tions." This direction was fruitless, because it was disregarded by those entrusted with its carrying out.

In 1683 Enoch Flowers opened a pay school, on a plan as to terms of tuition, etc., similar to what are now known as "private schools." This was, we believe, the first.

In 1689 the Society of Friends established what they called a "public school," but it was really a "pay school," with a provision for the education of the "children of the poor" without charge; in 1697 this school was incorporated, and in 1701 Penn confirmed the charter, which distinctly declared that it was "founded at the request, costs and charges of the people called Quakers." This old-time school still exists in a vigorous and useful old age.

In 1711, or soon after, a board was organized under the title of overseers of the public schools," and they built two school houses on Fourth street near Chestnut, which stood. until quite a recent date.

We gave, in the June MONTHLY, a brief mention (with an engraving of the old building used) of the " Academy" established by Dr. Franklin and others in 1749-50, which proved the germ of the great University of Pennsylvania. This was a most useful institution, and for some years enjoyed a satisfactory success as a sort of high school, then grew into a college, and then developed into our grand University.

66

The first Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, adopted September 28th, 1776, in its forty-fourth section, provided: "A school shall be established in each county by the Legislature, for the convenient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid by the public, as may enable them to instruct youth at low prices." This was the first definite effort at a school system, but it failed; then the Constitution of 1790, in its seventh section, directed: "The Legislature shall, as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the state, in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis." The word "poor" killed this provision, or rendered it inoperative. In 1809, April 10th, the Legislature made another essay in the same direction, with the same offensive reference to the "poor," and with the same result-failure; then a special provision was made for Philadelphia with a modification of the "charity" aspect, and this partially succeeded. A society was soon afterwards organized for the "Promotion of Public Economy," with Roberts Vaux as its President, and this society set about devising a system which should be free entirely from the idea of poverty and alms in its provision for free education, and the result of the intelligent, wise efforts of this society was an act passed March 3d, 1818, which President M. Hall Stanton, of the present Board of Education, considers the foundation upon which the present system rests, and doubtless he is right, though the superstructure has been modified, reconstructed, enlarged, and improved, from time to time, until it but slightly resembles that of 1818. The serious defect of the system as then inaugurated was that it applied only to this city, leaving the rest of the State under the "class" laws of earlier date, and thus it failed in a measure to remove or annul the prejudices of many citizens against "free schools;" though the law clearly ignored "class" distinctions, they were still felt, and just in proportion to this feeling did the "free schools" fail

to attain the noble purpose of Mr. Vaux and his c-¡bla thropists. At last, in 1834, the "Common School Las the State was enacted, and a new era of prosperity mi great success dawned upon the cause of popular educatur; this law was modified and essentially improved in Common School Law of 1836," and the only in rant change since was the introduction, in 1854, of the Supr intendent" feature. Thus the entire State has n-w excellent system, under the able guidance of J. P. WA ↑ sham as "State Superintendent," with a carefully chea "County Superintendent" in each county.

But we have now to do only with the schools of the Cr of Philadelphia, and must dismiss those outside whe general remark that they are excellent and essent illy like those of the city.

For the government of our city schools there is a Bari of Public Education of the First School District of Fe.net'vania," with a local "Board of School Directors" fac of the thirty-one Sections into which the District is ev The former is composed of Controllers, one for each secta, te selected by the Courts of Common Pleas; this Bar, haa general supervision and control of the working of the sisez in the city, as a whole. The sectional Boards are con esed of Directors elected by the people, except that the Corr of the Section is an ex-officio member. Experience showed the necessity for a division and grading of the schools; in 1836 Primary Schools were formed, in 1838 the High School for boys was established, in 1840 the Hand Normal School for girls was commenced, and thus, sep step, the system was matured which Mr. Stanton a describes as “harmonious and thoroughly progressive," mi he calls attention to the fact that "New York, Boston, at 1 the other leading cities of the nation have adopteu esset ia"y the same grades" first introduced by Philadelphia

The "Central High School" occupies a wed brick building at the southeast corner of Broad and Gr streets; the building is large, but Mr. Stanton says it is large enough for the present requirements of the sche went into operation in 1838, with four professors and six 1three pupils; at the close of 1875 there were fifteen pri fests and two "adjuncts," with 601 pupils.

The "Normal School" has just been removed to the large new edifice erected for it at the northeast corner of Spring Garden and Seventeenth streets. This school mis projected, and we believe commenced, in 1840; we are 1-2 advised what was the number of pupils or of instrators at that time, but, at the close of 1875, the report shows tinteen professors (all ladies except the principali, with 055 728 The report of President Stanton for 1875 conturas De following interesting comparative table:

Glances at the Exhibition-Farewell.-In this department we have in previous numbers of the MONTHLY given sketches of nearly every locality and special feature of the great Centennial Exhibition now closing. We purpose stepping out of the show by way of Agricultural Hall, casting a few lingering glances at the delicious apples from Michigan, and such other evolutions and implements of the soil as the farmers were able to grow and make and bring together. As was expected, the autumn has proven the triumphant season for the "Centennial." The rich cool days, with their bracing air and golden haze, have all been as crowns of glory to this democratic coronation of the first century of American Independence. During the last days of October and the first days of November, there were no signs of abating interest. All the buildings were thronged each day with eager visitors, as though it were the opening day. After the first frosts the Centennial Grounds looked a little ragged and bare, the brilliant flower-beds gave place, first to faded foliage and frozen buds, then to the plain cold earth, unadorned except by its own native breath and virtue.

Salaries of Teachers.

$34.324 50 11,088 00

Building.

$50,000 160,000

$100,000

50,000

old...

25,000

16,333

$10,000 20,000 5,000

Section....

153,000

74,624

11,000

100,500

42,900

9,500

Third

43,666

60,000

39.928 23 38,743 25 35,374 50 30,041 75 28.920 00 18,724 00 32,982 50

Eighth

85,000

65,000

4,850

6,000

Tenth

18,236 50 17,063 50 28,767 50 25,046 50 23,873 00

Thirteenth

84,000

89,500

9,300

Twenty-seventh

Twenty-eighth

23,928 23 34,194 75

Twenty-ninth

$3,805,700 $1,910,738 $287,600

22,947 50 40,959 00 45,037 25 26,810 50 24,032 50 43,237 50 62,231 50 44.351 50 26,866 46 36,132 24 40.552 42 45,668 63

49.706 96

53,487 12 27,644 00

One of the striking facts apparent from the last table is still more evident when we take up the full report of the Board of Education, viz., that our school controllers have yet to learn not to discriminate on account of sex in the matter of salaries-for example, let us cite:

Central High School, 17 male instructors, $34,324,50. Normal School, I male and 12 female instructors, $11, 088.00.

The janitor of the High School receives $960 per annum, the accomplished lady and able instructress, Vice-Principal Barnes, $1000, and the other teachers at the Normal School, after devoting years to study and acquiring learning with aptness to teach receive each but $735. Comment is needless, even if we had space to spare for it--but we must say that there is no more censurable feature in our Philadelphia Public Schools than the discrimination against the female teachers, few if any of whom receive salaries commensurate with their abilities and attainments.

Before this December number reaches the reader, the Centennial Exhibition proper will have closed, and descriptions of the hand-shaking and speech-making will have been read in all the newspapers of the country. It will have been fully decided as to which buildings are to depart, and which are to remain, what future uses are to be made of them, and the arrangements for continuing as a permanent exhibition as much as possible of the Cententennial show will all have been completed, and the rearrangement of goods will be fully under way. The patriotic visitors will have gone home to vote, and Philadelphia will again be left to work out its own destiny, in fair competition with the other great cities of the country.

From the west end of Horticultural Hall, which we simply glided through in the November number, you pass to Agricultural Hall by a broad, finely terraced and graveled walk, going through what used to be a broad swampy sort of valley, and in a few seconds you are at the south entrance of the Farmers' building. Looked at from George's Hill, or from the inside of the building, Agricultural Hall strikes one as some grand, new farmers' palace, barn, barnyard, and wine house combined. We never went through it without saying to ourselves," What a terrible insult is this to the temperance men and women of the country!" but of course it had to be So. As long as the human throat craves liquid razors inside as well as steel ones outside, there will be displays of whisky, tobacco and champagne, as well as of cutlery and shavingbrushes. The cider-press preceded the printing-press, and will probably succeed it, and is quite likely, every now and then, saying of its at present more honored neighbor, as Bowen said of Beecher, "I was here when he came, and I expect to be here after he has gone." We speak of the apple and its processes first, because it was not only the first thing

that stuck, in a tickling sort of way, in the throat of our naked progenitors, but because in fact it, with other fruit, is today the heart of agriculture, though called by other French and Latin names; and because, to our thinking, whether the race was lost by it or not, the race will probably be saved by it more than by any known machinery, dry goods, or drugs whatever. In other words, fruit, which is simply the condensation of the finest sunlight and air and earth and nutriment known, will eventually be the great redeeming influ ence of the world. We do not commend it in the shape of hard cider; but as to a glass of champagne the reader must be the judge. The Michigan fruits were decidedly the best. The air of Michigan is cold and clear and crisp enough, the light and heat sufficient, and the soil closely enough knit, and yet rich enough, to grow the perfection of fruit. The New England fruits are harder and knotty, but the sap is clear and good. This is simply a glimpse at the heart and soul of Agricultural Hall.

The best way to see the building was to follow our old rule, on entering by the south door to keep to the right and proceed in this course to the end. The last visit we made to the Exhibition, a few days before its close, people seemed wilder than ever in their mad race up and down, back and forth, covering the same spots ten times in one hour, a criminal waste of energy and money and time. Glancing to the right, from the entrance named, the eye met, in the English departmiennt, some curious and interesting inventions in the way of new bee-hives, with sliding doors, little glass windows and glass frames in which were thermometers indicating the temperature of the house in which the little busy bee was expected to improve its shining hours from day to day-the air breathed having a good deal to do with the bee's work as with a man's. In the same quarter of the building there were interesting exhibits of great varieties of wool; some very valuable exhibits of cocoons, and cases of raw silk showing it in the different stages it passed through, after getting out of the caterpillar's skin before it gets over the shoulders of our sisters and female cousins. Near the southeast corner of the building, in the exhibit of Liberia, a native negro of good native wit was pretty positively telling the visitors that Der warnt no coffee like dat ar anywhere, no how," and it certainly smelled good, as coffee goes.

In the American and Canadian departments particularly, there were any quantity of ingenious inventions for the saving of labor in general farm-work, among which the newest harvesters, reapers, mowers, sowing machines, attracted a good deal of curiosity. A self-acting gate invented by a Canada man seemed to take the eyes of the old farmers, particularly those, one might imagine, who were in the habit of staying out late at night. On driving or riding up to this instead of "stepping down or out," you simply stretch out your hand, give a gentle pull on a string or strip of wood, which is attached to a large bar of wood, which again is attached to the gate, and the gate rises like the ghost of a gate and slides back till you get through, when it slides into place again and your feet have not touched the ground. The most of a genius we saw in Agricultural Hall was a little man, from Canada, if we recollect, with a potatoparing machine. It was something to make the hearts of

the old dames and young dames glad. It was only aecessery to stick the potato on a sort of fork, and turn a little craza and the potato had the skin taken off him before he fe knife, and then, with a bucket of water under the macs 2, the work might all be so clean and the blackening of negin saved.

The mammoth grapevine from Santa Barbara, Califo was a great centre of attraction. The romance of its h was probably merely romance, but a grapevine that has grown to the dimensions of a good size apple-tree, rom 18 to 22 inches diameter in its trunk, deserves the we special sort of mention that any baby grown to a goa obtains at the hands of men. The rubber trees, and re rubber in sheets and in the pure form of sap and gum, and the processes of getting the sap from the plant and maling ↑ into rubber goods, all attracted a good deal of interest

Agricultural Hall did not attract much attention du; the earlier stages of the Exhibition, but for two months pe vious to the close it had its full share of visitors, and 2 exhibits commanded a fair measure of admiration. Irod Webster's plow, and the eagle, "old Abe," were amurg la old curiosities of the Hall. "Old Abe" was the pet of Co pany C, of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, and was 'me by the company through many engagements in the late w In the exhibit of the Argentine Republic there were Lt three hundred varieties of skins and hides. The fish-t5 (+ were well looked at. Little Delaware sent two noblest tree trunks in the Exhibition, looking large e to absorb almost all the soil of the State. The exhibit Messrs. Landreth & Co. attracted much attention, as weliz the numerous varieties of grass and wheat displayed as fe the taste manifested in the arrangement of the exˆˆâ The Rumford bread-making process was well looked the s and many good housekeepers were tasting and taking le in the new and easy way, and the Rumford Yeast P But the liquor exhibits w rebe got itself well advertised. most expensively gotten up, and there was cons'e appreciated imbibing done during the show.

The State Buildings.-The best way to get vet d Agricultural Hall, keeping to the right for the State Bu ings, was by the southwest corner; a few steps, rad he elegant building erected by the State of Ohio first re di of them all. Next came Indiana, Illinois, Wise osin, ↑ eye. It was one of the most substantial and goɔ *** necticut, Massachusetts, and the rest. They were pleasant visiting-places for the pilgrims of the rese States, who wanted to meet their home friends in • corner that reminded them of home. The Karss Colorado Buildings had special features of interest ve,10 many of the native fruits, trees, plants, shells, bad, ev these States were on exhibition in said buildings; but the was enough to see without this, apd it only served to ¡'sthe natives who made the arrangement.

Note.-Women's Day. It seemed a l'e perhaps resentful, that the women should have chosen N vember 7th, election day, as their special day. Asi they meant to say, "Well gentlemen, if we can't s can have a grand good time on that day, in utter d. 29, 18 of your male suffrage then."