nevolence; "undeadliness," for immortality; "untellable," for ineffable; "great-doingly," for magnificently; "sourdough," for leaven; "uncunningness," for ignorance; “eyebite," for fascinate; "ungripe," for embrace; "ear-shrift," for auricular confession; "dipper," for Baptist, etc.

CHICAGO. We would express our thanks to William H. Wells, Esq., superintendent of schools in this city, for a copy of his Annual Report. It is, as we might expect, a highly sensible and valuable document, full of sound advice and wise suggestions. We take the following timely and truthful words from this report:

LESSONS OF OBEDIENCE.

Society is so constituted, that the influence of government must every where be felt. A cheerful and hearty submission to rightful authority, is perfectly consistent with the freest and fullest development of a manly, independent spirit. It is impossible for any nation to maintain an existence, if the people have not learned this first great lesson of life; least of all can a free republic like ours continue, if the people have learned to govern, but not to obey. It becomes, then, an important inquiry, when and where shall this lesson of obedience be acquired. If delayed to adult years, there is no reason to expect it will ever be learned. It must be in the period of childhood and youth; it must be either in the family or in the school. But it is painfully manifest, that a large portion of the children of this and every community, never learn to yield to authority at home, unless it be against their wills. In the public schools, all must be brought to the same standard. A spirit of implicit obedience must be secured, before any thing else can be attempted; not stolid, unreasoning, servile obedience, which crushes all manliness and self-respect out of the soul, but that intelligent, kindly obedience, which recognizes the true relation between parent and child, teacher and pupil, and bows cheerfully and from choice to the decision of another whose character and position render it incumbent upon him to direct.

Here it is, in the public schools, that all the pupils learn a lesson which many of them would never learn elsewhere; a lesson which is essential to the perpetuity of our free government. This, if I mistake not, is the most important bond of connection between our free school system and the state, and in this alone is found a sufficient argument for the support of free schools at the expense of the state.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL.

SCHOOL CELEBRATION AT WALLINGFORD.

The 12th of March was a very interesting day for the schools of this place. Moses Y. Beach, Esq., former editor and publisher of the New York Sun, but now a resident of Wallingford, has for two years authorized the school visitors of the town to expend five or six hundred dollars annually, in prizes and in other ways to improve the common schools. The Board of Visitors have appropriated a part of this money among the schools, in such a way as to make it an incentive to regular and punctual attendance, by giving a certain sum each week to all the pupils who were not tardy or absent. The acting school visitor stated that this measure had served to produce a great change in the attendance, so that in some of the schools the whole amount of absence was very trifling. This is an important fact in its general application, as showing that there is no insuperable difficulty in securing regular and punctual attendance, if parents and teachers will be faithful in the use of proper means. A portion of the gift of Mr. Beach has been appropriated for prizes in spelling, and Wednesday, the 12th of March, was the day appointed for the trial, to determine to whom the several prizes should be awarded. The children began to assemble from the different schools before twelve o'clock. At halfpast twelve a procession, composed of the twelve schools of the town and their teachers, the school visitors and others, was formed under Sheriff Parmelee as marshal of the day. After marching through a portion of the principal street and past the residence of Mr. Beach, who was enthusiastically cheered, the procession entered a large hall which was soon literally crammed with children, parents, and citizens. After a prayer by the president, Rev. E. R. Gilbert, and singing by the Musical Association, a statement of the plan of operations and the results was made by Rev. J. R. Adams, the acting school visitor, who also conducted examinations in reading, geography, and arithmetic. A brief address was then made by the superintendent of common schools. This was followed by the spelling exercise, in which nearly eighty children and youth participated. All entered the arena who chose, and were arranged into four classes; the first consisting of those under ten years of age; the second, of those between ten and twelve; the third, of those between twelve and fourteen; and the fourth, of those over fourteen.

The trial lesson consisted of the words found in Webster's Elementary Spelling-book. The words were pronounced by Horace Day, Esq., superintendent of schools of the city of New Haven, and the prizes

were awarded to the students who remained standing on the floor the longest in each division, each speller taking his seat when he missed a word. The exercise was continued for more than two hours without intermission before the successful competitor could be determined. The spelling was very good. It was evident before the contest closed that there were several in the upper class who could spell the words in the spelling-book without a mistake, and the exercise for the last part of the time seemed to be simply a test of the power of physical endurance. The prizes were as follows:

1st, Irving's Washington; 2d, Webster's Unabridged Dictionary; 3d, Shakspeare's Works; 4th, Brande's Cyclopedia.

After the distribution of prizes to the successful competitors, some ten or twelve baskets of books were brought on the stage and a volume given to every child in the schools, as a direct gift of Mr. Beach.

Could the donor have enjoyed the privilege we had of looking into the happy faces of the five hundred children, he would have felt well re-paid for the gifts he has so generously bestowed. The prizes offered and the interest and efforts of school visitors and teachers have accomplished much in improvement in oral spelling and in some other things. We believe, however, it is doubtful whether the plan can be much longer continued with benefit. There is certainly a possibility that emulation may be carried so far as to be injurious. There are also other things which should not be neglected in the education of the children in these schools.

The interest which has been awakened in the common schools of Wallingford if kept alive and directed in the proper channels, may result in great and permanent good to the schools. We know the school visitors are untiring in their efforts, and we believe that Mr. Beach will be glad to exercise his ability in a way which will give permanent advantages of higher education to those fitted to receive them, and thus build up the most enduring of monuments in the hearts of grateful scholars.-c.

Bridgeport.-No city or town in the state has, within the last few years, more thoroughly changed the whole aspect and condition of its common schools than Bridgeport. Nearly every district has erected a new school-house or entirely re-modeled and re-furnished the old one, and it is now the only city in the state which has abundant room for all the children who seek a place in the common schools. The schools of the city and town have met with a great loss in the death of Dr. F. T. Judson, so long the acting school visitor and able and

earnest advocate of improvements in common schools. A recent visit to the schools in the Centre, Golden Hill, and Shelton Union Districts, gratified us by the exhibition of the results of careful training and successful teaching in the classes which recited during our visit.—c.

BRIDGEWATER.— -Our first visit in this place was to a select school taught by Miss Anna A. Carter, assisted by Misses E. and H. Curtiss. We found a fine working school, with good classes that had evidently been thoroughly drilled. We called at a primary school in the Centre District, where we heard some good reading by a class of eight; but we visited one school that for disorder, want of attention, and bad lessons, surpassed any thing we have seen in the state for some years.—c.

NEW MILFORD.-The school visitors of this place have very wisely adopted new reading-books, which have been generally introduced, This measure with others has contributed to the improvements of the schools.

The Centre District has a graded school pleasantly located, and taught by efficient teachers. We were much pleased with two reading

classes here.-c.

STONINGTON.-A brief visit to the fine schools in this borough satisfied us that in some respects there had been marked improvements. But this place has by no means realized yet what may be expected when its men of wealth and influence unitedly give their hands and hearts to the common school work as has been done in Norwich, New London, and other places in this county. This is the largest district in New London County out of New London and Norwich, and there is but one as large in New London, and it might have a system of schools as good as is found in any of these places.—c.

MIDDLETOWN.-We recently visited the schools kept in the north part of the city in rooms connected with the Roman Catholic Church, and taught by A. A. Codey, Esq., and the Misses The rooms were very neat, the pupils quiet and studious, and the schools appeared well.-c.

WILLIMANTIC, East District.-We have not seen this school appear so well in a long time, as it did at a visit made to it a few weeks since. The principal draw-back to the pleasure of our visit, was the fifteen tardy scholars who entered during the first recitation in the morning.-c.

CORRECTION.-In our February number, page 51, near the bottom it is said that the dividends from the School Fund had increased from 85 cts., per child enumerated, to $1.25. It should have been from 85 cts. to $1.50

While they were evidence of being We have never

NEW LONDON.-It was our pleasure and privilege to spend nearly a day in the schools of this city early in March. We made brief calls at the Grammar Schools of Messrs. Marsh, White, Fuller, Wilcox and Starr, each school of three or more grades. With the general appearance of these schools we were highly pleased. not all equally excellent they certainly all afforded under the charge of competent and earnest teachers. seen the schools of this city in so pleasant a condition. the discipline appeared to be good and secured by mild measures. We were glad to meet the school of Mr. White in the very pleasant and commodious building provided since our previous visit.

In all cases

We passed nearly an hour in the Young Ladies' High School of which Mrs Wyman has been, for several years, the principal. The impressions we received of this school were exceedingly pleasant and favorable. The perfectly free and ladylike bearing of the pupils was highly commendable to them. We listened to some original essays which would do no discredit to seniors in college. A poem by Miss Starr possessed rare merit. Our New London friends have reason to feel a degree of pride in this school.

The Bartlett High School for young gentlemen has long been under the care of Mr. Jennings. We have never seen it in a better condi- . tion, a very pleasant relation existing between pupils and teachers. We listened to the recitation of a class about to enter college. It was conducted with "spirit and understanding" too.

We congratulate our New London friends on the prosperous condition of their schools and trust they will continue cheerfully and liberally to provide for their support.

At a future day we hope to visit all the primary and intermediate departments for we really regard these as, in many respects, the most important. Their faithful and devoted, though ofter poorly compensated teachers, deserve more encouragement than is sometimes afforded them.

Our special thanks are due to Hon. Henry P. Haven, one of the School Visitors, for kind attentions in our visits to the schools. For many years he has given encouragement in various ways to the good cause of popular education in the city and elsewhere.

GROTON. At the "Bank" we found a school of two departments of which Mr. Avery was principal. The teachers were evidently faithful and efficient but it is a disgrace for a village of so much wealth to allow their schools to be kept in a building so entirely unfit for use. We shall be greatly surprised if the most excellent and worthy Acting