copy manuscripts, or teach languages, or act as governesses, or follow some other of the frightfully over-stocked vocations, But when I say to one of them, "The work you seek is positively not to be had, since ten want to do it where one wants it done; you must strike off into the broad, free country, and ask farmer after farmer to give you work, till you find it," the general response, "I know nothing of farming," strikes on my ear like a knell. Even at seasons when the farmers were intensely hurried by their summer harvest, and ready to pay largely for any help that was not hindrance, I have known our city to be thronged with weary, sad petitioners for "something to do." If our current education were not a blunder or a fraud, this could not be. I live when I can in the country, though most of my sleeping, and nearly all my waking hours, are given to work which calls me to the city. My neighbors are mainly farmers, generally in fair circumstances, whose children are fairly educated, or may be if they will. I regret to say that a majority of them prefer not to follow their father's vocation, but want to live by trade, by office, or something else than farming. And the reason, to my mind, is clear their education and their whole intellectual culture lead away from the farm. Their school-books contain nothing calculated to make them love agriculture, or qualify them to excel in it; their fireside reading is not of chemistry, geology, and the related sciences, but of knights and fairies, troubadours and tournaments-in short, all things calculated to make them detest farming as a coarse, plodding, hum-drum pursuit, fit only for inveterate dunces and illiterate boors. I protest against this as false, and pernicious, and demand an education and a literature which shall win our farmers' sons to prize and honor the calling of their fathers. A political economist has observed that labor, unless used at the moment of production, is lost forever. In most vocations, it is impossible to produce beyond the day's needs. The doctor can only cure diseases as they manifest themselves; the best lawyer cannot anticipate next year's legal business; the carpenter and mason cannot build houses except as they are wanted. The farmer, on the contrary, may grow corn or cattle, flax, wool, or cotton in excess of the current demand, and store it against the time of need. Better still: he may drain, and subsoil, and fertilize; may plant trees, and graft, and prune, so as to double his product in the future by a judicious expenditure of effort in the present. If a hundred thousand additional lawyers and doctors were let loose upon the community, I do not feel sure that the net result would be more justice or less disease and death, while I am quite sure that the national wealth would not be increased thereby; but a hundred thousand enlightened, efficient farmers, added to those we already have, could hardly fail to add one hundred millions per annum to the property which shall be the heritage of our children. My countrymen! let us each do his best to increase the proportion of useful workers to pestilent idlers in the community. Nay, more; let us try to increase the proportion of producers to exchangers or distributors of wealth. Fences, and padlocks, and policemen, and revenue officers, may be necessities of our present condition-I presume them to be so; but we might have our country so well fenced, and padlocked, and policed, that we should all starve to death. There is no shadow of danger that too few will seek to live by law, physic, trade, etc., etc., while there is great danger that trade and the professions will be overcrowded, to the neglect and detriment of productive industry. Let us face the foe that menaces our position, and defeat him if we can.-Horace Greeley in "Hearth and Home." Who LET US HELP ONE ANOTHER.-This little sentence should be written on every heart, and stamped on every memory. It should be the golden rule not only practiced in every household, but throughout the world. By helping one another, we not only remove thorns from the pathway, and anxiety from the mind, but we feel a sense of pleasure in our own hearts, knowing we are doing a duty to a fellow creature. A helping hand, or an encouraging word is no loss to us, yet a benefit to others. has not felt the power of this little sentence? Who has not needed the encouragement and aid of a kind friend? How soothing, when perplexed with some task that is mysterious and burdensome, to feel a hand on the shoulder and to hear a kind voice whisper: "Do not be discouraged-I see your trouble-let me help you." What strength is inspired-what hope created-what sweet gratitude is felt, and the great difficulty is dissolved as dew beneath the sunshine. Yes, let us help one another by endeavoring to strengthen and encourage the weak, and lifting the burden of care from the weary and oppressed, that life may glide smoothly on, and the fount of bitterness yield sweet waters; and He whose willing hand is ever ready to aid us, will reward our humble endeavors, and every good deed will be as "bread cast upon the waters, to return after many days," if not to us, to those we love. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society will hold its next exhibition at HARRISBURG, commencing Tuesday, September 28th, 1869, and to continue four-9 o'clock. days. For particulars, address the Secretary at Harrisburg. AMOS E. KAPP, Pres't. D. W. SEILER, Rec. Sec. HON. J. P. WICKERSHAM, State Superintendent of Pennsylvania, has in his possession free return tickets on the Pennsylvania Railroad, for members of the National Association, to meet in Trenton. PENNSYLVANIA STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. 1. Opening exercises. 2. Report. The family school and church as educators of youth-Col. Cornforth, McKean county. 3. Discussion of the above report, to be opened by Amos Row, Esq., of Lancaster, Pa., and Prof. Shumaker, Chambersburg, Pa. 4. Report of committee on absenteeism as related to crime-J. C. Gilchrist, Esq., chairman, Washington county. 5. Report. Permanent certificates-S. D. Ingram, Esq., Dauphin county. 6. Discussion of the above report, to be Tuesday, August 10th, 1869-Morning Ses opened by David Evans, Esq., Superintendent sion-10 o'clock. 1. Organization. 2. Opening exercises. 3. Address of welcome, by Rev. J. K. Plitt. 4. Response by the Association. 5. Miscellaneous Business. 6. Inaugural address by the President, Prof. S. S. Jack, Westmoreland county. Afternoon Session—2 o'clock. 1. Report. Mental Philosophy and its relation to the theory of teaching-J. R. Gaff, Chambersburg, Pa. 2. Report. State Normal Schools-Prof. I. O. Best, Bloomsburg State Normal School. 3. Discussion of the above report, to be opened by George W. Fetter, Principal Girls' Normal School, Philadelphia, and Prof. S. B. Heiges, York county. 4. Essay. The needs of our public schools -Miss Martha Glass, Pittsburg. 5. Adjournment. Evening Session-7 o'clock. 1. Address. Conflict and Reform-Rev. W. C. Falconer, Mercer county. 2. Discussion. Topic to be selected by the Association. of Lancaster county, and J. A. M. Passmore, Esq., Pottsville, Pa. 7. Adjournment. Afternoon Session-2 o'clock. 1. Address. Civil Government-C. Townsend, New York. 2. Report. School attendance-Prof. H. S. Jones, Superintendent of Erie City. 3. Discussion of the above report, to be opened by Miss Maria L. Sandford, Chester county, and T. J. Chapman, Esq., Superintendent of Cambria county. 4. Appointment of committees. 5. Adjournment. Evening Session-7 o'clock. 1. Essay. "Stilts"-Miss Jennie Reighard, Williamsport. 2. Address. "Teachers' Inner Life"Hon. E. E. White, State Superintendent of Ohio. 3. Discussion of the above report, to be open- | officers of the Association, of asking favors for ed by Geo. J. Luckey, A. M., Supt. Pittsburg, the teachers, which they do not accept. When and Prof. Allen, Tioga county. there is such a unanimous expression of good 4. Lecture. Shall common sense sweep feeling toward the cause of education on the away legal cobwebs ?-Swinthin Shortledge, part of public corporations, let the teachers A. M., Kennet Square, Pa. respond heartily with their presence and energy 5. Adjournment. at the coming meeting. Afternoon Session-2 o'clock. 1. Address. State aid for the course of higher education. Rev. Robt. Audley Brown, D. D., Prest. Westminster College. 2. Report of Committees. 3. Election of officers. 4. Adjournment. Evening Session-7 o'clock. 1. Addresses by Hon. J. P. Wickersham, State Superintendent, Hon. Tho. H. Burrowes, Prof. Brooks and others. 2. Report of Committee on Resolutions. 3. Sociable. 4. Adjournment. The above programme presents a variety of interesting topics. The exercises will be interspersed during the day and evening with vocal and instrumental music, and also with select readings by some of the most prominent elocutionists in the country. The people of Greensburg are making ample arrangements to give the Association a hearty reception. Ladies will be entertained free of charge, and the hotel rates for gentlemen will range from $1 to $1.50 per day. A list of railroads favoring the Association is published below. The local arrangements have been placed in the hands of an efficient committee, with James C. Clark, Esq., of Greensburg, chairman. No efforts will be spared on the part of the executive committee and the committee at Greensburg to make this meeting one of the largest and most successful that has ever been held, Let there be such a turnout of the teachers of the State as is worthy of the great cause which they represent. RAILROAD Free return passes will be issued over the following railroads: Pennsylvania Central, Allegheny Valley, Cumberland Valley, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, East Pennsylvania, Erie and Pittsburg, Huntingdon and Broad Top, Lehigh Valley, Lehigh and Susquehanna, North Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Baltimore Central, Excursion tickets will be issued for the Catawissa railroad and Pittsburg and Connellsville railroad. C. H. HARDING, Secretary. STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this body will commence at Greensburg, in Westmoreland county, this year on Tuesday, August 10, and continue three days. The Executive Committee, we learn, have made the usual arrangements for facilities in travel, and the people of Greensburg are disposed to welcome the Association. The programme of exercises will be found attractive, and, if fully carried out, and in the proper spirit by the members, we look for a beneficial and pleasant meeting. All, however, will depend on those who shall attend. If HENRY HOUCK, all meet in the right spirit, and each exert himChairman Ex. Com. self to make the occasion what it should be, there can be no failure. For the past three or four years we have noticed that our meetings have been growing in attendance and interest, and this without any extra effort having been made to attract attention. So it should be. The cause itself and the pleasantness of these gatherings, ought to be sufficient to induce every teacher who can afford the time and the small cost of attendance, to be present. We look for this increasing interest and the growing prominence of the profession in the community, to give us a large attendance at Greensburg. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. The railroad superintendents and general ticket agents have been very liberal, and if the teachers avail themselves of these arrangements, the applications for the same favors next year can be made and received with much better grace. It has sometimes happened that only four or five teachers have passed over any part of some of the railroads. It is hoped that this year the reproach will not be cast upon the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. The educational meetings to be held in Trenton, New Jersey, during the third week in August, promise to be a great success. Three national associations hold their annual meeting there during that week. The Association of State Superintendents meets on Monday, that of Normal School Principals and Teachers on Tuesday, and the general Association of Teachers on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For the list of distinguished educational men, by whom lectures or papers have been promised, with subjects to be treated, see July No. of JOURNAL. Let there be a large attendance from Pennsylvania. PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. in achieving such advancement, the successful person is but attaining the object of his previous exertions, and at last bringing all his plans to their desired result. It is not always so. On the contrary, many persons who have long labored to accomplish some coveted official or political promotion, fail of its attainment, and finally discover that sails trimmed for one port, to use the nautical phrase, often bear their bark to another, if not to shipwreck. Whereas, the simple rule of "doing our duty in that condition in life unto which it has pleased God to call us" rarely fails of full and present success therein, and is withal the true road to preferment; for honest merit is not often long overlooked. And such preferment, when it does come, has the double advantage as well as the pleasant feeling of being not only deserved, but within our ability to discharge its duties. It is with such feelings that we congratulate himself, who has thus merited,-the head of the school department, who has recognized the merit,-and the system itself, which will real and higher official action. Another cause of pleasure is found in the fact that the new Deputy is thoroughly a Pennsylvanian, of the good old German stock; and that his appointment will therefore bring the operations and influences of the system still nearer to that important element in our population. OUR BOOK NOTICES. We see by the official matter in the July Journal that the number of permanent certifi cates issued by the State Superintendent, has reached four hundred and twenty-five, and no doubt an addition will be made this month. We also learn from the same source that forty-ize the advantages of Mr. Houck's promotion five persons this year receive certificates in the several courses at the Normal Schools of Kutztown, Edinboro, and Mansfield, and we are told that thirty-five will be graduated at Millersville. This is doing well. The means devised by the State law of 1867 seem to be now in successful operation and producing good results, and the Normal Schools are beginning to turn out their graduates in very appreciable numbers. So we go. The long watched and much wanted machinery will soon be in full operation, and the permanency and distinct standing of the profession may now be regarded as a certainty. Herein is another motive for faithfulness and exertion on the part of teachers. The higher they rise the more will their defects, as well as their merits, come into view. Let all remember, therefore, that not merely their own reputations depend upon their present discharge of professional duty, but the standing of the profession itself, of which they are the first complete corps brought upon the field of action; and that with them is to some extent involved the final triumph of the system itself. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT. In the well deserved promotion of Mr. Houck to the second office in grade of the School Department, industrious, intelligent and faithful young men will find another instance of the encouragement presented by our institutions to a continuance in well doing. Many think that The reader will have noticed that a portion of this laborious and responsible editorial duty has for some time fallen upon our Assistant, all not bearing our own initial being his. We call the work responsible as well as laborious, for the reason that it involves not only the labor of reading and closely examining many books that would not otherwise be taken up, but the duty of giving a plain and honest opinion of their respective merits. As this journal is not a puffing machine, and as we judge for ourselves in all cases, irrespectively of the wishes of authors and publishers, the task frequently is not over-pleasant, but as there is also a responsibility to the reader we strive to discharge it to the best of our knowledge. Our younger Assistant, more ardent and less experienced in life than we, is more easily pleased and indorses with a freer pen: whereas, it may be that we are occasionally somewhat hypercritical. The true medium possibly is between. At any rate, by the agency of both the reader has variety of opinion, and that is a part of " the spice of life." any, It has been and will be our practice to look | the author. But in the whole course of our not only at the style, ability and adaptedness to reading, a more contemptible piece of literary its purpose of each work sent for review, but toadyism has not been met than occurs in the to add, when merited, a word of approval of title of the book. We have read of "The its general literary, or moral, or religious ten- Tower of London," or "The Tower," all dency, or a caution against its lurking design, through English history; but that it is "Her if when detected. Thus guided, if hon- Majesty's," is new to us. It did belong to the estly guided, the reader is all the better pre- early kings, and especially to the Roman typared for its profitable perusal. rants, who enlarged it, and with many of their successors used it for the purposes of cruelty and oppression. But for a modern Englishman to tolerate the idea that it now belongs to the reigning monarch, as it did to the ancient tyrants, is disgraceful. It is the "Tower of London," and is no more Queen Victoria's tower, either to alienate, or bequeath, pervert, or abuse, than is the constitutional crown she is permitted to wear. These remarks have been suggested by the notices of two works in the July number, Wallace's "Malay Archipelago," and Hepworth Dixon's "Her Majesty's Tower," which if written by us would have had a remark added in each case, and these we think so much in place, that they shall even now be made. The author of the first is a Darwinian, in fact of equal standing and authority as to the "origin of species" as Darwin himself, and, as such, one of those naturalists who follow the facts of science wherever they lead, and who are ready for any conclusion to which that guide may bring them. Learned, moral, and toward revelation very respectful, they are materialists, and their conclusions are to be received with caution-by all who look with confidence for the verification of revelation when true science shall have done its final work. As surely as some of the long doubted facts of Sacred History have been put beyond yea or nay by the labors of investigators from Champollion and Rawlinson to Layard, so surely will those of geology, entomology, and ethnology be all found to agree with God's written word, when all the facts in each place shall have been known and appropriately marshaled. In the meantime, disregarding the hasty hypothesis which seems to assert "four or five progenitors for all animals," and looking for the day when obstacles in the way of believing in the unity of the origin of species shall be removed, we can well enjoy the result of the labors of these learned and earnest but impatient philosophers, and give them credit for the success with which their labors are narrowing down, on their side, the differences between the records of the "stone book" and the "Bible book," and fast removing the "vestiges " of their own theo retical "creation." As to "Her Majesty's Tower," we have read it with interest, and must say that it contains some things that are new, and much that is better told than in any other work within our knowledge. Here is a fuller, plainer and more succinct narrative of the life and fate of Lady Jane Grey, and of her period and event in English history, than the reader will find elsewhere. So as to Sir Walter Raleigh, though made too much of a hero, perhaps, by - "SUNDAY, THE FOURTH." The occurrence of the Fourth of July this year on Sunday, together with the peculiar circumstances of our present position and duties, has led to some thoughts on the subject never suggested before, and to something like a definite conclusion, which the reader shall have for his consideration also. God ordained the Sabbath for wise purposes-physical, moral, and political, as well as religious. The religious object and use require no remarks, except to say that, with differences to the extent with which it is kept and sanctified, the Sabbath is a Christian institution in every form of Christianity, and in every part of the world where the Christian system is known. Neither is it necessary to say more as to the value, physical and moral, of rest from toil and care at stated intervals frequently occurring, than that the beneficial effect on mind, body, and estate proves the wisdom, the divine origin of the rule. Hygienists, political economists, and moral philosophers alike admit this. Not only is its observance enjoined on and found to be advantageous to each one's self, and to the "son and the daughter," the "man servant, the maid servant," and the "stranger" tarrying with us, but to the "cattle," whose only advantage can be physical and for the owner's benefit. All this is trite and has been often repeated and amplified by writers of all classes; but the political aspect of the question has been little dwelled on, and to that our present remarks are directed. Amongst Christians it is admitted that the divine law, of which the Decalogue is the embodiment and synopsis, is binding, everywhere and on all occasions, in its plain, ob |