Even the order of so much as is prescribed is not insisted upon, all that is asked being simply that the work be honestly done.

Any questions concerning these back courses will be cheerfully answered by Hon. John W. Holcombe, Indianapolis, or R. G. Boone, Bloomington, Ind.

LOCAL CIRCLES.

It has been many times suggested that readers who can do so, might profitably organize themselves into local circles of two, three or more and be mutually helped by the interchange of opinions upon the readings. There is undoubtedly great gain in this. Each reads somewhat different meanings into the words, members have had varying experiences touching the same questions; individual tastes color the conclusions and general understanding. So in discussion, each comes into possession of the diverse views of all the others. In order too, that these conferences be profitable, they need not be always learned or profound. Let but each express his simple, earnest conviction, and every like-minded hearer must be benefited; only he who is indifferent carries nothing away. The greater profit is not to him who knows most, or reads most, but to him who thinks best upon the little or much he knows and reads.

But such local clubs are by no means necessary to the profitable pursuit of this or any course of reading. He who reads alone thoughtfully and intelligently, reads to his advantage. While the Reading Circle Board has constantly urged the formation of local circles, and the holding of frequent discussions, it has all the while been held that these after all are only aids, means, to the highest good.

The main thing is-earnest, careful, persistent, individual reading. With the most helpful surroundings, and the most intelligent associations, and the wisest leadership, in reading clubs the measure of one's good, is the measure of one's individual effort. As no one can learn for another his daily lessons, and no one for another learn self-control, and no one grow strong by another's eating, so no one can get more than nominal returns by the most intimate acquaintance with another's reading and thinking. The one thing important above every other in this Reading Circle interest, is that each shall thoughtfully read the course for himself. If this may be supplemented by the aids named, or others, so much the better; but it must not be forgotten that these are only aids.

POSEY COUNTY.-We have an interesting Circle of twenty-five in Posey county. This is the first effort to organize, and some obstacles were met, but have been happily surmounted, and we hope to double the number before the year closes. Two hours of our township institute are devoted to the discussion of the reading. Prof. Stultz directs

the discussion in Hailman's "Lectures"; Prof. O. L. Sewell that in Green's History; and the County Manager that in Watt's "Improvement of the Mind." Quite an interest is manifested, and we are assured that the work is of eminent value and profit. Arrangements for intermediate meetings between the institutes have been made.

EDWIN S. MONROE, Co. Manager.

It is said that at least 75,000 teachers in the United States are reading methodically and professionally.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

QUESTIONS PREPARED BY STATE BOARD FOR OCT.

[These questions are based on the Reading Circle work of last season. ] WRITING AND SPELLING.-The penmanship shown in the manuscripts of the entire examination will be graded on a scale of 100, with reference to legibility (50), regularity of form (30), and neatness (20). The hand-wrtting of each applicant will be considered in itself, rather than with reference to standard models.

The orthography of the entire examination will be graded on a scale of 100, and I will be deducted for each word incorrectly written.

SCIENCE OF TEACHING. -1. How many objects are necessary to an act of judgment? In what does the judging act consist?

2. Which do you regard the more important, and why, silent reading or oral reading?

3. What is the main use which one makes of a knowledge of diacritical marks? When should they be taught?

4. In what ways may the school give effective moral training and instruction?

5. Is it the function of the school to train the religious nature? Give reasons.

6. Explain the difference between a sensation and an emotion. Give an example of each. Which is the more educative when employed as an incentive?

READING.-I. Ought pupils to be encouraged to memorize choice extracts of prose and poetry? Give reasons for your answer.

2. Name three prominent difficulties that must be overcome in teaching pupils in the First Reader.

3. What periodicals would you recommend a child of the Third Reader grade to read?

4.

What kind of literature do you consider improper to be placed in the hands of your pupils?

5. Name five American poets and an important production of each. 6. Read a selection of prose and one of poetry. 50. HISTORY.-I. For what was each of the following persons noted: DeSoto? LaSalle? Wolfe? Robert Morris? Stephen A. Douglas?

2. Mention the principal events in the history of Indiana, and name some persons noted in Indiana history.

3. How did the U. S. acquire the territory where each of the following cities stands: Indianapolis? St. Louis? Galveston? San Francisco? Key West?

4. Give an account of Burgoyne's surrender. State the results of this surrender.

5. Give the manner of electing a President of the U. S. PHYSIOLOGY.-Describe the organs and processes of digestion.

In

so doing name all the fluids which aid in digestion, the special part in the work of digestion performed by each, and the organ in which each change takes place.

2.

GEOGRAPHY.-I. Describe, briefly, the soil and products of Cuba. What is the character of the Isthmus of Panama, and what are some of the chief difficulties in the way of the Panama Canal? 3. Name some regions in which volcanoes abound.

4. Discuss possible causes of the late earthquake at Charleston. Locate Montevideo, Florence, Bergen, Edinburgh, Cologne.

5. Seattle.

6. Describe Dakota and its products.

7. Name. in order, the chief towns which one would pass on a steamboat journey from St. Paul to New Orleans.

8. Where are Alsace and Lorraine? To what country do they now belong?

9. Bound your county. What is its county seat, and what its largest town?

10.

How, and why does the climate of Arizona differ from that of Louisiana?

GRAMMAR.-I. What parts of speech are used as connectives in forming complex sentences?

2. a. He saw the place where they live. b. He lives where the flowers bloom the year round. What are the uses of where in the above sentences?

3. Analyze He hopes to merit heaven by making earth a hell.

4.

Parse heaven and making in the above sentence.

5. Write sentences illustrating all the case forms of whosoever.

6. Give the tense of the verbs in the following sentences and the time expressed by each :

a. The ship sails on next Wednesday.

C. A triangle has three sides.

d. Washington crosses the Delaware and surprises the enemy. e. He goes to the postoffice daily.

7. Write sentences in which the word that introduces (a) a noun clause; (b) an adjective clause; (c) an adverbial clause.

8. Give a synopsis of the verb fly in the active voice, second person, plural number, through all the modes and tenses.

9. Write four adjectives that can not be compared. Why do they not admit comparison?

10. Write sentences to exemplify all the noun uses of infinitives.

ARITHMETIC.-1. 3 of † is 1 of % of what number?

2.

Reduceof to a decimal and explain your work.

5, 5

5, 5.

3. At what rate must I buy a 6% security to net me 8 per cent. income? 5, 5

4. A, B, C and D entered into partnership; A put in $5,000 for 12 mos.; B, $6,000 for 10 mos.; C, $7.500 for 8 mos.; and D, $12,000 for 5 mos. their net profits were $12,000; what was the share of each? 5, 5

5. Can you tell by inspection whether or no a given common fraction can be reduced to a perfect decimal? How? 5, 5

6. How many bullets 4-in in diameter can be cast from a leaden ball 3-in in diameter, allowing for no waste? 5, 5. 7. A vessel has 2 faucets 2-in. and 5-in. in diameter, the 2-in. faucet will empty it in 3 hours; in how many hours will the 5-in. faucet empty it? in how many will both?

5, 5

8. If 3 oranges and 4 lemons cost 27 cents, and 6 oranges and 2 lemons cost 36 cents, what does each orange and each lemon cost?"5, 5. 9. Exchange at New York on Paris is 5.25 fr. to the $1; exchange at Paris on London is 25 fr. to the : how much London exchange can be bought through Paris for $10,000?

5, 5

IO.

Solve 2125.

5, 5.

ANSWERS TO PRECEDING QUESTIONS.

SCIENCE OF TEACHING..-1. Two. It compares one object directly

with another.

2. Silent reading. Because it is by silent reading that we get the thought.

3. To determine the pronunciation. When the pupils begin to use the dictionary.

4. By having the pupils be prompt and thorough in their work. 5. Yes.

6. A sensation is the result of an impression made on the nervous system. A tree is placed before the eye: it is imaged on the retina of the eye. The mind takes note of it. This may produce no feeling. When it produces feelings of beauty or sublimity, etc., it becomes an emotion-a rational emotion.

The emotions are the most educative when used as an incentive.

READING.-I. There are many advantages to be derived from encouraging pupils to memorize choice extracts of prose and poetry. (a) It is a pleasant way of strengthening the memory at a period of life when this faculty can be best developed. (b) Many times pupils will catch thoughts or sentiments that are watchwords to them for life or that prove to be their salvation in hours of temptation. (c) Facility in the expression of thought, owing to an increased vocabulary of words and figures, is a third valuable outgrowth of this practice. (d) The pleasure derived in after years from intimate acquaintance with noble or beautiful thoughts appropriately clothed in noble or beautiful language will fully repay for all effort thus expended, were there no other gain from the practice. By all means encourage the habit of memorizing good selections.

[NOTE. The annual tablets of choice selections from standard authors, one for each day in the year, now published in cheap form, are suggested to those who have not yet tried them.]

2. The first difficulty to be overcome in teaching pupils in the First Reader (or Primer) seems to be to make the proper association between the idea, the oral word and the printed word. The next difficulty seems to be to get him acquainted so well with the written form that he will recognize and pronounce it instantly at sight. The next difficulty seems to be to have him forget the printed word in the thought or sentiment which its association suggests. This is the point at which most teachers fail. Who will write an article telling how best to over

come this difficulty?

3. A child of the Third Reader grade can find interesting and profitable reading in the following periodicals: The Picture Gallery, Chicago, Ill., 75c per year; Little Men and Women, D. Lothrop & Co., Boston, Mass.; Home and School Visitor, Greenfield, Ind.. 75c per year.

4. Literature filled with exciting, untrue and misleading stories is just now the most vicious printed. It attracts the curiosity of the child, heats his imagination with false suggestions, and so vitiates his taste that it is difficult afterward to eradicate the evil appetite formed. It is far easier to plant good tastes than to eradicate evil ones.

5. Five American poets, with an important production of each, are: Wm. Cullen Bryant, "Thanatopsis," and the translation of Homer's Iliad; Henry W. Longfellow, "Evangeline," and a translation of Dante's Divine Comedy; Edgar A. Poe, "The Raven," "The Bells," etc.; John G. Whittier, "Snow Bound,” “The Tent on the Beach,” etc.; James Russell Lowell, "The Vision of Sir Launfal"; J. G. Holland, Bitter-Sweet," Kathrina "; Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Deacon's Masterpiece," "Homesick in Heaven," (both short). ARITHMETIC.-1. of; 3 of 5%=34;

8

of what No.?

of the No. of 14 or 3; 34, or the No. 24X3, or 38, Ans.