dow-panes, have already attracted the child's attention. Flowers, pebbles, and shells, have enticed them into the fields and by the streams.

She should be well read in childish lore. Children are the richer in heart and none the poorer in head for having heard Mother Goose's jingling nonsense. And why may not the teacher tell them stories on long summer afternoons when the little heads nod wearily? when it rains and the tiny feet fear the wet earth? when recesses must be spent in-doors or else in puddles and mud? She may well know enough to assure them that her heart is young, and not too proud for simple play. Among our friends, who exercises the greatest influence, he who is exalted above our weaknesses and sympathy, or he who joins our harmless pleasures? Who may do most toward leading us onward and upward; he who lives in an atmosphere, mentally, morally, spiritually, entirely apart from us, or he who comes down on simplest common ground?

Children are eager to hear of great men and of their deeds; of the history of nations and people, of countries and governments. The mind of a child is active in its faculty of retaining, but incapable of abstract reasoning. Youth is the time to lay up stores of knowledge to be used in future years. Hence, it behooves the teacher of children to have an abundant supply of history and biography, and not only have on hand all this, but be continually adding to her store from the teeming libraries of her country.

Lastly, what should be the teacher's moral and religious character? Can pure waters flow from a polluted fountain? Hope not to obtain lessons of holiness from one whose inner ⚫ life is corrupt. Can a twig grow if broken from the parent stalk? Every man must lose his spiritual life who breaks loose from God. Will a stream flow whose fountain head is cut off? Pure Christianity can not exist in one who has no communication with its Great Source.

SUNSHINE.-BY DIO LEWIS, M. D.

(We trust the following words will do good. We believe they are words of truth,-timely written. We live too much in the shade. In too many dwellings the sunshine is excluded as though it were poisonous. This is all wrong. It is better to fade the carpet than the countenance.)-Res. Ed.

SECLUSION from sunshine is one of the misfortunes of our civilized life. The same cause which makes potato vines white and sickly when grown in dark cellars, operates to produce the pale sickly girls that are reared in our parlors. Expose either to the direct rays of the sun, and they begin to show color, health, and strength.

When in London, some years ago, I visited an establishment which had acquired a wide reputation for the cure of those maladies in which prostration and nervous derangements were prominent features. I found in the use made of sunshine the secret of success. The slate roof had been removed and a glass one substituted. The upper story had been divided into sixteen small rooms, each one provided with a lounge, washing apparatus, etc. The patient, on entering each his little apartment, removed all his clothing, and exposed himself to the direct rays of the sun. Lying on the lounge, and turning over from time to time, each and every part of the body was thus exposed to the life-giving Several London physicians candidly confessed to me that many cases which seemed waiting only for the shroud, were galvanized into life and health by this baptism in the blessed sunshine.

rays of the sun.

Many years ago a clergyman who had for years been a victim of dyspepsia, and who had prayed for death as the only door of escape, came at length, through the advice of a mutual friend, to consult with me. I advised the disuse of all medicines, the generous use of cracked wheat and good beef, and much exposure to sunshine. To secure the last mentioned influence, I directed him to build a close fence, covering a space twenty feet square, in his garden, and plant the earth within with something to occupy his mind.

Then when the weather was warm, shutting himself in, he was to busy himself quite nude with the cultivation of his vegetables from ten to sixty minutes a day, always indulging in a thorough bath and vigorous friction before leaving. He was radically cured!

I was practicing my profession in Buffalo, New York, during '49 and '51, those memorable cholera seasons. I saw at least five cases of cholera on the shady side of the street and houses to one on the sunny side. One eminent physician in New Orleans reports from his own practice eight cases of yellow fever on the shady side of the street to one on the sunny side.

Who has not read Florence Nightingale's observations in the Crimea as between the shady and sunny side of the hospitals? In St. Petersburg the shady side of the hospitals was so notoriously unfavorable to the sick soldier, that the Czar decreed it into disuse.

The shade-trees about our dwellings have done much to make our wives and daughters pale, feeble, and neuralgic. Trees ought never to stand near enough to our dwellings to cast a shade upon them; and if the blinds were removed, and nothing but a curtain within, with which to lessen, on the hottest days, the intensity of the heat, it would add greatly to the tone of our nerves and to our general vigor. The piazzas which project over the lower story, always make that less healthy than the upper story, especially for sleeping purposes. I am sure I have cured a great many cases of rheumatism by advising patients to leave bedrooms shaded by trees or piazzas and sleep in a room and bed which were constantly dried and purified by the direct rays of the sun.

OFFICE OF SUP'T OF COMMON SCHOOLS,

June 13th, 1862.

THE report of the Superintendent of Common Schools has been put up in packages and sent by the members of the General Assembly to the several towns in the State. Each package contains a number of the reports equal to the number of school visitors in a town as

printed in the Connecticut Register. If the reports are not received by the school visitors of any town, application should be made to the Representative from that town.

DAVID N. CAMP,

Superintendent of Common Schools.

MISCELLANY.

NEW HARTFORD.-We recently attended a very pleasant gathering of the parents, teachers and pupils in this place, and should infer from the interest manifested that the school interests of the place were not neglected. The Rev. Mr. Spencer is Acting Visitor, and we are confident he will do what he can for the elevation of the schools.

FARMINGTON. In the village we found a very interesting school under the care of Miss Barber. The general appearance of this school was very creditable to the teacher. At Unionville we found a school of two grades,—the higher under the charge of Mr. Bramblee, and the lower of Miss Rowley. We had time for only a brief call in the former, which appeared well. We are glad to learn that the people of this enterprising village are about to erect a new and commodious school-house.

TORRINGFORD.-We met a pleasant audience here; and were gratified in seeing several earnest school visitors and teachers. This place, including Burrville, has furnished many good teachers.

NORFOLK.-In this pleasant village the cause of education has many devoted friends, and were it not for the Academy, a good graded school would be considered indispensable. Mr. S. G. Mead, a graduate of the Normal School, is now principal of the Academy. He is a well educated and efficient teacher. Our special thanks are due to Rev. Dr. Eldredge, for kind attentions.

MORRIS.-This is a new town,-formerly a part of Litchfield. In school matters the people have manifested a degree of interest and zeal worthy of imitation. The school-houses are all in good condition, and every district has a library. On the afternoon of our visit the teachers, pupils and parents, from every district in town, assembled at the church, a very pleasant and interesting gathering. An hour or two was devoted to addresses on school matters, after which, all were invited to repair to the town hall,—a few rods distant. Here the good

people had arranged tables and loaded them with a great variety of viands, forming a very attractive appearance. The pupils of the schools were first supplied, and their deportment was exceedingly correct and worthy of special commendation. The entire arrangements of this pleasant "pic nic" were such as to reflect great credit upon the citizens of Morris, and we are confident they will feel amply compensated in the increased interest in school matters on the part of their children. Samuel A. Ensign, Esq., the Acting Visitor, has done much to infuse a true school spirit into the people of his native town. Having had much experience as a teacher, he is peculiarly fitted for the service of superintending the schools, and the town is fortunate indeed in being able to enjoy the benefits of his efforts. Our visit to this place will long be held in pleasant remembrance. In our excursion to all the places named we were accompanied by Gen. Williams, of Norwich, who is well known for his active interest in the schools of New London county. His words of wholesome advice in the several places named will, we are persuaded, be long remembered for good.

GEORGE PEABODY.-We feel confident that our readers will thank us for the notice we have given of this distinguished benefactor. His name should be repeated in every school room, and his munificence made known to every pupil in our schools. Aside from the numerous acts of beneficence which tend so much to honor the name of George Peabody, it should not be forgotten that he has done much toward the promotion of kindly and fraternal feeling between this and the mother country, a feeling far more extensive and strong than many are willing to admit.

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The likeness which embellishes this number is a truthful one,

taken within five or six years. We feel that it is an engraving of more than ordinary merit, and reflects much credit on the skill of the artist, J. C. Buttre, Esq., of New York, to whom we cheerfully commend any who may be desirous of procuring similar work.

SCHOOL HARMONIUM.-We would call the special attention of our readers to the advertisement of Messrs. Mason & Hamlin. The Harmonium manufactured by them is an excellent instrument, and admirably adapted to the wants of our schools and churches. We believe it will be found preferable to the Melodeon, both for schools and families. The instrument is well made, neat in appearance, compact in form, and of much power. We commend it to the attention of those in want of such an instrument.

NORMAL SCHOOL.-The 13th anniversary of this institution will occur on Wednesday, July 23d. The public examinations will be