having been made clear, the expression, to a large degree, takes care of itself.

3. Too much attention to unimportant qualities, to the comparative neglect of essential qualities.

4. The selection of objects of which but few specimens can be obtained. It is desirable that each child should be supplied with a specimen, or that the object should be large enough to be seen by every member of the class, in order that each pupil may examine and discriminate for himself.

In a lesson on coal the apparatus would be, enough pieces of coal (partly wrapped in paper to allow of handling) to supply each member of the class.

The first step would be to lead the children to discover those qualities that may be obtained through sight. This would give points concerning its color and the various forms in which it is found. By direct inspection its color-black-could be obtained, and indirectly, (by comparison with slate and coke), that it is usually shining. By comparison with cube, cylinder, and other regular forms the thought could be awakened that coal is irregular in form. This would, in addition to the training and the ideas gained, add to the child's vocabulary the words black, shining, and irregular.

The next step would be to test the object by the sense of touch and the muscular sense. Through these would come to the mind ideas of its smoothness, hardness and brittleness. With these ideas in mind the pupils could be led to classify other objects in respect to these qualities.

As a third step, certain qualities could be obtained through experiment, or by having them recall their experience as to how it burns when first put upon the fire, and how it burns after a little time has elapsed. In this way the distinction between the ideas expressed by inflammable and combustible, would be made clear, and they could determine whether coal is both. An exercise could then be taken in classifying such things as paper, gas, oil, coke, wood, by these ideas.

An object-lesson on coal is the basis to a series of oral languagelessons on the manufacture of coke and gas; use of coal; formation of coal; a coal mine; the equipments of the miner; the mines of his own neighborhood; combustion, etc.

EDITORIAL.

When you send pay for your Journal please name the agent with whom you subscribed.

WITH this issue quite a number of subscriptions will expire. Let the renewals come in promptly, so that there shall be no break in the files.

RUSKIN says for a person starting out in life three things are essential to determine: 1. Where are you? 2. Where are you going? 3. What is the best thing to do under the circumstances?

O! DON'T, DON'T, DON'T.-When you wish to send money for the Journal and can't get a postal note or money order and have to send stamps, please send two-cent stamps. We can not use 5-ct. and 10-ct. stamps.

THE January Journal will be almost exclusively devoted to answering this question: "Should Religion be taught in the Public Schools? If so, How?" Not fewer than twelve different persons will contribute to the discussion. No reader can afford to miss this issue.

"A REMINDER."- Several hundred teachers subscribed for the Journal with the understanding that they would pay when they received money from the trustees--not later than January 1, 1887. This is not a 'dnn' for the money is not yet due—it is simply a “reminder` to aid the memory of a few teachers who are perfectly honest but a little forgetful. Square up by the time agreed upon and begin the New Year with a clean sheet.

Ir is scarcely necessary to urge a large attendance upon the State Association. It pays well any enterprising teacher to attend these gatherings. The information gained is but a small part of the consideration. It is worth a great deal to meet and know those engaged in the same work; it gives one a higher regard for his profession. These meetings also give an enthusiasm for work and an ambition to succeed that can come from no other source. Come one, come all.

MISS CARRIE WELTON, of Waterbury, Conn., has left her entire estate, amounting to perhaps $200,000, to the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animais." She had been much interested in the working of the society for many years, and had contributed largely toward its support. Miss Welton was a lady of great intelligence and unusual culture. She lived for a purpose outside of self. Most people whose names are worth remembering, have made great sacrifices and have subordinated self and selfish interests to some great truth or

cause.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, on Nov. 8, celebrated its 250th anniversary. Perhaps never before in this country was there such a gathering of distinguished scholars as on this occasion-most of them, of course, Harvard's own sons. President Cleveland and most of the members of his cabinet were guests of the occasion. The chief oration was by James Russell Lowell, and a poem was read by Oliver Wendell Holmes. After dinner speeches were made by a goodly number, including Pres. Eliot and President Cleveland. In the evening the students marched in costume and had a good display of fire works.

About

There are at least thirty graduates of Harvard in this state. half of these met in Indianapolis and celebrated the same occasion.

STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

J. W. Holcombe, Superintendent of Public Instruction, has received the proof sheets of his annual report, which will be issued soon. It will be a book of several hundred pages, and will make a very valuable volume for the use of teachers and educators in general. The school system of the state is very fully explained. The tuition revenue of the state is given as $3.426.219.25; the special revenue, $1,543,654.36, making the total resources of the schools $4,969,873.36. A very complete and comprehensive historical review of education in Indiana, prepared by H. M. Skinner, B. C. Hobbs, and Mary Humphreys, is given, and the proceedings of the State Educational Association are published in full. The advantages of the state institutions of higher education are set forth at length, and considerable space is devoted to the special schools of the state.

VOLUME XXXI.

This issue closes Vol. XXXI of the INDIANA SCHOOL JOurnal. For all these years it has been a prominent factor in the educational work of the state. It has helped to develop an educational sentiment that would demand better schools and be willing to pay for them. It has advocated longer terms and higher wages for teachers. It did its full share toward securing the State Normal School and County Superintendency. In short it has helped secure whatever advancement has been made in the cause of education, and it has opposed whatever opposed educational interests. It has tried to give to the teachers of Indiana as good professional reading as is furnished the teachers of any other state in the Union.

That it has been fairly successful in these efforts and is appreciated by those for whom it is intended, is evinced by the fact that its circulation has steadily increased, till to-day, with perhaps two exceptions,

it leads in point of circulation all the education al monthlies of the United States.

No other paper in the land can boast so large a percent of the teachers of its own state as regular subscribers.

This is highly complimentary to the teachers of Indiana, as it is indicative of enterprise, progress, and a healthy educational sentiment.

The JOURNAL wishes to return hearty thanks for the many kind words of commendation, and for the enthusiastic substantial support that comes from every quarter. It will strive to continue to deserve this cordial support.

TO THE READERS OF THE NORMAL TEACHER.

THE NORMAL TEACHER has been consolidated with THE INDIANA SCHOOL JOURNAL, and the unexpired subscriptions to the former will be completed by sending this journal to all entitled to the same. We are glad to be able to announce so favorable a consummation. The old subscribers of THE NORMAL TEACHER will thus be furnished with one of the best school monthlies in the West, and a higher priced periodical than the TEACHER was. Furthermore, we had long been urged by the patrons of the TEACHER to print it in pamphlet form, as THE SCHOOL JOURNAL is printed, and on that account also we are sure that our old readers will be pleased with the consolidation.

It should be explained that this consolidation was not effected until some 30 pages of THE JOURNAL had been run off the press, and hence THE TEACHER subscribers will this month receive so many pages less than the usual number. But hereafter the full complement will be found in each monthly number.

THE INDIANA SCHOOL JOURNAL in this consolidated form will not be changed in the management, nor in its excellent and most acceptable make-up. Thus greatly increased in its number of readers and in its circulation, one good, strong school journal in Indiana, liberally sustained, can be of more service to the cause of education than many not so fully equipped. In taking their leave of the old readers of THE TEACHER, the old management most heartily commend THE SCHOOL JOURNAL to their favor and support, as among the very best of its class. THE NORMAL TEACHER Co.

THE NEW FEATURE IN EXAMINATIONS.

The State Board of Education more than six months ago made an order that "After the first day of January, 1887, every applicant for a teacher's license shall present to the county superintendent at the time of examination, a review or composition on one of the following books: Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Ivanhoe, Heart of

Midlothian, Henry Esmond, The Spy, The Pilot, The Scarlet Letter, The Sketch Book, Knickerbocker's New York, The Happy Boy (by Bjorntjerne Bjornesen), Poems of Longfellow, Poems of Bryant, Poems of Whittier, Poems of Lowell. Said composition shall contain not less than 600 nor more than 1000 words; shall be in the applicant's own hand-writing, and shall be accompanied with a declaration that it is the applicant's original work. The county supcrintendent shall consider the merits of such composition in determining the applicant's fitness to teach."

The above action of the board was for the purpose of encouraging teachers to read general literature. The books named are standards from the masters in the realm of letters. It will be noticed that a teacher can select any one of the books at an examination and another is not required till the next examination. This certainly can work no hardship, as the books can be had in cheap form and can be procured as needed. An advertisement on another page will give light on this point.

THE STATE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Since our last issue the election has taken place and the result is known to all. The Republicans elected their state ticket, and Harvey M. La Follette is State Superintendent-elect.

Mr. Holcombe's term of office does not expire till March 15, 1887, so he will make another Report and will have the care of another Legislature. By the way, Mr. Holcombe is not feeling so much troubled as he was, over the fact that the "conservative" element of his party defeated his nomination on the "third term" plea.

The election returns show that the head of the Republican ticket (and this shows fairly the relative strength of the parties) had a plurality of 3,319. Mr. La Follette's plurality was 9,047. This great difference can not be accounted for on account of the difference between the two leading candidates. The Journal has heretofore given its estimate of each of them. They are both leading county superintendents and good men, and considering only education and ability, there is no perceptible reason why each should not have carried the average strength of his party.

Mr. La Follette is an indefatigable worker. He traveled hundreds of miles and wrote hundreds of letters in various languages. A member of the State Central Committee said that he made the most efficient canvas of any man on the ticket. The fact that he can readily speak and write German, French and Italian gave him not less than 2,000 of his majority over his associates. The most of the remainder can only be accounted for from the fact that Mr. Sweeny is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Sweeney since he has been Co. Supt.