Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 30, 1874, Page 7

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1874, 7 EDUCATIONAL. Final Meeting of he County Super- intendonts’ Assoctations JInterosting Paper by Georgo D, Plant, of Cook County, Proceedings of {ho First Scssion of tho Stato Teachers’ Association. Lecture by the Rev. H. W. Thomas, of ihe First Methodist Church. Semi-Monthly Meceting of the Board of Education. Education of Deaf-Mutes---School Fund Property. Address of tho Ilinols Baplist Educa- tlonal Commission, The Wisoonsin Stato Torohers' Assooiation, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS, THE CONCLUDING SESSION, The County Superintendonts of Beliools, who assombled in tho rooms of the Board of Lduca~ tion Monduy afternoon and evening, in cole- bration of tho twenty-first nunniversary of tho formation of their Association, continued their sesglon yesterday foranoon. CULTURE, Aftor npoma routine business bad boon transact- cd, Georgo D. Plant, Buperintondsnt of Schoola for Cook County, read tho following paper on “ How 8hall Teachors Bo Mado to Feel s Need of Culture?”: Tenching is dcfined o bo tho art of instructing, It lian or tw objoct tho unfoldiug of thoso uoblo yinll- 403 0f tlio nman beart, and tho dovelopment of tha humon mind, It s tho discovertug oud drawing out in the roul tho cnnuhling sentiments of love for God and tUs laws ; {ncaleating charity, peace, purity, and atigction. Tho discovory and drawing ont of Wyt ‘meuors, reason, sl Judzment in tho mind, to tho cud tliat st mny command completo control of hia futel- lectual powers, iy tha proper _culturo of tha heart und discipline of the intelleet, man bocowmes o feelng and a reasoning belng, The dscipling of tha meutal '0wors tore concurns himself 3 tho culturs of tho for it belongz 1 (ho practico of {lig shioh wo eail duorale, snd wiblel s "of oall, g when treatiug of the tacuce’s ulture, owing to tho closw velation whieh will, i o fow Yeurs, subsist bes tween ftand tho {eachier’s pupdl, Gullure in the fn. struetor losotw refinement n tho pupil, snd Is o qualily in the characlcr of a teacher whick’ tho fnter- ent of bocfely alwoys demands, Mun's happluoes de- yends upon the proper cstlmalion and 1o of Lig natural endowenis; upon a Lnowledgo of those Just principles which have buen transmitied (o us from tho a8t ; upou our appraciation and upplication of them ; and upon contintal meditation upon that culturs which gives refiuement to society, und thoss virtues which prescrvo our raco, Wocatinot bo falso to the Jieart and true to the intellect, Tero wro two natures adajted to each other and comiug togother. M, boru free, scolis happliess in vain by pursulng his own wiil; thien, wosried out and conviticed that happiness lays him under the obliga 1lon of Tovo to hia fellow-man, truo culturo crentes for dilm tho nocessity which lays him under. tho reatraint of moral law, Auy system which obtains without dus Tegard 0 tioko two tuires, ond which fails to enforco a rigid discipling in both, promiscs a short oxistenco ; fur soclety will 0o rafec tho ery of reform, Whens ever du thiv history of socioty wo find man_seduced by tlio propeunitics of nature wo also find o neglect of tha ‘proper cuiture of his moral nature, Tho truy character is molded n_ the_culturo of the Leart aud of the lead. No honest Suporintendent wonld presumo’ to’ grant & certlfleato without ‘belug ablo to certify to the moral character of tho rp- licaitt au well as o bfs aldlity 10 teach the branchvs Tequired by law, Directors dare hot outrago the peo- plé by employing feacher of corrupt morals, Parcnts ave the deepest interest and wateh with solicitudo tuu conduet of thase placed over thefr childrou, Tho Iaw maltes tho satfsfaction of tho Superintendent (a8 ta moral chnractor) o prerequisito to granting o cor- tiizute, 5o jeatons 18 1t of what €0 decply concerns tho safuty Of buvioty, Consider thut.all groat teachora ave s simplicliy of beart whiclt fospires o subussion of tho intolicct, without which Nature disdaius to make Lerself kuown, Morality gives milldnews, intellect, sizength, Galinness and onergy are contrasted In Ny tura's work of pliysisal reprodiicivs, The suno prine ciplo Lolds in_tho moral us i the physical world, Ktrength of fntellcct unininenced may croct, but it i3 certaiii to averthrow, Tho subject which will now occupy us—how ehall teacucrs Lo mado to feol tho need of goneral culture— 18 un Important xe 4y we cin Lo illed upon to con sider. Deferring, for n mowent, the consideration of tho beet mode ef Tromoting thie bject licro proposed, woshall fnstifute o short fnquicy fnto tho causes whieh Jed to n do-ling of culturo in those Sutrusted with the diargo of cducating the young, In eatly tiuier, when tho gates of learniug wero opencd to thio Sew only, and closcd agafust tho masacs, nien eminont for culturo nud Jearuibg tuok chargo of fustruction ; for no infurlor mind wss capabe of fulilliug tho du ties which d-volved upon Lim who had the charge of children wioso parenls vequired for them o vefincd and fuishied cducatton, Among thoss teaclors, men of proficiencs, learning, snd cuiture, wss 'the rule, Clio eystem correapondod with tho® deotination, A mactical education merely was nob the eud sought, Such an_ education a6 rocurad through kuowledge and culture alone satiflod (ho demand, and this conid only Loafforded by men who mado toachiug 3 study and hoto knovlede comprlioued tho lowrning uf thio times, As tho distinetion_of rauk and fortune begun to di ppear and all men found themcivos sottling on thio gamo plan, the circla of aducstion was oxtended, and it boeumo hecessary, Sast, to limit much of educn~ tion to the pructical uioud, und, eecond, to resort to men of inferior quality to perforin tho dutfes of teachers, Ters stose, from neeessity, 8 cliungo u the systens of Sustruction us well as in the character of iustructor, Men of proficiency, learuing, sud culture, now beczma o exception, and socloty seowed satistiod with mox who tauglt by roto anu crammed by rule, The day 18 not far In the past wien teachers mado o pretenslon to o knowledye of principlos, ‘o nost supersictl mowledgo and 'tho application of naked Tulos wero dcaneed sunlelent, Notuing mors was do- manded—nothing moro was supplied, What s rofuge Qid tho text-book afford | Iliatory was read becatise it was the sliorleet rond to events. Who would bo st the {rouble to ntudy causes 7 Grammar tud mithmetio wWere tanght by rulc, T menu tho text-looks, not (ho Belehico of elther, Geography wix taught by’ memory to-day, only to Do forgotten to-morrow, Aud 80 tho work of iustruotion went on, 4 Tas timo relieved s of thio ovll? No, It has only cxposed 1t Lo our view, We nra enabled toses tho m0ro of n falso syaten an tho Hight of tho dearcst ox- porlonco, Publio’ scrutiny hax feft nothing con- cealed, Tho picturo has little o merit just pralee, and - much o excllo unqualifiod condomnation, A rovolution which will relax {ho ties of n viclous custom obaerved in our systom of echool instruction, aud catablleh tho domiulon of u more natural process in methods, of a thorough kowl- edge of first principlos, aud of & more general cultura in tho character of justructor, will apniy an infallible remedy Lo the source of prescut abiises dn our system of eduration, ‘Nature's great nodel school must bo ontered. Hor paitern must bo studfed_and_ fuitated, Our scliools mmust admit the light of Nature, Her stmplicity will lomueh moro ciaglug fo tlo youns thuy tho fu tricacien of man, avaries which enyngo tho faucy must bo abeudoned for truts which convineo tho uti- doratanding, —Leave the mind'toeits natural sugges- tiona rathor than furco it to submit to tha goverament of machiantcal Inwa which tend tu divert it from it true courac, and depriv it of the ratlonal oxerciio of 1ts powoin, Lot us examin 1o twio common moiles of present- 4ng to pupila tho subjects of (Lo common branches res quirod t0 Lo taught ju our wehools, Arithmetio will afford us o very smportant subjoot for this atalys Tho teat-book deilnes aritotio to Lo ' the aclonco of numbers and tho art of computation.” Aritbmetic, then, 18 both sclenco and art, Tho science compro- henda tho propertics and relations of numbers; tho art, that of computing by thom, Teachiors, {n prosonte ing this aubject, too conimonly confino thosalves ax- clusively to the art, Whon {he mind withdraws Stself feoun L atudy of fuoso prinsiplot bpon which avy urt iu foundod, and sccopts without fuquiry arbiirsry zulcs, it 43 no longor fin own imaeter, Itw operations becomo meohanical, itn viewa coutracted, Rieflection is turned frow it proper chaunol, Ihces- santly ongoged in tho axt, wiillo neglecting the sconca of numbors, gives rino 10 the sbuses In this Lranch of Study, Arational systom baied on a knowledga of the sclonco would duvelop it thn Pupll au eulighanod udorstanding, o saing romarks will spply to the coureo purayod in_ preéenting tho subjuct of grammar. In practico, rammar 14 the art of apeakiug according to ostaba lahod nsaico, Ad o soleuce, it Foaia of the ralation b tween Jesy and worda wud _duveiops the principles of Isnguage, Tho defoot in toaching graminur cons Iu nemorizing rules, observing esceptions and Tecting wenfoncen il faluo syntax according to rule, Wo hear little und know luss of tho rulation brlweon fdeas and worde, Ot whatover slido wo View (hix nyus em wo ahall find that §t tends Lo confuso rathor than toonlargonnd culighten tho understauding, Othor branlied might b wimllarly consldored, ‘Buch ara tho slues that kave given advantogo to the cuemies, aud flled with coucorn the friends, of popu. Jur education, From tho contemplation of fls dufectn, ‘wa proceed to the couslderation of ho remedy for our eyatem, _ Wo shall enter upon this part of our subje W truat, with lecoming ailidetice, Pasillvencss Ja b d to any fuquiry ; ond (b would arguo & want to prescrile our owi noious a4 a mugasuro to thg fudgment of otlirs, Vhst gest suggcs st to the mind, whon con- winced of the defects of any system, {8 tho inquiry fute e sause, thau thio spplication of tho true rewmdy, Afe ter dueraflection upon tho condition of the ald of edui- atton,a flicotsobeervor wauld Inelino o thaopinlor that: @ Wo ought 'to blame tha cullure, not tho il 1f wo, an Superintendonts, accept this opinfon as final i\h\gmu\\, on this guestlon, woaro bound by i, sud avo no slfornative, but st procoed at oneo (o ack under ft, by husisting that tenchers undereur super- virlon alnli Inbor with zeal (o improve thotnaalves for tho dutfea of their {ymmnllnn. Bub low shall {oachiors bo mado to foal the nesd of goneral euitnro? Wo shonkt fieat, st sooma to m, die et attontion fo tho dofects n gur systom ; then in- Quira to whint oxteut toachorn nra to blsmo for thom, It ia In the power of Counly Buporintendents to diract thie fuvestigatlon, and_{hen Lo inatitute tho (nquiry. Asaoclations and insiituios are the occasions in swhich tho fmportant relation of (ho feacher snd tho scliool can bo consldered, Anotiior fmporiant benefit remilting from much mestings deserven to bo noticed, Hero teachors havo the benefit of an inlerchange of ddeas, Tknow of no fncitement {o selt-onlture greator than ‘tho mortifleation whioh springa from the ex- poaurs of n‘xnornncn, or a consclolsuoss of woakncss n cousultations of tis kind, Thia 18 an oxporlenco fiat makon tho despest Smpronsion s 1t appeats mont forclbly to our reif-loyo, which §a the great rulo of ac- ton, ‘Aan can accompliah Jittlo by remaining in an fsolatod condition, United with otiiers, his roul Lo. cotnea lihoral, his Viows enlarged, Ia walka the path -nwty 1s taking, over ready to auggost, to waru, or to guide, . Liducators cverywhero encourngo teachors’ associa- tous, and_to-day hoy aro vory common it this couns try, 'Goneral culturo fs much . promoted by fo discossions of {hie _various ~subjects cons sidered fn theso bodios, Troperly mnunaged, thoy awaken a keen fnterest even in n dull attendant, and rouses tho Inactive to a senro of his shortcomings, were ta littlo purjoso to awnken a teachor (o & soueo of his need of eulturo, If wo fail to opena fonntuin of salicitudo for Lia welfaro, the ealm and noble influence of which will fall Ifko n bieasing on tho soclety that gives and tho individusl who recolvon; for, altliough nidversity often proves & biewsing to States and 1in- tlous, iving them vigor, lifo, and_purpoeo, Hs stormy oxjierlence among monmibers of (ho samo soclely must scal {ta doom, Culture must bo planted and notrfahed Ly tho arts of peace. Tenchers’ associations stould bo nlxmumflml by tno Superintondent, and conduzted eolely with a view Lo the goneral food; and cvery momber should bo urged to take n part in'tho dellber- alfons, witich sliould. bo simple, sugigoativ, snd practi- cal, and freo from ail ostentation, An {llustration will serve to make clear cur idea of tho benefits resulting from the courso _wo have sug- gosted, Lot us tako {ho subject of Modern tintory. Wi will supposc a paper preparcd for an Jnstitute on thls sitbject, and, written in a simplo tyle, prescuting celebratod ovonts, momorablo cpochis, singular man- ners, and ragla atasizophien o Wrilor rofalng o tho grand polnt in modern. histo the changs produccd by Chris! l!( i soelal order, Au ntelligent discusefon on this paper will attract nttentlon, aud overy member will be ineited by derire for closer inquiry, ~Study lifta tho first vell nuq dls- closea tho clinracterfatio traits of tho ‘new untions, nnd ho who has only been & apocta- tor during tho discussion must fecl that “ho can no longor remain sn fdlo epectater, o beeomes still more consclous of his necd of cul ture when tho cbaractorfstic traits of each of tho now nutions are discussed in thelr ordor, o learns that tho Germans aro & peoplo among whom tho radical corruption of the ligher claases line nover oxtendod its Influence to tuo lower; where the indifference of tho former toward their country has nover prevented tho latter from Leing sincercly attachiod to it 3 a peoplo among who the apirit of rovolt amd of dolity, of slavery und of Sndopundotce, bas nover chavgod siuce the days of Tacitus, England, o nation characterized by Gorman atmplic. ity, acdatetiess, good senso, and deliboration, combiued with French impetuosity, lovity, vivacity, and olegance of manuor, 18 crowned with enligltencd public spirit, o French, tho cldest fons of nntiquity, aro Romang in genius and Greoks in churacter. Reatlos and fickla in prosperity, constant and Invineiblo fi_adveraity ; formed for all thoarts : polisbed during tranquility ; rudo and éayage {n political commotions ; entliuaiasty altkein good or in ovil, doing the former withoul ox- pecting thanka and the fatter without feeling remoreo § mmcml)nrlnr neither thelr crimes nor their virtues, Desplsing ol mankind cxeeps themeuives, thelr greate est glory i uutional hionor,” Ttaly 'fs_presonted, with bor Imndred Princes and ‘magnificont recollections, forming u strong contrast to obeenro and republls Bwitzerland, Spain, cut off | from other nations, aud, until yosterday, stagnant in Yulmu and in auners, still presents the wmost orig- nal character, Hefloetiiug Wpon theso differonces between the na- tionw, tho truth dawns upon him that ho has not hith- erto duly appreclated tho oxcellenco of modern his- tory, lie becomer sensiblo of tha narrow ground he occupies for his foundation of knowledge, My fuftls {n the gaod reaults which will flow from Teachers’ Assoclations for this purposo is strong, But T would not bo confined to_theso aloue. —The closot 1y do fur the mere wan of letters, But tho teacher Tougt bo tho growth of the sunshing and shado of tho world—ofl everydsay life, Every groat teachor 8 n groat oxumplo in thiis reapoct. A teacher must study Inien and pocety ns woll a8 books ; paronts as well us puplla; for by oflers’ foults we lcarn ta correst our own, 333 tho torin culturo we undarstand (ho application of labor or othier means omployed for improvement, Wo cannot dispute tho trmsni, that thoro is no excels lenco without great labor, Mansflold, in his “Amoricon Education,” lays down three chief qualificitious of tho teacher, viz,: 2 i qualifcations ia seferenco Lo tho mubjest nglt. Seconi—T{u referenco to thamode of teaching, Thira—In refuronco tu porsonal charuoter, Tho firet roquires knowledgo, It is the fundamental qualification of thteacher. Terfeetion fu this roquires great labor, Jo must have tho ratfonalo of genersl Kuowladgo; anacquatutanics wit o philosoply of tory; aud must bos closoobseryer of tho huma phénomena. A posltion it any Importaut dopartinent of tho mercantilo world is au utter impossibility to sy incompatent person, A position for an unquali- féd toacher 15 only a difloulty which o littlo perists euce 18 sure to overcume, Make the position of teacher notonly s diflicully for the uncultivated to Rain and gzeupy, but au utter imposwibility. * Wo ahall liug creato a doiund or eulture, snd {4 it be forth- coming, Tn roference to the mads of teachfng, teachers ar governed by the racollections of thelr achooldays’ superficial “obscrvations ratber thon by the study and application of any sclontific sye. tom. A kuowledge of the bistory of thelr profession would provent this practics, and, althongh it might not cnable taem o form a aystom, they would learn that thelr modes and ideas bad boerl tricd and given up by tho best teachiers of he past, “Teachors, tien, will Toel the need of genoral culiuro by, considering tho followiug questions What Is our mieslon 7 What aro tho defects in our system of education 7 What nre tho errora in toaching 7 oW ean they Lo remedled 7 What 1a tho oxtent of our knowledge derived from tho oxperienco of succeasful educatura 7 o what oxtent would 4 kuowledgo of general litora= ture, and English fitorature in partioulsr, tend to m. Droye us for our profossion 2 Will the match of sncugerly progressive age and the intorcats of & great cobmiry suner us 40 neglect self-culturo? 8hiail wa conlinuoto ve tha slaves of o narrow sys- fem without it, or, embracing t, becomo mastors of tho situations ? Docs culture suggost indopendent thonght and over- como aervlio Suiitation? % Tow shall we know tho sants and wishos of the peo- ple, gain_their confidence, Prouounce upon their de- 8ircs, and shapo tho Ideas Of tuture geerations ? * Buth uro tho queations wo recomimeid for the cone sideration of teachera, In taking Jeave of aur aubject, Jot ua pay a small tribute fo the 7esl of thoss teachiers who havo gono befora ue, uud whose pluces wo sre ox- pected to ll, “ T dovoto one's 1ife totho _allaviation of the suffer- ings of mankind i the first of heuofits, “Chs second {6 1o cnlighteu them,” Tils in a sontiment of a colo- Drated writer of {hw oighteenth century ; and_ whon o consliler tio benefita which we owo 10 tho Tabors of thoso who dovoted lifaand talonts to the cnlighton~ mont of man, wo oo must becomo impreseed with tho truth of tho eentiment. During all tho sges of our ora tho lamp of knowledge cured ua of our fgnorance, aud wo cannot fafl to adimire those icachers—bone- factors of eur race—who buried themsclyes in the dust of tho 6chool to resouo us from Larbarism. Wo wre grateful for tho Light whoto sources thoy opon up to us, and scknowlodge the dobt wo owo for toan preclous storca whicls thoy wero 2o suxious (o Smpazt. Thelt zoa), their devotlon, may well servo b au xsinplo, and ity o omuited witlout any fesr for tho sacrifices which thoy lind to make or danger of the hazard {0 which thoy Were subjected. Wo may ask tho question fu sl sorious: : *Bhall we noyer witness the return of thoso times, whon the elucation of youth and tho hopes of posterily wero lutrusted to such hands ' 1 wili veniuro the prediction that wo all witness much o roturn when those who Lavo chargo of tho education of youth loarn to Lelieve that erudition {s ao |Hl"fl£fi0l\lflm neceasary for tho teachor a8 for tho men of othier profossions, When tho liitor- sto teacher will fecl tho necessity of self-oultura to onable Lim to fll the Important office hie has choseu, or Aud hiruselt ainking beneath thoss who hiava a quick percettion of tlo things of the world, and bave learned ow to finpart a kuowlodge of them, OTHER PALERS, Mary Whitesido, of Peorin County, noxt road & papor ou *llow to Conduct Tawnship aud Conuty Institntes”; tho Rav. Willism Grinin, of Hanoock County, read & papor ontitled, * I It a Good Practica for County Eu(gutmtundon(u to Indorso Cortificates Issiied by Othor County Buperintendents 7" and Honry Iligging, of Mor- gan County, road & vm-{ practical piuper on the subjoct, *Are Township High Schap‘l-i Practica- ble, and What Ilug Buon Done m Their Dirgc- tion? " Theso papors, intoresting mostly to teachers and Superintoudonty, will bo published for their informntion in the Stato journals dovoted sololy to educntional mattors, + LLEUTING OFFICERS, The following ofiicers wero elestod, and aftar- wards the Buperintendents’ sootion adjourned gino dios Boovetary, Mra, Mary L. Catpoutar, Winnebago Counly; Xxecutive Commitioo, 13 L. Wells, Ogle County, 8, L. Willinms, o= poign County, B. 4, Barge, enry Oounty, ety . STATE TEACHERS' MEETING, YIRST KESBION OF THY ASHODIATION, The twonty-flrab aunual meeting of tha Iili- nols Btato ‘'eachiors’ Ansociation was hiold youter doy afternopn in the First Mothodist Chureh, in tho Methodist Clurch Block, ‘I'ho ausembly will lnet until the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 31, The oxerciscs commoncod at 2:30 p. m., nt which tima the eapacions church wan well filled with the membares and their friends, About forty pupils of Ohieago sehoola—boys and girleof tho firot un® socoud grados—sang two choruspy, under tho loadersbip of 1. I, Whittemore, Tho scleotions waro nofthor as molodious nor ay sultablo for tho oxhibitlon of avy degreo of oulturo as could have beou mado, It | * words of woloomo, and am sorry that clreum- Navortheloss, the young singors wont through thoir part with crodit, and wilh apparont satis- faction to tha audiouco, TIt, WELCOMING ADDRESS, Mr. Jobn ITull, of Bloomington, Prosident of the Araociation, then Introduced to the audiauds J. 0. Rioliborg, Prosidontof the Board of Educa- tlon. of Ohicago, who delivorad an addross of waolcomo to tho teachors, Aftor Lho ususl pro- liminary romaris, ho naid: In view of tho fact that aur ally_oxpends enormons suma of monoy support. of certain (so-callod) educational tions, ~located o differont parta of tho Blate, In acoordanco with tho dlotates of political Influ- enco,—In viow of such oxpenditure, Teay, it is to be ro- retied that not on inatitution of learning in this Stats a worthy the namo of University, and I look torward {o tho day, if it i8 to bo tho pollcy of our Legislature to appropriate public monoy for Btats oducational institus tiona, whon, in thekr stend, will bo created a Unj wortliy of tha name, and ‘1o which tho scboolmaster, can point, nnd say'to his pupil without blushing: “Thero ia the landmark of our utmost sail,” Allof the educationsl instiiutions in each Biate shiould bs loft entirely under tho control of thio peopla thiercof, and any and every attompt of interference by Conuressional Ynnhllllon, or control by a * National Burosu of Lducatlon,” should ‘bo Tesistod, for tha ouicomo would then bo thai from their legitimato apbero thoy would e diverted to o uso of politeal partiea and tho aggrandizement of demagogues, 1t o been mald that ihe tondency the present time in the education of children under tlio age of 14 years i to do too mmuck, ns formerly it ‘wan (o do too little, whon they received instruction mainly in reading, writing, and arithmotic, and ara wo not going to the ofhier extremo when of a child at tha agoof 10 or 11 years wo require roading, writing, nrithimotie, spolling, grammar, ‘geography, history, «rawing, botany, music, and " oral,” tho latter includ- ing a knowlodgo of almont overything uudor the sun, Of neceaslty tlio teacher only Latens to_recitation there {8 no timo for instruction ; the child s not be ing educatod {n tao best way, though its memory may o cultivated fo nuch a dogres that tho teachor nt tho it of tho term can Aay, T havo promoted every ona of iy class, and thoy all passed tha fcade.” Moeg timo must bo spent in teaching, aud lesa {n listenfny to roci- tations, "Lliat owtr American achool system {8 & success can- not, 1 bellove, bo Aucceasfully controverted, sud wo munt nover loso alght of fhio fact that-upon it mora than nuything elss dopeuds tho future, tho wolfars, the permanoney of this Repubilc, and wo have aleo dethon- trated that theress o -morality that can bo_well and profitably taught outsido of religion, and I say this with ull cluo regard and conalderation” for religion, its {nfluencos, and sublime cbjccts, nor would I under- rafo it any mora than I sould ‘that of the; patochial Achoola and the good accomplished by them in Lelping to ediiento tho masses 3 but I bolleve, and am firmly convinced, that the schiool-rcom in_which sccular in- struction ‘s given la not tbo placo for religloua State annu- for tho fnatitu- instruction; for the pupll " who Lis Blole every morning, just beforo dving Lia spelling-lesson, soon “begins to have an lit~ tlo roverenco for his Bible as ha has for his spelling. book, Tn our acbools o Lavo ehildren stiending swhono paronts aro respectively of nil sects, crocds, an sbades of roliginn, henco eversthing of a sectarian ehzzacter, or pertafingn to religioua Lollef or convie~ tious, ought snd must of necessity bo excludod, THE BEPLY. The Prosident of tho ‘Tvachers' Association gracefully rosponded in these words: “In bo. lialf of the Association, I thavk you for your stances proyent s fitting respouss. We have como to your city to consult upon matters of in- torest to us =a tonchors, and 1 trust that when wo loave you wo shall carry with us no loss of your good will sud esteem than you have ex- pressed for us at our coming. Again 1 thank you for your words of welcomo. Mr, Hull then delivered THE ANNUAL ADDRESS, of which tho following is & comprehonsive sum- mary: The not uncommon process of loading down ‘pupiia with tho minutim of somoof the text books, which in time prove lttlo betler than rubbish, should bo unbesitatingly banishod from the workshops of teachoers, aud, in its place, ono should bo ndopted which should tax tho power of thought moro, thongh it oxcorclso tho mom- ory lees, 1tis of infiuitoly more value to any child to rench homo at oveniug from school with somo clear concoption of the relation of meum aod tuum, bo it never so littlo, than to have .mastered, word for word, whole pages of tho toxt Looks used in our schools, There aro cortain lawe of casy comprehension governing the motions of tho atmosphore, and o cloar ap- proheneion of thoso, even if to no congidorable oxtent, cannot fail to_prove of much more bone- 1it to the young minds in giving it strongth and comprehionsivoness, than can an equal amounp of Inbor on the saploss facte o frequontiy doled out in our sohools. No criticism is intended of tho practico neses- sary to give oxactuess of defiuition aud accuracy of statemont, but rather of tho practica which bolittlos tho mind by loadingit with thoso things which give noither incronsod power of thinking, nor incroased power of doing. What I wish to urge upon all toackers is, that they have their pupils to think more and momorizo loss ; that they mny in tho affairs of lifo know for them- solves thio aifferonce botweon glitter and gold, betwoon falsohood and truth, and botween tho blandishmonts of tho demagoguo and the honest utterancos of # gonuino lover of his country and bis kind, Strongthen your puplls’ every good impalse, and aid thom 1 fixine that character which will bring thom, as the needle is brought to the pole, however much disturbod, back to :,lhqir guiding prineiples of {ruth and manly oing. Treating of compulsory oducation, Mr, Hull, an- sworing thoobjection thatitian-Amorioxn, said it issoonly if tha pooplo araoppoaed to it,and for bis Enrt lio h(lzlpod that a compulsory law would soon o onacted, If ho read the thought of the poo- plo rightly, ho balioved thoy would proenre the enactmont of such a law, whethor the ]nfilnlnmrs favorod it or not, The papor closed with an ex- lortation for groator coucert of action than thera haa been horotofore, ELLIOTT WIHIPPLE, of Buoker Hill Acadomy, followed, reading n papor cntitlod, * Usos, Mothods, and Results of tho Study of Natural Hiatory," to which, 8s re- gurds ita suitability for publication hero, tho commonts already mado as to tho technicality of preceding papers will apply, ho Asgociation adjourned at half-past 4 o'clock. s DR. THOMAS. LECTUBE DEFORE THL BTATE TEAONERS' ABSO0TA- TION, . Tho ovening sossion of tho State Toachera Association was opened at 7:30 ¢'clock, Mr. Hull, Prosident, ocoupying tho chair. The programmo consistod of a lecturo by tho Rev, H, W. Thomas, D. D., pastor of the Firat Mothodlst Church. It wag anuounced that Dr. Thomaa could not bo present until 8 p. m. on account of an ongage- mont, tho partics intorosted in which could not be porsuaded to put off tha transaction, It wag underatood that the Rovoroud Doctor was oce oupled in the happy duty of uniting two loving poople iu the bonds of matrimony. 3 . Tho attendance was unot large, which waa no doubt owing to the very low temporatura pro- vailing, rendering o “journcy of any distance quite an act of bravery, espocially ns regards tho ladies. Bome routine businoss was therefore disposed of. Dr. Thomas arrived on limo, and after a formal Introduction by Mr. Hull ho procoeded to dolivor his locture, Io said that the work of tho terchers was not inforior to tho work done by tho toachors of roligion. Ilospoke with an abjent, which was to try to belp the tonohers and their causo, Thero was reason to four that poo- plo wore apt to think that oducation bad ndvancod to the fullost extent. Certainly o gront deal had boen achiovod in this country, 1Io bolieved that the whole subjoct of education W8 n8 you scarcoly out of [tsinfanoy, sothat what will bo done in tho futuro would vory wmuoh ox- col what had boon dono in tho past. Many bad thought that fow only should be educatod—tho Inwyers, tho clorgy, and #o on— a forw tind thought that education was necosgary for the many, DBut a chango had ocourred ; and thoro was a doop conviction to-dsy that all must havo a goneral education, and this convietion was daily growing strongor and widor, It wasa gront mistako to say that avery eduecated mnn and woman muset entor tho' professions. Tho fact was bogluning to influenco the public mind that ednoated mon were newdod far evory ocou- pation of lifo—in the flelds, in tha workshop, aud in tho storo, ‘I'horo was a fooling, not long ago, and it was yot hardly dead, that it was dangorous to educato iho puol»lu, for thoy arguod Lhnt if thby wora eduouted thioy bacamie dissatisfiod and difiioult to rule, 'Tho subjeot of oducation was to Lecomo on all-nbsorbing question, Tho .effort of tha waorld way to improve lhn}muplo. Thove would Lo s great want in the futura which wus only now beginning to bo looksd at, . Ho suggostod that thoro was nood of botter teachord, and bio wos just 68 froe to sny that tho world nooded bottor preachors, The graut nood of tho ago wan bottor loxdors—men ablo to rp- plo withh the (hought of the thwes, and “able ln load sho thought of tho timee. Drivers were not noodoed; loadora woro wanted; atronger leadoralilp In overy direction, Tho_ toacher, taking the boy bofore ho heoamo a lawyor or outered on any avoeation 3 bettor tenchors wore requirad, ‘ho common hnpression wau thay nuvhudfl could tench, as it was that anybody oou)d proach. The time would coma when tho position of tho ieacher would bp an honorablo ona, and one whioh wonld command the highest romuneration amoug the professions, A gouoral Luowlodge of medicino was roquired of certifls oated physicians ; of Iawyors, & gonoral knowl- odge of inw. Thus {t ought to bo of toachiora; thoy shonld Lo scholars, not skillod smeraly in tho partioular subjacts thay taught af, bus in all gognato subjoects,—n genoral inawledge, la " thotght tho best thing the Associntion could do was to lgnom tho paat in the education- al svatom,and ondeavor to find out what wore the prosent noods of mocloty, Taking a child as tho objoct of Inquiry, what did it roquira? First, a sound body and how to presorvo it. According to the prosent syatom, it took twenty-ono yoars (o comploto the oducation of all the grades ho fol- lowed, Ho thought that the achouls wora' badly vontilated “and badly lghted, and_he feared that they wora hymF tho foundation ol a genaration of nervous, unhealthy peaplo, by ronson of tho want of obrorvanco o)’ Hanitary moasurca In tha children's schools, 'Tho courso of history through which thio childron wero pat he had logked over. 1o found over 1,000 ques- tions to be memorizod by thoso littlo fellows. Nino hundred and ninoty-niho of thom wera uso- Toss, and should only b studied by a couvlet in prison, who wanted ' to kill time, but shonld not Do crammed {uto children's honde. Tha criticiem applied to tho study of geography,—thore way tno much of minutim, which wers dovold of prin- ciple. He would toach thom tho rudimonts of hygiano, anatomy,and pl:yllnlouf. and learn them what to eat and how to eat it. "It was compatent for the boys and girls to iearn something of moral philosophy ; they wore capable of learnin anmuthln‘; sboui truth, purity, benevolence, ;m§ charity, Tho Romanlsts had somo ground for thelr snying that thore was onough of religion in our achools, They wers wrong to claim that tho Btato should introduce rolimions teaching into the echiools, but thoy wers right that thero should bo taught what morality is. Ifo would kiave moral philosophy tanght in the primary schools, because, ns theso branchos weia taught now only in the High Bchool, they could nover know anything of it, for tho proportion of ohildron who over roached the 1ligh School was infinitesimal, 8o nlso with the studies of Lotany and zoology, which wers now taught only in the High 8chool, The objoction might he mado that monoy was not at haud to accomplish the plana which suggosted thomaclves as an amolioration of tho prosout msyatem, A when the proper #pirit ‘Was entortalucd on tho subject of education, money would bs considerad of aocondary . importanco to the acquisition of well-cducated mou and women, Tho method of teaching bad to bo changed. It should be that of feoding tho mind, leading the mind and causing it to grow, 'T'ho system nooded revo- Intionizing, and if the toacliors would beliavo ns the spoakor, thoro was great reason to hopo that the wigbed-for result would be attained. Tho conrso must bs mado practical to fit them for practical life. A erlsis was at hand, and it ‘was most important that tho tanchers of tho men of days to coma should now do their work woll, A volo of thanks to Dr. Thomas was cordially adoptad, and tho meeting adjourncd. —— BOARD OF EDUCATION, TROCEEDINGS OF YESTERDAY EVENING'S MEETING, The Board of Eduoation held a regular somi- monthly meoting last evening, I'rosident Rich- borg in the chair. A petition wns recolved from thoe members of the drawing-clngs in tho ovening-achool, auking that the scssions ho contluued two avenings n woole for threo months, The prayor was granted, A communication was roceived from the Wost Park Commissioners asking an oxtousion of ten years an bonds issucd by them in 1870 to pay for land bought from tho city. The mortgage secur- ing tho samo to remain unimpaired, It was ro- forred to the Committce on School-Fuud Prop- erky. SCHOOL~SITES. Inspoctor Wilce moved that the Committeo on Buildings and Grounds bo authorized to udver~ tiso for achool-sites in tho noigborhood of Thirty-fifth and Loug John streets, and Thirty- Aifth and Wallnep streota. The Committco on Examination of Teachera recommonded that i PANTIAL QERTIFICATES bo granted to Susan A, MoCalob, Margaret Tor- hune, Eather Nelson, Mary C. Sullivan, Lizzie K. Hartnoy, Flora W. Cooper, Dora B, Lamg, Mary 0. Pendergast, Xda Al. Waite, Sarah Ryan, Baggio P. Cannon, Katie M. Kelloy, Sarab L. H. Togan, L. H. McIntosh, Annio V. Miunis, Lizzio A. Cayannh, Sophio Wysoon, Caddio II. Waldo, Inger M. Schjoldager, Maggie A. MoHugh, Tho report was concurrad in. Tue Committeo on Apvointments roported as follows: * TRANSPERS, Huldah X1, Newell, from Doro to Oxden ; Em- ily Wright, from Oaloy streot to Fastor. APPOINTNENTS, Matio C. Ayres, Scammon: Anois G. Slespor, Louise M. Bhermnn, Washington ; Mary E. Har- 18, Foster ; Mary IL. Batloy, Skinner; MattloJ. Darker, Onkloy stroct, i POR CONFIMMATION, Huklah Everett, Ilolen M. Ilathaway, Frank- lin; Jounio Sanborn, Washington; Mary B, Snow, Mosely; Elizabsth McCarthy, Mariotta Tdgington, Haven; Julio AL, Flynn, Lawndalo; Helon M., Smith, Burr. The recommoudationa wore concurred in, L'he following resiguntions were roported : Tlora A. Iolcomb, \Wasbington:; Mattio A. Richards, Skinner ; Gaorgia B, Abbott, Calumet avenuo; Laours B, Holbert, Third aveune. On motion, PULL CKRTIFICATES wore granted the following: Mattio A. Rich- avds, Mary O. Ayers, Mary Ball, Miunie Eliel, Tauny Lundergroon, Fanoy P, Moxs, Caroling 1. Morrick, R. Nottio dott, Jennio MoDowell, J. Mineron Overton, Hattio A, L, Skaats, Julia IL Shaw, Minnio Throop, Alico Talbot, Nellio Carter, Mattio J. Baker. The Superintondont submitted & SUMMARY OF BTATISTICS for tho first torm of 1874-'5, The highest euralls mont was in_Octobor—388,425; the lowest in Decombor—37.906, The averags number bo- longing wos 85,605, and the average duily attofid- ance 83,887—au increase over last yoar, ADMITTED TO TilE HIQI KCHOOL, The Committes on High SBehool recommanded that the following bo admitted to the Iligh Bcehool at tho commoncoment of tho noxt term, thoy having passed a satisfactory examination : Charles D, Irwin, averago 80 ; Francia R. Day, Louia F.Mann, 83.0;' Laurs M, Willard, Augusta Iidington, 81.9 ; Hattio Ilulott, 79.4 ; Mjunio M. Freoman, 75. The m‘mn wag concurred in. ‘Tho followlng wero admitted to' tho Normal School : Nottio McFarlaud, 85 ; Auna O'Conuor, 73 ; Mary E. 8. Harligan, 70. Tho Committeo on Hehool-Fund Proporty re- mel advorsely on the proposition of Soldou Fish to purchaso TIE DEARDORN 6CIOOL LOT for 120,000, on twenty yoars’ time, with intorest at 0 por oent after tho first yoar. Conourred in. Inspootor Goggin stated that, owing to tho failure of tha city to pay tho bill presented by & toncher in Cicoro for instructing childron who Tive within tho elty limits, ho (tho toacher) had throntoned to turn them out, “'I'ho mattor was roforred to the Comumittes on Finunco, with power to act. Tho same Inspector roported that tho abatracts for all the school fund property outside of the city limits conld bo had for $660, ‘Tho Uommite toa way authorized to contract for thom. ‘The Prenidont callod ptention to the necossity for the lection of AN ATTODNEY to look after tho property, tho loasos, eto,, ninco tho elty Law Dopartimont did nat givo tho atten- tion it uhould totho Board's intorosta. Inspoctor Roed offerod tho following : esolued, That tho Corporation Gounsel ba author dzed ta appolnt somo compstont atloruoy, nt much compenration s may b sgreed upon by this Noscd, to specdily collect all sum dug and unpad for rent of tho real eatate Lolongiug to the sehool-fud, and to ook aftor e selioohfupd property and thu tillo thore- o, Inapeotor Olark offored tho following as & sub~ stitute: ¥ Wiienras, The amount dus tho city from dolinquont loanobiolderd in very lurga s and Witkhean, "the inceanly {or prompt and dulaive action fu tho colloction_of thess back rents, as woll an for tho regular aud ofiiclont colloction of the renta now contantly falling duo; ond Wirzneas, The valito of tho sehool-fund proporty, 2nd the Income to Lo dorived thorefrom, 16 80 great as 0 koo to dempnd aud {o warrant the employinont of an attorney to devole Ijmaelf to tho iutorests Lorein mentloned; therofore, Jeeauliod, Thut the Gommitteo oo Judiolary bo al. rected to lugniro at what eost such logal eorvices oan De obtafned, and to roport to the Loard, with nawo of person for tho ollice, E Tha substituto was adoptod. ‘I'ha apeolal order, tho considoration of the roquost of TIE DEAP MOUTE SOOIETY, st o duuchool for the instruotion of doat wuton' children bo ostablivhed, was taken up, Inspocior Wolch statod thav about twonty such childron bud oxprossed s willingnoss to st- tond, sud that o teacher could ba wooured for $100 a mouth, > Inspoctor Bluthardt moved that the Comit- too on Course of Inutruotion be roquostod to draw up a memorial to tho Logislature nsking that o brauch schgol be gstablishod in Chicago, and to eubmit tho game at th next osting of the Board for aotlon, Agvecd to, Inspeotor Roed moved tbat & room In the o folt certain thnt . Janes 8chiool bo not asido for the pu that a compotent toacher bo umnlnygzl :‘J?Zafl'fl {xot mlen‘ucd $1,200 » yoar, Agrood to unani- mously, Tho Board then adjonrned, ® o s oA THE BAPTIST CENTENNIAL, ADDRYSS OF THE ILLINOIS EDUCATIONAL-COMMIG- SI0N, Tho Iilinols Educational Commisslon, wlich met in this city yeatorday, adopted an addrens to tho Baptiets of Illluols, in which they say that the Daptiat colleges and thaological pominaries ought to bo at once put on & liboral finaucial basis, sinco not only the progross of the denomination will bo in proportion to tho slrooglh of {ta inatitutions of learning, but its vory oxiatonce ® will bo jeopardizod by neglecling to etrongihen thom. Tho colebration of tho first century of tho oxistonco of tho Republio offors & most suit- able accasion for a vigorous offort in bohalt of education, and tho movement han alraady gnined groat headway in varioua parts of tho country they, theroforo, appeal fo tho ministers, and laymen, and women, to tako hold of tha worlk, and to make contributions, Spacial attontion is asked to tho following pointat Frst—Wo rocommend tho holding of special educa- tional conventions {n important contres, inclyding ono within the bounds of cacl: aswactation i tho Gtato, Second—Wo recommend the hold: f educational meetings In connection with the anuuat gathorings of cach oneociation; and the devotion Lo this caiso of ot loant two reasious of tho State Convontlon, T'hird ~Wa requost thouctivo and hearty co-oporation of cach pastor in forwarding this work by sermions, ad dressen, and by personal latior, . Fourth—We suggest thal every chiurch shall form a contenninl socioty, and bespoak tho earnost nctivity therefn of tho tadies, F{/th=Wo solicit tho co-oporation of evory Baptist in Illinola in the prosecullon of this work 0 that wa may not fall short of {he grand aggregnto of money, ot Tess thian $1,000,000, nctually neaded for thio propes enlargoment of our (natitutions in tho Stato: fo this oud wo thould aeouro, n additlon to {he larger gifta of hundreds and thousands, a contribution of not loas than §2, an tlie minimum to bo given by cach member of every church, congrogation, and Sabbathi-ackiool, Sizth=We recommond the contintod freo ko of the columna of tha Standard in furtberance of tho movo~ ment; we also reapcelfully sak the friendly notlco and support of the local press in tho ditferent citica and counties of tha Btate, In (his work as bearing on publio and national ae woll as denominational fnteres Seventli—We suggeat the doirabllity of concentrat- ing the elforta of tho denomiuation, 1n behalf of edu~ catian, chiofly wyon the enlirgeinent of the facilitios of institutions alroady catablisbiesd, et WISCONSIN STATE TEACHERS' ASSO- CIATION, BEMI-ANNUAL CONVENTION. Special Dispateh to The Chicago Tridune, Maopisoy, Wis, Dec. 20,—Tho winter memi- annual meoting of tho Wisconsin State Touchors' Association began ‘horo last ovening, and will continuo to-morrow forenoon and evening, Presidont L. Emory, of Fort Atklnson, presided, Tho attendance is quite good, and includes lead- ing teachors from diffront parts of tho Btate. *‘Examinations” wan tho firat subject, presented in practical sud suggost- ivo Tpapers by Prof, Xerr, of the Stato Univorslty, and Prof. Winchell, of tho Milwaukoo Iigh School. Tho ond and method of examinations—rolative valuo of written and oral, woro congidored bothas to pupils fu achools and applyiog for certiflcates, Excessive exam- inatione—or depending on them too much for do- tormining study of pupils, was deprocated, Cousderabla valuable discuesion ensucd. . ' COUNTY BUPERINTENDENCY " was next considerod, n paper being read by Mr. Kirwan, urgiog thet tho systom should be im- proved, not ebolished. Somo test of qualifica- tion should be requirod, and snlarics bo paid botter adequate to scouro suitablo men, Ap- pointments by County Boards was suggostod instend of election. Supt. Bearing thought our systom vory faulty, and needed amendment, per~ baps like that of Miunesots, which requires County Buperintendents to hold a Stato cor- tificate of qualification to tench, or State Univer- H[i" diplomg. Other gontlemen oxpressod liko viows, Thmmorn(nf, Prosident Albee, of the Oshikosh Norma} Bchool, road o papor urging that, as teachora labored lurfulyAm isolation without contact with cultivated minds, they must he fitted for their work boforeband, and: eo that thera should be gonools for-their geucral aduoa- tion, and the Normal schools dovoted more to profossional training. Lresidont Chapin, of Bololt Colloge, road a paper on the TRUE FUNCTIONS OF A COLLEGE, which, he said, aimed to jmpart_ to young minds sell-knowlodge, solf-possossion, breadth of brow, and a high moral aud religious character, llo algo claimed that while there liad Loon consid- orable modification of college coursics, those contral idess had been rotained, and so moasurod with msuccosa in the lifo of their graduates. The early college, with opportunitios bardly suporior to modern high schools, and Westorn colloges, but poorly-fur- nishod, accomplislied a3 much' in fitting young men for lifo pa tho oldest aud more richly-fur- nished institutions. Tour peculiaritios in col- logo organization and routine wore divelt on : 1, "I'he matorial brought uuder formative foreo of tho college, young men botween 18 and 25, and from 18 to 22 being countod best, 2, The term of yoars during whioh students are beld under this intluence is fixed by no arbitrary ouact- went, but determined by ‘experionco of its fit- nosa, It is n mistako to'attempt to shorten tho time by any doubling or eross-cut work, Provision for religious scrvicos and iuetitu- tions in the community, Colleges are ordina- xily in tho hsnda and under control of a ~simplo donomination, not nccessarily soctarinn, but to scoure harmony of action aud unlty of apirit, with some positivo Christian in- Huonces orsontini to the innintaming of order and to give striotly breadth and toue to charac- tor. This paper seemod to arouso more mtereat than auy other yat prosonted, aud was DISOUBSED AT BOME LENG by Drosident Losoom, Supt. Soaring, Prof, Qarponter, Drosident Albee, Irof, MeAlester, and othors, Home dissont was exprossed from tho iden that it was bettor not to havo highor “educational institutions undor the control of any sect, Prosident Boscom expressed the oplnion that education could bo as well based upon the cardival principles of morality, without tho nar- row routrictions of goctarian bollof. T'rof. Viebahn, of Sauk County, read a roport on *Educational Noods of tho Stato,” among which ho named bettor high schools, botter com- mon schools, toschors of ability and - culturo, with adoquaté componsation, aud’ freedom front sectarian biaf. 1Io favored compelling attend- ance at publio acbools, Considerablo discusalon took place on COMPULSORY EDUCATION, Supt. Searing fayorod it, theorotically, but dld not believo it practicablo in Wisconsin now. The onoral drift of the remnrks wore in the samo ircction. Thia ovening Supt. Prof, Whilford, of Milton, read a paper on * Co-aducation of the Bexes,” which ho warmly advoosted and adduced facts showing progross. -~ ——— 3 MISSOURI STATETT&:CHERS' ASSOCIA. (MEETING OF TIR ASSOCIATION AT JEFFERSON CITY. 51, Louis, Mo, Deo, 20.—The State Toachors' Asaociation mot in Jofforson City this morning, with avout 200 tencheis in attondanco, Judgo Arnold Krokol, of the United Btalos District Couut, welcomed the Assoclation and delivered an nddrosd, in which he raviowed the growthiof education siuco thy Roformution and ils offoct upon humanity, 1o aleo spocially ro- forrod to tho school systom of Missourd, and pointod out many of it advantages to the poo plo. The Hon, John Montoith, Btate S8uporin- tendant of Public Schools, also made an addross on tho gonoral subject of education, and work done aud yet to be done by the teachers in the Htate, 1Io said tho full roturns of tha sohool ollicors wore not yol in, but from theso recoived it ullfiht o stalod” npproximately that there are 748,000 elildren iu tho Stato of gohool ago, 8,200 gohools, 10,000 toachors, and 880,000 enrolled noholare, ——— A lemarkable insurnance Caso in Erance, A rather remarkablo Iusurance case Intely camo bofora n Krenoh court, A M, de Buigny hiad tnaured his life in the Gresham Compuiy, of Londan, for €4,000. Up to n recent dato ha wes In i:erl’u:t health, but, having takion a vory hiot bath, it woomed to huve the olfect of lriug:. ing on some cerobral disordor whioh necos- sitated hiu belug closoly watelied; but, not- withstanding such = sucvelllance, bo contrivad to ot hold of some prussic acld, and killed hinsolf, Mmo, de Buigny at once. com- municated to tho aflico the elccumatunces, aud fuund thoy woro resolved to tront tho case na ong of sineido, and to declina paymont. The French court has deoided that whon a wun kills himeolf who does nat onjoy liberty of action, it i not euloide, and porinits Alme. da Buigny to bring bofara it praofs of herstatomont, with the view, it may o presumod, of enforolng payment i1t sho sustalus tho sawo to its satisfaction, THE COUNTY BOARD. Influence of the Contract System and . High Salarles, Three of the New Members Likely to Join the Enemy, Unpleasant Disclosures to Bo Made To-Day. Meoting of the Special Commitice. [} SALARIES OF COUNTY EMPLOYES, THE BUDJEOT CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE, A mooling of the Specinl Committeo appointod by the Board of County Commissioners fo ex- smino into and report upon tha subject of tho salarles of tho omployon of Cook Counly for tho ensulng yonr, was hold yosterday foronoou. Thera wore preacnt tho Chairman, Commissiou- or Iloldon, and Commjssloners Crawford, Mc- Cnfiroy, Guonther, Conloy, Busso, and Schmidt. ‘flio seasion was ymoro harmonious than might hiave boou oxnocted in view of tho divisions in tho Bonrd on the question.of salnrios ; but this may bo accounted for on the supposition that thio sd7ocatea of bigh salarics wero confidont of their streugth in thd Doard, and go conld afiord to ro- main quicacent for the' time, Tho Commitico procoodad on the mssumption that tho presont Donrd is not bound by tho walary-list adopted by tho old Doard just provious to tho expiration of its tenuro, and diseussed tho question of com- pensation as though it weroe under consideration for tho firat time. Ono of tho first acts of tho Committoo was to Lrlug back to the orighial figira of 82,000 per yoorthe ealary of tho State’s-Attornoy's moat oflicient avsistant, who was thought by the old Board to bo worthiy of a salary of 2,500 for the yonr 1875, - Tho pnlary-list- in the offico of fthe County Clork was this occasion of & good deal of discus- sion, 1t apponred that Gen. Liob had agreed'to run his oftico next year for the sum of 45,000, and fix tho compenkation of bis clorks, himself to havetho bonofic of_what ke gould suve out of that figure. If Gon. Leb could run his ofiieo for $45,000 next yoar,” whoreas 1t cost tho conuty 43,000 thin year, it occurred to. Commissiouors Holden and Guenthor that the County Clork could indicato to the Committoo tho reductions e proposed to mako, and let tho Board rogulate the ealnrics ns bofore, Tho Clork was sume monod before the Committes to give informa- tion on_ this Zmillt, but Lo showed a non-com- nuttal disposition as to dotails. Ife ndmitted that his oflico could bo run at an exponso not oxcoed- ing #45,000, if the Bonrd would voto him that sum to bo used as he ploased; but hbo deolined to file o bill of particulars ns to whoro this saviug was to bo offected. e snid it mado a great differonca whothor ho paid his employos with his own monoy or with that of tho county, Ie could ent them down if thoir pay camo ouit of his own pockot, but ho conld recommend no roduntion if tho connty poid them. This way of stating tho aase struck tho Committeo as rather peoulinr, It showod that Gen. Licb was perfectly able and witling to rotronch for his own benefit, but was both pow- erless and unwilling to cut down tho expensos. of lsoflica for the bonefit of the tax-paycrs of Cook County. Unsuccessful 1 neouring tha in- formation noceseary to enable them to nct intel- ligontly, tho Committeo determmed Lo make no recommendation coucerning the salary schedulo of the County Clork's offico, but to Jeave it for the prosont in tie loose aud lenky condition thnt it was last year. This gift of 3,000, which atands admitied by the County Clork, will prob- ably bo the pubject of wome discussion and fn- quiry when the matfor comes before thoe Board for its action, ‘Lo changes from (hae snlary-list adontod by the old Board waro few aud comparatively nu- important, A disposition was stondily maifest- od by Commiesiouers Holdon and Guénther, oc- casionally supportod by tho votes aud voicos of Commissioners Crawford and Schundt, to cut down tho prosent princely sniarios of Coolc County employes ; but, with the gxcsption of Commissioners Holdou and Guenther, thore Wwers no porsistont advocates of rotronchmont in tho Committeo. Among the reductions agreed mpon by tha Committoe, the most important weio: Counly Agent, from 32,500 to 2,200 ;' Chiof Clerk in tho Storifl's ollico, from €4.000' to S1,800 5 tho Wardon of tho Cotinty Tospital, 61,500 to 21,0003 the County Attorucy, from §6,000 to $5.000 Stato's . Attornoy’s assistant, from 32500 ta $2,000. Many of thoso figures will doubtloss Le changed by tho Board to-day. Boforo the Com- mitteo ndjourned Commissioner Crawford took tha back track on thosalary of the County Agent, and moved that it bo tixed at $2,500, The mo- tian provailed, Tha proposition to voto a lnh\;y of $3,000 for tho Chiof Doputy in thoe Shoriff's ofica was not agreed to, but tho Committeo voted to rccome wend thirtoen Deputics ab $2,000 onch. Aftor the entiro list had beon gone throngh with, Commisslonor Guenthar moved ta ke n raduction of 6 per cont upon all salarios over $1,600. This was voted down by a Iargo ma- Jority, and Commissionor Guenther announced that hio would not pign tho roport as ndopted by the Commitice, Commissionor Iloldon, ny Chairman, way instrucled to prepare and submit tho report of tho mectlng to-day. Commission- er Crawford statod that ho shonld not consider himself bound to sustain the action of tho Com- mitteo in nll reapoctr. 1t was voted to rocommond that ao ansistant bo provided for Col. Niles, Clark of the Bunrd, whaso dutios are known to be o Arduous as to ronder holp indispensablo; tho Conuty Clerk to appoint & person accoptabls to Cul. Nilos, sud the salary not to oxcaod $1,200 per yoar, ‘The Committes adjourncd. g THE THREE NEW MEMBERS., ARE TNEY GOING OVER TO LONERGAN ? Tor some daya prior to tho roorganization of tho now Board of County Commlssioners thero was much strifs and considorable doubt os to swho should bo elected Presidont, thio contoat bo- ing botwwoen Mosava, Crawford and Burdick, Tho strongest man against Burdick would have hoen Commiesionor Lonergan, but ho positively do- clined to seck the oftice, and Burdick's oppononts wero compeliod to fall back on Crawford, I was for somo tinia doubttul liow the newly-olect- ed frlsh mombors, McCaffroy, Conloy, and Car- roll, would voto, but thoy finally sided with Bur- dick, and in tho eleotion of a I'rosident, at lesst, tho Lonergan faction was beaten, But two other anbjocts lave como up which Lave tondod to broak tho ranks of the majority, and to give tho Lonorgan poople the supromacy, Theso aro the quoations, whothor tho presont viclous gystom of purohasing supplics by con- tracts ebull bo rotained or abandonod, and whother the lgh salarics ndopted by the old Board abnll bo adhered to, To chango tho con- traotsystemn wonld upact Periolat, aud that worthy i consocquently working dosporately ngainst any moditication of the prosont ordor of things, Now ofticers aro to bo oloeted, and tho presont incumbonty, as woll aa thoso who hopo to suc- ceed thom, aro using all their influence to Erm’eul eny alteration of the schedule adopted y tha autgalng Board, Tuis {ntluonce huy con- countratod itsolf on theso three Irish mombors, always considered shaky, and thelr votos Monday, on tho salary quostion, indlcated strongly that thoy had gone uver to Lonorgan snd extrave- gance; which, if so, would give that sida a ma- iarlvy of ona in the Board, This combination af tho coutract system and high salavivs iw, it mont be admitted, o very strong team, and powerful cnough to shuko tho firmuess 0 u ordinary Comumiseioner, Tho willlngnesa of thego threo gentlomon to voto high enlarios and push through the oloe- tion of officors is all the more nurpiising in view of tho fact that it is rumored that tho forth- comiug report of tho Bpocisl Committeo on Sup- piies will discloso grops irroguluritiva in the County Agont's oftice, .which, if truo, ehould mako o radical chango in the oftlce, It ju al- loged, for instanco, that whero n person is iven au order for 40 conts' worth of jominy, and tales it to ono of tho stores whove county supplies are to bo had, he is askod if ho would not prefor vomething instend of tho hominy, 1la nesonts, nnd says ha will tako some sugar, Ho i given a pound, conting perhiaps 12 couts, and tho county is debitod with 0 conta’ worth of hominy, Buch things, it is allegod, tako placo with tho cognizanoe of ofticors puid by tho county. COMMISHIONER TIOLDEN, A Tninuxe roportor callod yesterdsy ovenlng upon Uounty Commissioner 0. (1, 1, llnhltsnI and lud 8 bijof conversation with him, e follows, ou tho situation in the County lloard : ]lulmrlm'—-\\'lml do you think, Cowmlgsioner, about the Irisl voto in the County Loard. luit ia(ng to support Burdick or is it going over te onorgan and tho rest ? Mr. [lolden—I don't think it ts right for mo ta ey anything about that just now. Roporter—What is tho repact? - Mr. Iolden—If yestorday's Yoto was a test vote it showed Couloy, Carroll, nnd MoCaftro, on the eame side with Lonorgan, Ierting, an the old Commissloners, certainly. Lieportor—In tha Boord golug to do anythin in tho matter of the County Agant’s offlco an tho alloged oxtravaganca thoroin 7 Mr. 1lolden—No action has yot boen taken {n tho mattor, Tteporter—ITow nbout that report of yours? Mr. Holden—I think I oan sa! ol( smy that itc natura is auch ns to insure its malking " considers nble atir when its contents aro mado publio, Tleporter—Can't you give mo & gonoral ides na to what it containg ? Mr, Holdon—Well, it contalns about an inch thick of solid legal-cap paper, and treats of mora enb]uc'éa than wo could {alk of couvoniontly ak presont. Roporter—What dces it any about contraocts ? Mr. Jlolden—Tho Committeo recommend n chrugo of the practice of contracting for all tho supplien, and will no doubt recommend that in futuro ail supplics bo purchasod direct, oxcopt- ing porhiaps, meat, milk, butter, and broad. - Aud this waa all the reporter could got out of Mr. llolden, A cAUCUS, Immodintely after the ndjournment of the Committeo on Supplies, which mot in the morn- ing, = catcus was hold of thosa recognizod ns bee longing to tho Lonerzan wing, including Conley, MeCalfroy, and Carroll. Commissionor’ Jones also dropped in, and mode n fecblo pretousa of faking part in fho discussion, but way wot rocelvod wilh any great cordiality, and he quiotly alid out, What was dono is mnol kuowu, oxcopt that arrangoments wero partially mado for to-day's prof;rnmmn‘ Another cauous will bo held this morniy 1t is most likely that thera will ho no clection of oflicers to-day, but that it will be deforrad till Thursday, and that s u]nulcun will meou this avening to make out tha slate, s e A Novel Adventure. Trom the Strathroy (Can.) Dispatch. As Dr. Billings, of this town, was riding along near Mount Carinal, ho doscricd & deor ou the rond, aud shouted at it, expecting to seo 8 fino Tun nerosy tho fields. The dour Was 8o fright- oned that, in attompting to jump the fence, it struck tho fonco-rider and foll back. ‘ho Doctor kopt on shotting all tha whilo, and the confusion of tho animal becatno #o groat that each auccood- ing attompt was nomoro successful thau tho first. Beoing this, tho Doctor reined his Liorses In = corner of tho fonco, jumpod_out of his buggy, mado for tho deor, aud actually cnught it, but had no gonnor toncbed it than ho found himuolf in tho diteh. Aftor two or throo ups and downa it ot away from him; but, boing & doctor, be ought oh scientific principles, and in his endoay- ora to cot tho carotid artery inflicted a wound on ita ook, Tho confused and now wounded animal ran off tan or twolve rods ‘and actually came baek 19 cho very same spob to jump tha fonco, and with thy samo ill-success oy beforo. The Doctor closed in and eauzht it & socond time, and, aftor anvthor sorics of ups and downs, suce ceaded In sovoring ths carotid artory wich hia ponknife, when tho doer's ife-blood soon effused and it sauk & vietim t its captor’s pluck. Aftor tho oxcitoment was over the Doctor found him- self too much exh ifs hin prize mto tuo carriazo, 1y reating soma tim>, however, ho was avlo to do 8o ; and thas baiig dons, hadrovoe home, wo will not siay n bi: but cartainly & muddy, aud bioo, ploased, = AVIUSEMENTS. " GRAND OPENING Cooat Westom Billiand Bl Nos, 220 and 222 West Madivon-ct, The ** Waost Find® wiil lio favored with & farmal epaniag of 1o uLuss alepaat establishincn on tha Lvening o1 Wednesday, Dee, 30, Slosson himsalf, ant all the cits's lacal espacty, na #latad by sovoral favorkias from abruad, wilt evibic thy uperior morlia of twolve extrafinienod TANI, HAKT & CUL tabilos, sunpllad with 105 non hosuir Dt Inney Wire Chialilon, whiell the voudict. of the wovid i pranowrcel udispsliable tu & pericetly ontosable La of bitllards, Tho publle fs cortislly Invited to Lo provant at this most {ntorostiny exhibition, nnd tn rent old favaritn caturors, in thy parsn:is of 1 i Fuley'n) chagr obia ( lia (lata fud Andiow it (U1 Cavtaint), ey known. Al undee the maigemant of Geo, I ~ FARWELL H SCOTT SIDDONS READINGS, <~ IWWEW YEAR'S BVE. (R;2rvod Soats to-day at Jauson, MeClurz & Co.'s, No. 7 st GRAND OFERA HOUSE, Glarkat,; opposity Siorioan Muiine, TRED AIMS, o sevecses seess Manager Sacond week of tho great snceors, Kelly & Leou's translar on of THorve's comlc vpo, LE PRTIY FAUST! MARGUERI TR ONLY LE0; KELLY & LEON'S FAMOUS MINSTRELS 1n n Ll af wsrivalied comleall ery Evoulny anil Saturday Matinoe, e o graad s Matlzoe on w Voar's Day, HOOLEY'S THEATRE, hleh attulnod o ruu of 160 nights at the Unjon Squass o, Now York, Now Sesuccrs Jleasat Apfoine kréat play—LOST IN LON. opneatin~Ths Toston Musoum success—MAG- 3t par oxcel 1 weak—\Watts Plliip Wodnoadny and Thursday, and Thursday Matinoo, WAITING FOR THE VERDIOT, Cast tn tho enfira strensth of tha Company, includs SOIN DTN oA T (Svariian. 250 facluding Now Year's Day, Groat Attractiona, 1 8, Lsocy ohild viste YoA A rEadnnt, paly, eulizlad tho DOWF D5 SKATING RINK, - BEAUTIFUL IG5, BEAUTIFULICE, FINEST OF THI SHEASON. Skating Iy gotting to ba all tha razo, Fashionabil orawda ovary sitornuon sl evontnz, Admittanen, 2 Huy your asanan tlekots tnr Now Vaar's Gilts, Lady, §2 Gonfleman, £1; Lady aud Gont, 8. Graud oxhibitibu o Tauoy skatlng to-night. s ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Tramandans Seneatlon awd fntenso Pathuslasm aver the ‘rundortul &imotinsal actroas, IS8 CLARA MIORRIS) e now i ‘onight hor woll-kuawn yocsonation of GOIA, In, ATRTTCTILIS - Naw. Voar's Tolida, and Baturday Matine: N oth, MoVICKER'S THEATRE, TAST WEEK ot the Brilliant Engagomant of EDWIN BOOTIE. Wadna«day and Thursday, only nights of IBRTITTTS Tl et AR . aturduy Matinon - HAM Haturday N BV f I L SCHOOL OF VOCAL ART. giving full fnformation st monl Subuilapplioation 10 Actuaty, S03 Cluon: 8 Spoakiin Cirouins by i o R T “nual) Fani ool and excgllont homo fo um:h\ ELGO, A."l\ll'.:.vl f'r’l‘m-“’.'rfi' i e . Ve i for cirguags Lonn LoEtis Weiduoy SCALES, U FAIRBARKS® = it . SCALES OF ALL KINDS, FAIRBANKS, MORSE & 00, 5 111 & 113 Lake St., Chicago, e carelultobuy only the Genukan,