unite to make rules or laws by which

Our own national government is a REPUBLIC A Republic is that form of government where

benefit and protection, and also to defend themselves against any common enemy. Can you think of some of the benefits?

The people of States and Nations need certain laws by which all shall live. They need them both for protection and for defense. This is government.

All bodies of people who are governed and protected by the same general rules or laws are said to live under the same GOVERNMENT.

There are different kinds of government, as home,

school, city, State, and national governments. Find out all you can about the government of your town or city: who the officers are, what their duties are, and how they are paid.

own leaders.

MEANS OF PROTECTION AND

DEFENSE.

THE NAVY.-Every important country in the world owns and supports a NAVY for protection and defense. A navy protects the coast of the country to which it belongs. It also protects the interests of that country in for eign lands and it protects their merchant vessels at sea.

A navy consists of navy yards. of armored battleships, cruisers, torpedo-boats, and other craft for the transportation of supplies. All of the boats carry guns and ammunition excepting those carrying supplies. The various naval vessels are commanded by

officers and engineers, who have been specially educated for their position at their government's expense. The vessels are manned by gunners, sailors, and men representing different

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at sea.

Several naval vessels are usually under the command of one superior officer. Such a groun is called a squadron.

Great Britain, Germany, Russia, France, and Italy have large navies.

THE ARMY.

The regu

lar ARMY is

another

means of defense. In times of

peace our regular army is scattered

among the

various forts, which are army posts. Find out the number of men Congress in our regular army. soldiers at the present time?

now allowed by Where are our

Great Britain, Germany, France, and Russia support very large standing armies.

Learn what you can of our coast defenses.

All important coasts and harbors are protected by FORTS, GUNS, and a COAST GUARD from any invasion of an enemy.

Point in the direction you see the sun come up in the morning. We call that direction East.

Point in the direction you see the sun sink out of sight at night. call that direction West.

We

morning? Into what windows will it shine late in the afternoon? Name the pupils who sit east of you in the school room; west of you. What objects are east of you in the building; west of you? Think out from the school. What objects or build

ings are east of the school? What west of the school? In what direction does your shadow point in the morning? At night?

In what direction does your shadow point at noon? We call that direction North.

Stand with your face to the north; your right hand will be toward the east; your left hand toward the west. South will be behind you.

Point south; north. Point to the pupils and objects in the school-room which are south of you; north of you. Tell as many objects as you can which are in the south part of the room; in the north part of the room. Point toward and name any prominent buildings or objects which are south of the school-building; north of the schoolbuilding.

In what part of the day are the shadows growing shorter? When are they shortest? In what part of the day are they growing longer? In which direction do the sun shadows never point?

Exact directions are learned by means of the MARINER'S COMPASS. When at rest

NORTH

Halfway be

tween north and east is Northeast: between south and east is Southeast: between north and west is Northwest: between

and west is Southwest.

south

These four points are called the SEMI

CARDINAL POINTS.

Point northeast, southeast, north west, southwest. Name pupils and objects in the schoolroom which lie in any of these directions from you. Name buildings or objects out of doors and tell in what direction each is from the school-building. Tell the directions you would take to go home. Tell the directions of other pupils' homes from your home. Tell the direc tion of the post office, the church, and town or city hall from your home. Point to the nearest village or city, and tell its direction from your home. Find out the direction of other large places from you. Point toward them.

In what direction does your shadow fall between nine and ten o'clock in the forenoon? between two and four o'clock in the afternoon? Toward which semi-cardinal points will your shadow never fall!

Observe if the shadows are always the same length at the same time of day.

Drive a stake in the schoolyard or a tack in the school-room floor on the first day you observe the noon shadow. Note if the shadow grows shorter or longer each day. Mark its limit in each direction

Note what season is approaching as the shadows become longer; as they become shorter.

If you should rub it between your thumb and finger it would hurt or cut you. These facts tell us that it is very hard, like a bit of rock, and has sharp edges. It was once a part of a rock ledge. Do you know of any ledge near your school?

The rocks of the world have been broken up and worn down in various

Some

soils seem much more moist than others, and different plants grow in them from those which grow in dry soils.

Some soils are

fertile. They have great deal of plant food. Other soils are sterile. They have little plant food. I wonder how many kinds of soil you know?

Bring to school specimens of the diferent kinds in your neighborhood. Take some sand upon a small square of white

it is sticky. It feels very smooth and greasy when you rub it between your thumb and finger. Breathe on it, and you find it has an odor like your slate or slate-pencil.

Bring a piece of granite into school.