he would try.

Thereupon he mounted on the branch of a hemlock tree and waved his baton. "Mr. Flicker and Mr. Bluejay," he said, "you may take the bass part; Madame Goldfinch and Mrs. Nuthatch and the Pine

Siskins may sing the soprano; Chickadee, you take the alto and Downey Woodpecker the tenor. Now let us sing, 'Hail, All Hail to the New Year." "

Every one of the birds, big and small, sang heartily, and if you could only have heard them you would have said that really you never heard anything so fine in all your life.

"Now, Mrs. Goldfinch," said the Junco, after they had finished "Hail to the New Year," "won't you please sing for us your new song?"

Mrs. Goldfinch in a sweet voice sang:
God loves us all,

Both great and small,

We are his children dear.

He speeds cur wing,

He bids us s'ng,

He takes away all fear.

And we love him,

for him we sing,

His glory fills our lays.

We chant his fame,
We sing his came,

We call on all to praise.

At the last, they all joined in the chorus,—

We chart his fame,

We sing his name,

We call on all to praise.

Mr. Downey Woodpecker said the song was quite like a sermon, and Mrs. Bluejay said she thought it was most appropriate for the New Year. It would be something good to remember all the year. They all thought so, too, and thanked Mrs. Goldfinch cordially.

Then, after there had been two or three more songs, somebody said it was time to be going home, and, of course, that broke up the party. As they went out cach guest wished Mr. and Mrs. Bluejay a "Happy New Year," and the Bluejays wished them back "Many Returns."

Perhaps you think it was very queer to do that way, but it's the way they always do in bird land. Instead of wishing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year the very first thing when they meet anybody, they always wait till just as they are ready to part.

Everybody agreed that Mrs. Bluejay's party was

a great success. They all dreamed happy dreams that night, and each dear bird woke the next morning with a happy song in its little throat, which sounded to the world when it was sung like,—

We chant his fame,

We sing his name,

We call on all to praise.

Be kind to each other.

Business-like ways and means mean success in life. If you see a pupil walking with a slouching gait, give special attention thereto.

The art of accuracy is one of the things to be acquired in school. Accuracy in processes, in observation, in discrimination, in expression.

Our interest in whatever we learn, other things being equal, measures its grip upon our mind, because we see most readily and vividly that which we like best, and it abides with us a proportionately long time, and recalls itself with corresponding facility.

Educational World.

The Teacher's Equipment.-It costs more to equip a teacher now than it did a person who "kept school" a few years ago. In most cases a longer time is spent in preparation before actual teaching is begun. Time and money so spent is an investment upon which interest must be reckoned. School authorities urge teachers to attend summer schools and courses of lectures, to own a pedagogical library, to subscribe for magazines, and in general to avail themselves of every means of culture open to them. All this renders teachers more valuable to their schools; that goes without saying, but--it also costs money, and no employer has a right to demand expenditure for his own benefit from an employee to whom he is paying only living wages, nor can he with justice require a constant increase in efficiency unless he expects to offer some pecuniary return.-Supt. H. W. Lull, Quincy, Mass.

What the Editors Say.

The Boy With a Grievance.-No matter how well the school seems to "go" there is one boy at least who will return home with a grievance, and it is sometimes better to consider his case than the ninety and nine that seem to be satisfied. "Beware of the man who praises you" is a Chinese proverb of the days of Confucius. There is good occasion for question when "all men speak well of you." The best lessons are learned from our enemies. The British will know before this

present conflict is over whether they are in a condition to do effective fighting or not. The boy with a grievance is thinking whether he cannot persuade his father to let him stay out of school and go into business. He feels slighted or he doubts the good will of the teacher, or he doubts his own ability to learn, or he thinks it is his coat or boots that condemn him, or that some other boy whom he despises is preferred to him, or he thinks he is under suspicion, or he is tired of going over the same "old arithmetic" year year after year-besides there are other reasons for his grievance he cannot put in words.

Is it not well to know who have grievances? A very popular clergyman made it his business to know who were dissatisfied with his sermons and why; he said that he gained much good from them. A certain teacher opened a "complaint box," asking every pupil to state on paper things he considered in need of reform; it was not much used, but he received some good hints from it.

A boy in a New York public school was accused by his teacher of breaking a pane of glass in a window. He denied the charge and explained that he was some distance from the place, but he saw that the teacher did not believe him. This occurred almost fifty years ago, when there was much severity employed in the treatment of school boys. The attitude of the teacher was so threatening that the boy stayed away from school. A relative going to California consented, at his earnest request, to take him West. After thirty years he returned and sought his old teacher, whose first words were, "Horace, I found out that it was not you who broke the glass." Until then Horace had kept his griev

idiotic. By no means. He is the brightest boy in his class at school, fond of reading and of natural history, but he is hignly nervous temperament, and has not been taught to control the little wires, so to speak, on which he is strung. This is no single case. dren who give way to their nerves in similar fashion. Talk to them about these curious little fellows that should be their servauts, not their masters. Never whip them. The man or woman who whips a nervous child is on a level with brutes that have no reason. Encourage them. Help them. Be patient with them. They are the making of our future successful men and women, for they will work hard at whatever they undertake. Brace up your own nerves first, and then be indulgent towards the capers of your over nervous children.-Home Comfort.

There are thousands of chil

There is a difference between making the work of the child interesting and making it easy. We believe in creating interest, that the child may be

anxious to do his work for himself, and thereby grow by what he conquers, but we question the wisdom of mentally masticating and digesting for him. Hard work, if not beyond his ability, will do him good and strengthen his powers. Put him on the way to solve his own problems, if possible.-Educational News.

The systematic teaching of ethics and morals in public schools cannot but produce most beneficial effects. Courtesy can be taught in early childhood. Courtesy produces respect. Respect for others is the first principle of law. A child who has learned always to be courteous, kind and just has learned what will be of more practical and ethical value to him than all the languages or ologies combined.-Educational Forum,

The better a teacher is able to draw out the thinking power of his class, the better will the class be able to draw out the teaching powers of the teacher. A well-taught class fully recognizes a teacher's right to be ignorant of some things, or to find some questions difficult to answer on the spur of the moment, but a very ordinary class has enough cleverness and quick-wittedness in it generally to see the difference between a teacher who is mentally working toward the answer to a class question and a teacher who is simply trying to cover up an inexcusable ignorance by strategy.-Indiana School Journal.

Dr. J. L. M. Curry, General Agent of the Pea body and Slater funds, spent the second week in October visiting the Normal School at Athens and the Normal and Industrial at Milledgeville. A good deal of his time during these visits is spent in the class-rooms inspecting the work done by the teachers. His long experience in visiting schools and his close, critical study of educational methods enable him to determine in a very few moments the value of the work done by the teacher. His judgments of school work are valuable also because they are absolutely impartial.

Dr. Curry's visits to our schools are always helpful. His addresses on education are vigorous and inspiring. Those who heard him in Athens and in Milledgeville will never forget his strong, wise words. His address to the young men at the University made a profound impression upon the faculty and the student body present. Dr. Curry graduated at the University fifty-six years ago. In his address he painted a vivid picture of the University and the faculty at that time. Describing one of his old teachers, he said: "The only thing I learned from that teacher may be summed up in one statement that he frequently made: 'Words are pegs upon which to hang ideas."" He paid glowing tributes to several members of the old University faculty of the long ago.

Dr. Curry preserves in a wonderful degree the vigor of body and mind that gives promise even now of many years to be added to his long and useful career. Judge Campbell, of Mississippi, and Dr. Curry are now the only survivors of the first Confederate Congress that met in Montgomery, Alabama. His contemparies in public life, especially of his earlier public career, are well-nigh all gone. It is allotted to few men to fill so many places of distinction as Dr. Curry has filled, in every case with such marked ability. He has served in the United States Congress, in the Confederate Congress, and in the Confederate army. Under Mr. Cleveland he was Minister to Spain; but in no public ministry has he rendered more distinguished and useful service than that which he is now doing, so freely and so successfully, as the general agent of the two great education funds set apart by Mr. Peabody and Mr. Slater.-Southern Educational Journal.

There is no such itching for newness as there was twelve years ago, and there is no such fear of newness, but every one seems ready to find better methods and equally ready to retain that which is thoroughly good. No one blushes for fear she will be considered behind or ahead of the times. The pose of the ordinary teacher is something almost wholly unknown from 1885 to 1890.-Journal of Education.

Cleanliness covers a large part of the field of sanitary labor. Cleanliness that is purity of air; cleanliness that is purity of water; cleanliness in and around the house; cleanliness of person; cleanliness of dress; cleanliness of dress; cleanlicleanliness of life and conversation; purity of life, ness of food and feeling; cleanliness in work; cleanliness of life and conversation; purity of life, temperance-all these are in man's power. The clean man and woman, other things being equal, will be the healthy one.-Journal of Hygiene.

Items of Interest.

GENERAL.

Rev. B. L. Whitman has retired from the presidency of Columbian University, and his succes

sor has not been elected. Dr. Whitman has received a call to the Calvary Baptist Church and the Fifth Baptist Church, both of Philadelphia.

The plans for a new school for orphaned girls, similar in scope to Girard College, have been developed. The donor is Professor James M. Munyon, who gives in this benefaction about $2,000,

000.

The site, about thirty acres of beautiful land in the neighborhood of Fairmount park, was selected a year ago. Building will soon be commenced.

Professor Munyon proposes to have the college consist of a large central structure with several smaller buildings grouped around it. The architect is Mr. Seymour Davis.

In management the Munyon school will be nonsectarian and non-political. The administration will be in charge of a board of trustees, of which the Governor of the State and the Mayor of Philadelphia will be the honorary members.

The school will be opened to orphaned or fatherless girls, of American birth, who have no relatives to depend upon. The girls will be received at the age of ten and graduated at about eighteen. They will, during their course, be taught a thorough knowledge of cookery, needlework, etc. As nearly all will have to go out into the world to earn their living, it is designed to lay all possible emphasis upon the bread and butter studies. It is even proposed that the products of some of the manufacturing departments be put on sale in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and that the girls receive some share of the proceeds.The School Journal.

Mr. John D. Rockefeller has given $10,000 to the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, half of the amount to pay for the new buildings erected last year, with other improvements, the other half being devoted to the current expenses of the present school year.

Aaron French, the Pittsburgh capitalist, through whose generosity the textile department of the Georgia School of Technology was established in Atlanta, has made a donation of $3,500 to the sub apprentice class of the school. Mr. French's various gifts to the Georgia School of Technology aggregate $16,000.

Senator Wellington, as chairman of the Committee on the University of the United States, has introduced a bill for the establishment of a National University, which he expects to support more or less actively. It is to be established in the District of Columbia, for the "advancement of knowledge by means of instruction exclusively post-graduate and special, including all mttters of governmental concern, and by original research and investigation for the benefit of mankind." No preference because of partizanship or sectarianism is to be permitted. Lectures are to be open to all, but students are to be confined to those who have taken a baccalaureate degree. The government of the University is to be vested in a Board of Regents, consisting of the President of the United States, the Commissioner of Education and representatives from various educational societies and six other good citizens, to hold office six years.

VIRGINIA.

One hundred and fourteen and a half acres of land, located about half a mile from Dinwiddie Courthouse, has been given to the John A. Dix Industrial School, a colored institution, and also twenty-five thousand feet of lumber, to be used in the erection of a large and handsome school building. The erection of the building will be begun at once. The county school board has interested itself in this school. Rev. Henry Madison, of Dinwiddie county, is the president. The

school has a competent corps of instructors and board of directors.

An addition to Virginia Hall, Hampton Institute, has been started, whereby the present building will be doubled in size. The new structure will be about one hundred and fifty feet long by fifty feet wide, and three stories in height. The institute can now admit more young women as students. The new building is to be largely used as a dormitory for young women, and it will afford opportunity for the admission next year of an increased number of these as students.

The teaching of temperance in the public schools of the State is now compulsory.

Dr. J. M. Whitefield had in charge during the month of January the classes in chemistry at Richmond College, Dr. J. R. Hunter, the professor of chemistry, having been temporarily absent from his duties on account of ill health. Hunter has returned much improved in health, and has resumed his classes.

Dr.