OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15033, 5 January 1911, Page 5

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

(Conducted by Magisteb, to whom all communications must be addressed.)

[Maoister -will be glad to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational Rrticles, diagrams, details of experiments, *tc, of scholastic interest to teachers and pupils. Correspondents must use only one side of the paper, and whether using a pen Mime or not, must send both name and address,] SOME OF A. AND C. BLACK'S NEWBOOKS. Some time ago I drew attention to this firm's scries "Peeps at Many Lands," and I am glad to know that many teachers aro now giving the books in this series as prizes, and are adding eomo to their school libraries. The latest out is " Russia," with !5 coloured) illustrations. But I wish to refer to-day to three or four series which camo under my notice too late to refer to before tho schools broke up, but as there aro many country teachers in town I'll mention them now. Readers will remember my drawing attention to the admirable " Golden River" series, published my the Nelsons, and including in a simplified rendering such classics as "Gulliver in Lilliput," " Nell and Her Grandfather," " Tom and Maggie Tulliver," etc., the reading of which by children from eight to ten or twelve would prepare them for tho classics they aro culled from. A. and C. Black, with the assistance of S. R. Crockett, the well known novelist, have wonted out tho same idea, but have eonfined the assimilation to eight of Scott's stories under the general heading of "Red Cap Tales Slolen from The Treasure Chest

of The "Wizard of the North, which Theft is humbly acknowledged by S. R. Crockett." And what other author could be chosen to do the work so well? We are sometimes impatient because boys and girls do not read our classical stories of any length. Ono of our teachers tried to get through "Ivanhoo" during the past year, but did not quite finish the book, though he made extensive cuts; but he got the children to enjoy the story, and ho thinks that the way the novel was treated will cause many of his pupils to do more sustained reading in the future as a. result. Crockett saw this difficulty, and has solved the problem for all who wish to introduce boys and girls to "Wnverloy," "Guy Mannering," " Rob Roy," " The Antiquary," "Ivanhoo," "The Fortunes of Nigel,' "Quentin Durward, 1 "Tho Pirate," and "A Legend of Montroso" (these two in one). They aro published at Is 6d, and are happily illustrated in colour.

Under the heading "The Why Four Children Would Not.Read Scott," he sa.ys:

" So I told them these stories—ami others —to lure them to the printed book, much as carrots aro dangled before tho nose of the reluctant donkey. They are four average intelligent children enough', but they hold severely modern, views upon story books. ' Waverley,' in especial, thoy could not away with. They found themselves stuck upon the very threshold. Now, since the first telling of these Red Cap Tales, tho Scott eheif in the library has been taken by storm and escalade. It is permanently gaptoothed all along the line. Also there are nightly skirmishes, even t<- the laying on of hands, as to who shall sleep with ' Waverley' under his pillow. It struck me that there must bo many oldsters in the world who, for the sake of their own youth, would like the various Sweethearts who now inhabit i heir nurseries to read Sir Walter with the same breathless eagerness as thoy used to do—how many years agone? It is chiefly for their snkes that I have added several interludes, telling how Sweetheart, Hugh John, Sir Toady Lion, and Maid Margaret received' my petty larcenies from tho full chest of the Wizard. At any rate, Red Cap succeeded in one cose—why should he r.ot in another? I claim no merit in the telling of the tniee, save that, like medicines well sugar-coated, tho patient mistook them for candies —and asked for more. The books are open. Anyone can tell Scott's stories over again in his own way. This is mine."-

Happily written, isn't it? By the bye, get " Sweetheart Travellers," by Crockett. It urrc to be 6s, but is now, I think, 3s 6d. I'll not say more about it at present. A 6econcl series is "Tales of English Minsters," which includes " Canterbury," "St. Paul's," "Ely," "Durham," "Lincoln," "St. Albans," and "York , —but why not Westminster?—published at Is each. The one I have by mo as I write is "East Minster, St. Paul's, the Church of tho Citizens," as distinguished from " Westminster " [St. Peter's], tho Church of the King and Government." It has eight full-page illustrations, is briglnly written, and is packed full of interesting matter. Why dees Canterbury, a comparatively unimportant city, contain tho '' Metropolitan Church " of England instead of the great city of London? Not became Augustine preached there. Road pages 8 and 9. Judging by the British Empire in Pictures," the "Pictures of Many Lands" series is admirably adapted to school use and as a prize book. '"The British Erapiro in Pictures" is prefaced by a map of the world on the liomalographic or equal area projection, with the British possessions in solid black. By using this projection instead of Mercator's, areas aro given their true values instead of having, say, Greenland, represented as large as Africa. This volume is about tho size of an ordinary school atlas, and every other page pictures some characteristic of the part of tho Empire described on the opposite page. Tho idea is a capital one, capitally worked out. Tho majority of tlio pictures are in colour, but good a's A. and C. Black' 6 colour work is, I think I prefer the plain photographic reproductions. Of the six pictures representing New Zealand, threo arc coloured—a "Maori in Native Costume," a "Fern Tree Forest," and "Mount Cook." Tho lirst is a Maori woman with the chin tattooing slrowing indistinctly, and the carving and the whare behind her aro not adequately represented. A good photograph would iha-ve been far more satisfactory, and if it were intended to show tho artistic work a Maori artist was capable of, a highly-tattooed chief of a past generation should have been shown. Good coloured work, however, makes a book morn attractive to the general eye, so I supposo that accuracy is sacrificed for general effect.

Another series completes my list. I have frequently recommended tho animal stories by Ernest Thomson-Seton, Roberts, and others, but until recently I had not noticed the " Animal Autobiographies" series issued by A. and C. Black. Thero are eight, in the series, all having cijrht full-paged coloured illustrations. Tho oneI have been perusing is " The Tiger," and, taking it ae an average sample, I can recommend the lot. One objection I have to most animal biographies or autobiographies, is the high price generally charged for thorn. The volumes of the "Animal Biographies" eovios nre now issued at 3s 6d, so my objection in this caso disappears. WHAT GAVE YOU THAT NAME? The following article will interest many. It is taken from the October issue of The Teachers' Aid. In most cases tho meanings ehow how interesting it is to look up roots and so make words live: -Most of us could, vk suppose, answer this query from a catechism point of view; but how many of us could if the question concerned the names of such well-known things as the buttercup, the crane's bill, the dandelion, or other common flower? or own die still bettor known horse, cow, or nss? Indeed, brief investigation as to the why awl-wherefore of the names of a few of our common animals and flowers provides interest and instruction, as w>ll as " food for reflection," not only to the scholar, but to the " child of larger growth " who teaches

This short article should form a useful lesson in derivation concerning euch. And first for a few very well known

Flowers. Anemono—that is "wind-flower" (Gr., aijomos, wind). Most of them like exposed and , windy situations.

Aster—is of cour.w tho Greek word for star. The rakon d'etre of the name is obvious.

Auricula, owes its name to the sha])c of its loaves. It is the name of a. kind of primrose sometimes called bear's ear (L. auris, an car). Bachelor's buttons are said to take their name from the fact that voung love-lorn bachelors wore them. If they faded— alas for tho love! Jicgcn-ias get their name fiom tne lolanist Bogon. Buttercups.—lt used to be thought that cows eating these little yellow cups ga-vc the best milk, and so yielded the best butter. As a anattor of fact, cows aro by no means partial to them. Camellia derives its name from Camelli, a German botanist who first brought it to Europe. Campanula—the " bell " flower; from tho Italian for boll.

Carnation.-This name is due to its "flesh" colour; from Lat. caro, carnis, flesh.

Crysanthommn.—Tliis well-known pretty bloom means "golden flower" (Gr., chrj'6o3, gold). Convolvulus means " rolling together "— so called on account of Uio way it closes up at night. Crane's Bill.—Sec geranium infra. Daffodil—a corruption of Asphodel© with an unnecessary "d"; asphodel being the Fronoh name. Dahlia—from Andrew Dalil, its Swedish botanist discoverer. Daisy—i.e., "day's eye." because it goes to eloap at sunset and "opens its eyo i' the morn." Damask rose—first brought to England from Damascus. Dandelion.—On account .of the tooth-like projections it bears, the. French called it "lion's tooth "—i.e., dent do. lion, which we have corrupted to its present name. Foxglove should really be " folks' '•' (fays or fairies) glove, from the fanciful idea that fairies used to play in its bells. Fuchsia—from Fuchs, who introduced it to notice. Geranium.—lts seed-vessels are shaped somewhat like the bill of a crane (goranos, a crane): hence geranium and crancsbillv Heliotrope.-This flower is said to always turn to the sun (Gr., helics, the sun; tropos, turning). Hyacinth.-Ilerc wo hark back to the Greek myths. _ Hyacinth was a youth who was slain out of jealousy, and from his blood carnu this flower. Ins in heathen mythology was the personification of the rainbow; hence the name of this prettily coloured flower. Lavender (L. lavare, to wash) was often put amongst newly washed clothes becaiiso of its sweet smell. Mignonette is the "little darling" flowor with tho sweet »--, ell (p r . m j gnon darling). Mint.—This name is said to bo derived from Mentlio, a girl transformed by Proserpina, her rival, into this plant. Narcissus.—Here again we come to Greek mythology. Hβ was a beautiful youth who fell in love with his own image, and pined away until changed into tho flower bearing .his name. Nasturtium signifies " twisted nose." One need only look at fcbo flower to see tho appositeness of tho term. Orchids are eo called on account of the curious little " bage " they possess (Gr., orchis, a bag). | ' Pansies.—A derivative of Fr. pensee, thought. The Shakespearian scholar will immediately think of Opheliapan6ies for thoughts. Passion , Flower.—This truly beautiful flower has an equally beautiful history, related to Christ's Passion. Its white represents purity; its blue, heaven; its leaf, the spear; the five anthers, the wounds-hands, feet, side; tho tendrils, tho whips and cord; the ovary column, the pillar of the Cross; the stamens, the hammers; the styles, the nails: tho fleshy thorns in the flower, the crown; the calyx, the halo cf glory. The flower itself should be examined in connection with its history for the story to bo fully appreciated. ■ Prunres;.— L., prima rosa, first rose of spring. Speedwell owes its name to the fact that when gathered its flowers frequently _ fall off and "fly" away. Spirea—from its coils a coil). Thyme.—This plant, by reason of ite fragrance, was burned on the Roman altars (L., thymus, sacrifice). Tiger lily needs no comment—notice its stripes. Tulip somewhat resembles a turban, headdress (Persian, thoulyban). Verbena—From L, verbena, a twig. Vietoria Begin, was k> named in honour of th© late Quosn Victoria, as it was introduced shortly after her accession. Wallflowers (the real ones) are very fond of ruins and old walls. Woodbine (honeysuckle) means "bender around wood." All will know how it twists round the shoots in the hedgerow. Some Common Animals. Ass (L., asimis; A.S. assa.) The word ; s similar in form in several lan.gHnses— e.g., Hebrew, athon, a slie-nss. Batlgar.—This animal was supposed to feed on corn; badger means "a dealer in corn."

Bsar.—Probably derived from L.' fera, a wild beast, through A.S. bora bv interchange of consonant (Grimm's Law). Buffalo.—From Gr. boubalos; cf. bos, bovis, ox, ami our derived word beef. Camel is from a very o'd word meairnff . carrier or bearer (Heb., pmal; L., ca-mnlus). Cat is found in almost identical form in many languages. The Angles hundreds of years ago called it catt. The Gaelic for oat is pus; henco piiss and pussy. Tabby is probably derived from Attabiya, a part of Bagdad. Hero a rich kind of wav.y silk used to be made,

and the fur of the Persian cat very much resembled tin's silk. Cow is said to come from an old rook <ru

to tallow, tiirough A.S. on (pi. cy, whence kinc). Dbff.—Doubtful, but probably from Middle English dogge. Donkey.—Some think it is from dun-ik-ie, a double diminutive of dun, from tr.e prevailing colour; others that it is a

corruption of Duncan, eomo longde.id notoriously sbunid individual. Dromedary.—Dromos, running; it is a swifi. species of camel (cf. hippodrome). Elephant.—Perhaps from Hob. eloph, an ox, on account of its size; perhaps from an old root meaning ivory. Fox.—An Anglo-Saxon ' word still in its

original form (Herman, fuohs]. Hippopotamus.—"River horse" (Gr., hippos, horse; potamos, river). Hiirse.—A.S. liors, probably, more roTfiotely, from a root meaning " to run " Leopard.—This animal wes supposed originally to bo a cross between a lion and

a. panther (ko, lion; pa.rdns. panther). Monkey is supposed to come from Italian monicchio, a little old woman. Mouse.—From an old Sanscrit word, mush Gor. imis.), to steal. Pig.—A.S., pecq—in Dutch big (p and t> having changed). Porcupine.—Spiny pig (L., percus—spina). Rat probably comes from a root moaning _ to f.cratch (Okl Sanscrit roda, a tooth). Rhinoceros, the "nose-horned" animal

((Jr., rhinos, nose; keras, horn). Sheep is of too doubtful origin to dilate upon. It is A.S. sceap, Ger. senaf. Sow.—From L.. sus, a pig; original root su, to produce. Tiger.—From a Persian word meaning 'in "arrow," in allusion, doubtless, to i!s swiftness. The River Tigris got its

name from ite swift current (L. Tigris) There are. ol course, many others of greater or less import which might be quoted, but the above will be ample io form tho basis of several interesting lessons in derivation and, incidentally, Nature knowledge. A TALK WITH BOYS.

Three or four weeks ago I drew attention to a book that I thought it advisable boys and girls, through their pn-rents, should become acquainted with, and shorlly aftervcrds I received a note from the secretary of the Eugenics Society thanking me for mentioning it. There are subjects tabooed fioni boys and girls, quite mistakingly, I think, but it is not advisable to discuss them in. newspapers. Nothing but good can result, however, if special lesions were

given by teachers or representatives of organisations suoli as the Eugenics Society, End I hope to see something done in the near future to make boys and girls acquainted with the physiology of life. The booksellers of IJunedin stock books dealing- with this subject, and among them are "A Talk With Boys" and "A Talk With Girls." Both are written by Edward Bruce Kirk, well-known author on " Papers on Health," the former having a preface by Canon the Hon. Edward Lyttelton, head master of Eton, and the latter, one by Lady Paget.

In tiw Book for boys there is a chapter on 'Fresh Air, Exercise, Diet, Cleanliness, Temperance," and from it 1 make the following quotations:—

."The first advice I would give a boy who desires to keep himself pure is—cultivate every possible means towards the production of good health.

:, It is in order to develop you in many ways, but mainly physically, that your masters at school insist on your attendance at games, gymnastics, etc., and if they do not so insist they are doing you a great injury, and you must make up [or their neglect by. resolving to shirk your play as little as your work. You cannot develop the mind to its full extent if you neglect the development of the body. You may have little taste for games, but persevere, tire victory will bo worth the light. "As Charles Kingslcy says: 'Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced lo work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred virtues which the idle will never know. , " Pure air is something you simply cannot do without, and you ought to take every care to breathe us much of it as possible. Sleep with your window wide o]>on at nil seasons. It is all nonsense about catching cold from draughts; fresh air, no matter how cold, hurts no one. ■".Cultivate the habit of filling your lur.^

to their utmost capacity; you can easily-try how much of the air-cells are left unfilled by faking a deep breath right down to tho bottom of tho lungs, holding the breath for a second and then seeing whether you can take another whiff in. You often can by lowering the diaphragm or floor of tho chest and breathing from the abdomen, as it is called. This is the easiest way of inspiring. Tho Japanese appreciate above all tilings the value of fresh air; night and day they keep their windows open and their rooms ventilated, and they do not fear draughts or damp air. Breathing exercises are an important part of their physical training-deep, careful breathing, whioh is only acquired by practice.—British Medical Journal.

" Go into your cricket and football with your whole heart, and you will 6eo how strong your body and mind will become, and , how easy it will be to 'do your school work. If you feel ' headachy ' and languid or aro ;i bad colour, you may be sure you are not attending to your health and, more likely than anything else, are not taking enough exercise, or are eating too much. "Even if you find a game a little uninteresting nt first, as you master its difficulties it will prove a source of considerable pleasure to you. , One of the greatest pleasures of life is that which follows a boundary hit for four or a well placed kick at goal. Among boys in the Higher forms, ambition to excel in lessons is getting keener, and unless they have acquired the habit of exercise and sport when younger, there is great danger.of the health suffering You will find that your mental power is increased tenfold by proper attention to fresh air nndi exercise. You should be tired out at bedtime and be asleep in a ,'fw minutes, for you go to bed to sleep, not to think or plan, or, still worse, to allow any tormenting passions to enter your mind. So also you should get up when you wake, and not lie ' soaking ' in bed. If you happen to bo at a good boarding-school you will find that there aro numberless rules like these which you will have to oboy. " Swimming is a fine exercise and a very useful accomplishment. Learn as soon as possible how to rescue those who are drowning. Do not stay in the water too long or your bath will do you harm rather than good.

" As your great aim should be to build up a strong and 'healthy frame, you should carefully attend to the food you eat, and the manner in which you eat it.

'It is surely a beneficent provision of the Great Creator that the best food is tho cheapest. The Highlander and Irishman when reared on oatmeal porridge, oatcake, potatoes and milk were the best developed ineji in the British Isles, and as soldiers were unsurpassed. "The Japanese, on a eiinplo and even sointy diet of rioe and beans, have not only proved great in war. but also in the arts of peace. The British Medical Journal says that the Japanese attribute their high average of physical strength to a plain and frugal diet, and tho system of gymnastics culled 'jiu-jitsu,' which includes a knowledge of anatomy and of the external and internal uses of water. ■ It is noteworthy that rheumatism is almost unknown in Japan; it is probable that the absence of meat from the diet, combined 1 with the usa of plenty of water, accounts for this immunity. Bathing is indulged in frequently, even by tho poorest. In the matter of diet they are frugal to a degree, vice being the staple food in every Japanese house, and appearing at every meal. Japanese troops have often made record marches on a diet consisting solely of a little rice.

" It has been said, ' Tell me what a man eats and I will tell you what he is,' and undoubtedly the quality and quantity of the food we.cat has certain definite effects on the mind as well as on tho body. For the brain is, after all, only. a. bodily organ, and is fed by blood in precisely the same way as the liver or any other organ. Now, iri connection with those special temptations of youth we have mentioned, eating much meat is strongly to be condemned. Indeed, Tolstoy contends that it is well nigh impossible for even the best intentioned man to live a life of physical purity if he eats meat to excess.

"Modern authorities on diet arc unanimous in affirming that a heavy meat diet does not tend to strength. • "Avoid sauces, pepper, and other condi raents. They excite the appetite, are bad for the stomach. Tea and coffee are also injurious, ami if taken at all should bo very weak, the weaker the better. You are, of course, fond of sweets, but as they are also a food they should be eaten in moderation. Incessant sweet-eating is simply a habit, and a very bad one. Try to cultivate the habit of ciiting at meals only, it will bo of much service to you afterwards. Never take more than three meals a day. When, you grow older you may find two meals suit you tetter; the greatei part of the human race eat only twice a day, and in ancient Greece, in her palmy days, only one meal was taken. The stomach needs time to digest the food taken, and then time to rest, and it is much injured by this practice of eating too frequently. But, besides this, the will power is greatly impaired. Selfindulgence of any one kind leads to further self-indulgence in other directions. The boy who * cannot say ' No' to a desire for sweets or tarts will scarcely bo able to resist the allurements of tobacco and drink, or the still stronger temptations of the animal passions. It is of immense importance to have our will under control. One of the pleasures we should covet come 3 from the feeling of power which is given by a knowledge that we can mako ourselves do whatever wo feel ie our duty. All men who have made their lives a, success havo had this capacity. No conquest can give so much satisfaction as the victory over self, indeed no true victory is possible till this is achieved.

" A great deal depends also on how we eat. Food cannot bo digested properly if it is jiot thoroughly masticated. The saliva is a digestive fluid, and has the property of turning starch into sugar, and until this is done it- cannot be assimilated.

! " Nine boys out of ten, and most adults also, bolt their food with hardly any mastication, and therefore have to cat at least twice as much food as they would require if it werg carefully prepared by thorough chewing. This excess food is not merely waste, getting rid of it is a serious tax on the strength of the body. Besides, the teeth were intended to bo used, and when not exercised they decay. When an organ or musolc is kept working its blood supply is greatly increased; this keeps that organ healthy and strong. This is true of the teeth and gums. By using hard, stale bread ■ —biead toasted , all night in tho oven,—oatcake, and nuts (which are quite digestible if eaten at meals and thoroughly chewed) the teeth get plenty of work to do. The Scandinavians, who use hard, unfermentod bread, and Highlanders, who live on hard oatcake, are noted for their good teeth. "You will save yourself an immense amount of suffering , if you avoid sloppy food, and chew even soft foods repeatedly. Most foods require to be turned round 40 or 50 times in the mouth in order to mix them thoroughly with the saliva. You ought to count the number of times you chew a' piece of bread to see whether you are in the habit of giving it its fair chance in the mouth. Tho food will then bo reduced to a liquid, ready to be absorbed' into the system. If your teeth show signs of decay, take care to have them at once attended to by a good dentist. In teeth, as in everything else, a stitch in time saves nine.

"Brush your teeth carefully after each meal, and on no account eat anything till the next meal.

"Never touch intoxicating liquors in any form. It is no argument to eay that such and such a man or woman takes them. An increasing number of people, among whom are possibly your parents, condemn the use of them for anyone, and most of those who do take them affirm tJieir injurious effects on a growing boy. Sir Frederick Treves, Bart., G.C.V.0., LL.D., the eminent surgeon, says: ' The point with regard to alcohol is simple enough. It is, of course, distinctly a poison, and it 16 a poison which, like oilier poisons, has certain uses; but the limitations of the use of alcohol should be as strict as the limitations ' of tho use of any other kind of poison. Moreover, it is a,curiously insidious poison, in that it produces effects which seem to have only one antidote — alcohol again. This applies to another drug equally insidious, and that is moiphia, or opiuni. As a work producer alcohol is exceedingly extravagant, and, like all other extravagant measures, leads to a physical bankruptcy. It is curious that troops cannot work or march on it, I was with the relief column that moved on to Ladysmith, and, of course, it was an extremely trying time by reason of the hot weather. In that column of 30,000, the first who dropped out were not the tall men, or tho short men, or the big men, or the little men—they were t.hc drinkers, and they dropped out as clearly as if they had been labelled with a big letter on their backs. Alcohol is certainly inconsistent with wiiat might be called fine work. It is absolutely inconsistent with a surgeon's work, and with anything that requires a quick, acute, and alert judgment. I am very muoh struck with the fact that very many professional men who work hard all day' have discontinued the use of stimulants in the middle of the day. Why? For no other reason, probably in 99 cases out of 100, than that they find* they cannot work after it. That fact speaks more for this broad point than aav, a&ifiunt p{ fttstract argumsute. Jfegrg.

is a great desire on the part 'of all young, men to bo fit. A young man cannot possjbly be fit if he takes alcohol. By no possibility can he want it. That anyone young or healthy should want alcohol is simply preposterous. They might just as well want etrychnine. Thus tho argument for the young man is: You want to bo a man, and you want to bo fit. You cannot get fit on alcohol.' " There are many who say that for adults smoking is not injurious. We aro by no moans of this opinion, but, at anyrato, it is universally conceded that smoking i 6 very harmful to growing boys. "It is not manly for a boy to smoke. Your elders laugh at you for so doing, and thoso who take an interest in you punish you, for they know its evil. "Smoking cigarettes is the most injurious way in which tobacco can be used, for the smoke is more likely to be inhaled. " So clearly is this now recognised in America, that at Ica6t one great railroad company there mil not employ anyone who is known to smoke cigarettes. " In Japan also, where so much attention is paid to physical development, smoking before 20 years of ago is strictly forbidden, and if a boy is detected doing so the tobacco is forfeited, and the tobacconist who supplied it is heavily fined, as aro also the parents of tho boy. Mr Thomas Gallalier, tho head of tho great tobacco manufacturing firm (Messrs Gallaher, Limited), writes: ' After many years' observation, I am strongly of opinion that juvenile smoking is most injurious to the rising generation, especially the smoking of cigarettes. I consider this form of smoking by young people tends to stunt their energy and manhood, and I would bo very glad to hear of a bill being brought into Parliament that would tend to lessen or prevent juvenile smoking." " Athletes, rifle shots, scholars, in fact, all who use muscle, eye, or brain, arc agreed that the use of tobacco and alcohol are injurious; every boy desires to excel in one or more of these directions, and eo should avoid indulgences which will prevent his being a success in any of them. "'There is, , said Michael, 'if thou well observe The rule of not too much, by temperance taught, In what thou eat'st and drink'st. seeking from thence Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, Till many years over they head return: So may'et thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy motor's lap, or be with ease Gathered, not harshly plucked, in death mature. Milton.

CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES. I havo some specimens to identify, but I think I must bo innoculatcd.with holiday microbes, so have put them by-the specimen ts, not the microbes-for a day or two. Iwo correspondents I have answered by post-an unusual thing, but as they enclosed, stamps, as correspondents wanted the specimens returned, as,the replies were written m an odd moment or two, and as it was holiday time too, I preferred posting to waiting. ' " .