558 One species of Fraud exposed. their influence in the formation of the character of the young, whenever the latter are submitted to that influence, is much greater than is usually supposed. Even their influence on the juvenile intellect is important and lasting; but the impress they make upon the physical and moral character and habits is, if possible, a thousand times more so. Let the subject be no longer passed over as it has hitherto been. Let it be taken up as a matter of practical christian philanthropy. Let the questions how character is formed and how it should be formed, be taken up and examined in the love of God and of our fellow men, and if they are so, the results cannot possibly be otherwise than happy. 3 'MANAGEMENT.' MANY of the wrongs which are inflicted on mankind, and which, in other worlds, perhaps, go by the name of fraud, are softened down, on our own planet, by the application of a milder term- management.' This, though it may convey the idea of wrong, is not usually allowed to include that of fraud. Management is to fraud only what the conduct of the pseudo Quaker was to that dignified course for which his more upright brethren have usually been distinguished; who said to his neighbor of the 'world' I cannot allow myself to take away a hair of thy hen dishonestly, but if I can I will outwit thee!' We were led to this remark by reflecting on a course licity, which, to say the least, is unwarrant believe, is unjust. We do not, of course always criminal intention on the part are only conforming to what is to Examples of Fraud. of ats, ing ch may be wespondents, of informa where all books to inquirers-and d other approved tions which should have accompanied them. t. a way as to make them speak a language entr what was originally intended. If any thing ca agement as this, it is not its commonness the garbling is usually done by clerks or ass haste or in ignorance. How far this lessens who employ them and trust to their discretion ers to decide. It may however, afford some decision to know that they are seldom with any tokens of the employer's disapprobate on the subject. Were the cases to which we refer of we might possibly pass them over in swell as in foreign the sufferers, we might, perhaps, have th than seem severe on any individual or it is not so. The wrong-if it hea me -is one which is often repeated,ement, that the measbooks and works on education. Tuld do immense good ing, pleasure seeking community, hat it may do immense sale; and therefore, it is, perhaps the public mind is awamake extraordinary efforts to rect, or because splendid A book for parents and teaches ed by some of those who are e highly recommended by Mr Gr pal of the American Asylum facts were not so. Mr G. he had of the author, he pear, would be one which In another instance pondent of a Boston a disclaimer, was leave the imp pression n making agnificent measures prowhole be promoted. Much y to accomplish its objects. ho has the wisdom-we do sary in directing such a work ols in a proper manner, and if truly benevolent as well as wise, contains more than one who poss prospects are doubled, and more atain among its individuals not one fail of its objects. mes in connection with the American either as its acting officers, or as honthe names of men who are foremost use, and the fhought, with be foremost in We hope it officers of such es-should know chools, as they acent that they have one of their numin a particular sechat he has run over chools in every State 560 Efforts for Common Schools. No individual has a right to regard as our sentiments, what we expressly state, in the Annals, to be the sentiments of another, even if we do not state in decisive terms, our own disapprobation. We do not endorse the sentiments of a correspondent, if we give his name or situation. Above all, no one has the right to do this-morally or legally-where we have expressly and obviously entered our 'disclaimer.' And could we know at any time, that such a measure was pursued with a consciousness of the wrong, even though the trick were softened down by custom, in the public mind, to management,' we should not hold him who did it guiltless; and if we refrained from seeking legal redress, it would not be for fear of any misapprehension in our own minds of the nature, illegality and criminality of the act This article was written, thus far, nearly a year ago; and we had sometimes resolved, or nearly resolved not to publish it— not but that the sentiments are just, but because we feared their expression would do no good. But so many facts are perpetually coming to our knowledge on this subject, that we feel compelled to speak out; not without a due regard to consequences, but because we have full faith that if any effect is produced at all, it must be salutary. AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOL SOCIETY. AN Association has been formed in the city of New York, to be called The American Common School Society; whose avowed object is the extension and improvement of education in primary schools in the United States. This society has been got up, we understand, and organized chiefly by the exertions of Mr J. Orville Taylor; who is its Secretary. The following is an extract from the prospectus of the Society, as published in the New York Observer. The Society proposes to devote its energies to the improvement and extension of primary schools, throughout the United States; and in thus adopting, for its exertion, a field commensurate with our whole country, it will keep itself aloof from all sectional and minor influences that would circumscribe its usefulness. A cheap monthly newspaper will be published, which will contain the laws of the different States, providing for the support and regulation of schools; reports of successful schools and sys Officers of a Common School Society. 561 tems of instruction in the United States, and also in foreign countries; drawings of model school houses; communications of literary men on kindred subjects; and earnest appeals to parents, teachers, pupils and school inspectors, to co-operate in elevating the standard of common school education. To offer premiums for good school books, which may be printed and sold by agents of the Society. 'To communicate with auxiliary societies and correspondents, for the collection of facts, and for the distribution of information; and to arouse attention by public lectures on the subject. To open an office in the city of New York, where all books and information relative to schools, in this as well as in foreign countries, may be collected, and be accessible to inquirers-and where all the publications of the Society, and other approved books on education may be purchased.' Now while we cannot doubt, for one moment, that the measures which such a Society might adopt, would do immense good in our country, yet we are also aware that it may do immense evil. It does not follow that because the public mind is awakened and excited on an important subject, or because splendid associations have been formed, and magnificent measures proposed, the cause of good will on the whole be promoted. Much depends on the ability of the Society to accomplish its objects. If it contain within it but one man who has the wisdom-we do not say knowledge-which is necessary in directing such a work as that of elevating common schools in a proper manner, and if that individual happens to be truly benevolent as well as wise, something may be done. If it contains more than one who possesses the same spirit, then its prospects are doubled, and more than doubled. But if it contain among its individuals not one such individual, then will it fail of its objects. We see many worthy names in connection with the American Common School Society, either as its acting officers, or as honorary members. They are the names of men who are foremost in almost every other good cause, and the first thought, with many, may be that they will be foremost in this. We hope it will prove so. We think, however, that, as a general rule, the officers of such a society-those, we mean, who are its actuaries-should know something of the real character of Common Schools, as they actually exist in this country. It is not sufficient that they have read what is said about them, or that some one of their number has visited here and there one of them in a particular section of the country, or town or city; or that he has run over the United States and stepped into a few schools in every State 560 Efforts for Common Schools. No individual has a right to regard as our sentiments, what we expressly state, in the Annals, to be the sentiments of another, even if we do not state in decisive terms, our own disapprobation. We do not endorse the sentiments of a correspondent, if we give his name or situation. Above all, no one has the right to do this-morally or legally-where we have expressly and obviously entered our disclaimer.' And could we know at any time, that such a measure was pursued with a consciousness of the wrong, even though the trick were softened down by custom, in the public mind, to management,' we should not hold him who did it guiltless; and if we refrained from seeking legal redress, it would not be for fear of any misapprehension in our own minds of the nature, illegality and criminality of the act. 6 This article was written, thus far, nearly a year ago; and we had sometimes resolved, or nearly resolved not to publish itnot but that the sentiments are just, but because we feared their expression would do no good. But so many facts are perpetually coming to our knowledge on this subject, that we feel compelled to speak out; not without a due regard to consequences, but because we have full faith that if any effect is produced at all, it must be salutary. ! AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOL SOCIETY. AN Association has been formed in the city of New York, to be called The American Common School Society; whose avowed object is the extension and improvement of education in primary schools in the United States. This society has been got up, we understand, and organized chiefly by the exertions of Mr J. Orville Taylor; who is its Secretary. The following is an extract from the prospectus of the Society, as published in the New York Observer. The Society proposes to devote its encrgies to the improvement and extension of primary schools, throughout the United States; and in thus adopting, for its exertion, a field commensurate with our whole country, it will keep itself aloof from all sectional and minor influences that would circumscribe its usefulness. 'A cheap monthly newspaper will be published, which will contain the laws of the different States, providing for the support and regulation of schools; reports of successful schools and sys |