Institute and Practical Teacher, adding about three thousand subscribers from Iowa to its already splendid list.

Professor T. J. Mitchell, Superintendent of Schools, Charlotte, N. C., will hold a four-weeks' institute at Boone, Watauga county, N. C., beginning July 26th. Boone is in the beautiful mountain region of the "Old North State," and presents many attractions to visitors. He has just closed an institute at Florence, Alabama. At the close the members of the institute presented him with a beautiful gold-headed cane, and passed the following resolution:

Resolved, That our heartfelt thanks be tendered to Superintendent T. J. Mitchell for the able manner in which he has conducted the session of the institute. We have found him to be a Christian gentleman, a thorough scholar, a matchless disciplinarian, and an enthusiastic instructor, and bid him God speed in his noble work.

Professor Mitchell won golden opinions at Fredericksburg last year and has many friends in Virginia who will rejoice at his success.

Literary Items.

MONOGRAPHS ON EDUCATION.-Many contributions to the theory or the practice of teaching are yearly lost to the profession, because they are embodied in articles which are too long, or too profound, or too limited, as to the probable number of interested readers, for popular magazine articles, and yet not sufficient in volume for books. D. C. Heath & Co., therefore, propose to publish from time to time, under the title of Monographs on Education, just such essays prepared by specialists, choice in matter, practical in treatment, and of unquestionable value to teachers. They will be bound in paper covers and sold at low prices. No. 1 of this series will be a paper on Modern Petrography. An Account of the Application of the Microscope to the Study of Geology, by George Huntington Williams, of the Johns Hopkins University, and will be ready very soon.

THE CENTURY DICTIONARY.-For the past five years The Century Company has been engaged in preparing a dictionary of the English language, of which Professor William D. Whitney, of Yale College, is editor-in-chief—the purpose being to make a more comprehensive work than has yet appeared in popular form, to include, in addition to a very full collection of individual words in all departments of the language, all technical phrases, not self-explaining, in law, the mechanical arts, the sciences, etc. Indeed, it is designed to make this dictionary so complete in its definitions of all branches of science and art that even the specialist will need nothing further. The number of "new" words in many of these departments is said to be surprisingly great. The dictionary will have also a remarkably complete system of. cross-references, and will embody in itself a dictionary of synonyms which will add greatly to its value.

D. C. Heath & Co., of Boston, announce for September An Introduction to the

Study of Robert Browning's Poetry. By Hiram Corson, M. A., LL.D., Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the Cornell University.

The work will include, with additions, the Papers on "The Idea of Personality, as embodied in Browning's Poetry," and on "Art as an intermediate agency of Personality," which Professor Corson read before the Browning Society in London, and which received high commendation from the poet. Several pages will be de. voted to Browning's favorite art-form, the Dramatic Monologue, and to the characteristics of his diction, especially those which sometimes occasion obscurity, if the reader is not familiar with them.

In addition to the selections from his works, with explanatory notes, the editor will present exegeses of a number of poems, without the texts; also a Bibliography of Browning Criticism.

D. C. Heath & Co. announce for October a book on Manual Training, by Professor C. M. Woodward, of Washington University, St. Louis, than whom no man is better qualified to define and expound manual education. He was the founder of the first Manual Training School, strictly so-called, and he shares with Professor J. D. Runkle, of Boston, the honor of first advocating practical methods of tool instruction as an element in American education.

The Magazines.

The June number of the POLITICAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY contains seven articles, of which two are contributed by the Faculty of the School of Political Science of Columbia College. Professor Anson D. Morse, of Amherst College, has an extremely suggestive paper on Andrew Jackson. Mr. William A. Dunning discusses the principal constitutional questions which arose during the Civil War. He shows that in the exigencies of the struggle for national unity the old canons of constitutional construction were discarded, and he thinks that many acts of the government were unwarranted by any legitimate interpretation of the constitution. His conclusion is that the old constitution was in great part swept away and a new one created by what he terms the revolution of 1861-67. In strong contrast to the somewhat strict-constructionist tone of Mr. Dunning's article is the discussion of the Legal Tender Question by Mr H H. Neill. It is a reply to Bancroft's " Plea for the Constitution, Wounded in the House of its Guardians " The Honorable William L. Scruggs, of Georgia, formerly Minister to Colombia, furnishes some practical and timely suggestions about our law of citizenship. Mr. Edwin R. A. Selign an contributes an interesting sketch of two phases of English Socialism in this century. He describes briefly the schemes and the work of Robert Owen, the father of the co-operative movement; and, more fully, the ideas and the labors of the Christian Socialists (Maurice, Kingsley Hughes, and others). Professor John W. Burgess describes the recent conflict between the union-king of Sweden-Norway and the Norwegian Parliament. Mr John E. Bowen publishes the first of a series of studies upon "The Conflict of East and West in Egypt " He sketches in this number the rise and fall of the Egyptian viceroyalty. He shows very clearly how Egypt was ruined by the extravagant and over-hasty attempts of its rulers to develop and civilize the country, and describes the establishment of the Anglo-French financial control. The following numbers will deal with the rebellion of Arabi and the war with the Mahdi.

Published by Ginn & Co., Boston. Price $3 a year.

Contents of ST. NICHOLAS for July.-Frontispiece, "La Fayette and the British Ambassador." La Fayette. A Child's Fancy, poem. Little Lord Fauntleroy, ch. X, two illustrations, Frances Hodgson Burnett. Three Velvety Bees, verses. Fly-fishing for Trout, nine illustrations. Daisy-song, verses. George Washington, chs. XVII-XIX, three illustrations, Horace E. Scudder. Fresh from & Dip in the Breakers. A Song of Summer, poem. The Last Cruise of the "Slug." five illustrations. The Great Spring-Board Act. Wonders of the Alphabet, illustrated. A Difference of Opinion, Verses. Wild Hunters, illustrated. The Theoretic Turtle, Verses. Nan's Revolt, chs. I, II, two illustrations. The Pussies Coats, jingle. The Kelp Gatherers, chs. VI-VIII, two illustrations, J. T. Trowbridge. A Belated Fairy. Aunt Deborah's Lesson, illustrated. Timothy Timid, illustrated jingle. Ready for Business, VI, Boat-Building. "This Little Pig Went To Market." What it Was, verses, illustrated. Captain Jack's Fourth-of-July Kite, illustrated. If, verses, illustrated. Balloons and Bees, jingle. Tippie and Jimmie, full page illustration. Number one, verses, Amusing the Baby, poem. The Brownies in the Menagerie, verses, four illustrations, Palmer Cox.

The July CENTURY.-Articles of entertainment and of serious timely interest share equally the space of the July Century. In their order, the illustrated papers are a double article on "Cross-Country Riding in America." "Homing Pigeons," a finely illustrated account of the training and use of carrier-pigeons. "A Day in Surrey With William Morris," the English poet, artist, and socialist; and Mrs. Schuyler van Renselaer's third paper on American Country Dwellings."

As usual, the War papers are profusely illustrated, the first of them being a conclusion to the Antietam articles of the previous number, giving a woman's recollections of Confederate hospital work at Shepherdstown. Three other papers deal anecdotally with the capture of New Orleans. General William F. Smith writes of "General G. H. Thomas at Chattanooga," in answer to General Grant's article in the Century for Last November. "France and Indo-China" deals with the causes and fruits of the recent French war in Asia; and "A Bozu of the Monto Sect," describes a visit to a monastery of one of the Buddhist sects of Japan.

"The Labor Question" is ably treated from the point of view of a Western manufacturer, while T. L. De Vinne gives his views on the question of "Co-operation."

POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, Contents for July-An Economic Study of Mexico, IV, by Hon. David A. Wells. Earthquakes and Other Seismic Movements, illustrated. An Experiment in SilkCulture. The Influence of Exercise upon Health, by Professor E. L. Richards. Transportation and the Federal Government, by J. C. Welch. Bohemian Glass. Geological Climate in High Latitudes, by C. B. Warring, Ph.D. Animal and Plant Lore of Children. The Origin and Structure of Meteorites. The Care of the Brain. Rustless Iron. The Development of Minerals. Sketch of Gerard Mercator, with portrait. Correspondence. Editor's Table, Science and the State. Literary Notices Popular Miscellany. Notes.

THE SOUTHERN BIVOUAC for July. The contents of the Southern Bivouac for July are more than usually varied and attractive. The first article is entitled "First Day of Real War," and describes the bombardment of Fort Sumter. J. M. Wright contributes an article on the old army, entitled "OldTime Service." An interesting article is on the " Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane." In this abbey perpetual silence is enjoined and the peculiar habits of the monks are very vividly described. R. H. Musser continues his account of the War in Missouri, and Paul H. Hayne has his second paper upon Charles Gayarré. Dr. Felix L. Oswald begins a series of papers on Southern Summer Resorts. The poetry of the number will be found above the average magazine poetry of recent date.

THE ATANTIC MONTHLY for July, Contents-The New Portfolio, A Prospective Visit, Oliver Wendell Holmes. At Variance, Cara W. Bronson. French and English, first paper, Philip Gilbert Hamerton. The Golden Justice, V, VI. William Henry Bishop. Ouida, Harriet Waters Preston. The Princess Casamassima, book fourth, XXXVII. XXXVIII, Henry James. At the Grave of a Suicide, S. M. B. Piatt. Failure of American Credit after the Revolutionary War, John Fiske. Sibyl, the Savage, L. W. Champney. The Labor Question, George Frederic Parsons. In the Clouds, XVII, XVIII, Charles Egbert Craddock. Two American Novels. Needlework in Art. The Contributors' Club. Books of the Month.

LIPPINCOTT'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE for July begins a new volume and contains-Taken by Siege, XIV-XVI. The Old Refrain, Kate Putnam Osgood. Two Passions and a Cardinal Virtue, J S., of Dale. A Parable, Louise Chandler Moulton. The Loves of the Presidents, Frank G. Carpenter. Aspiration, A. L Carlton. A Bachelor's Blunder, XXV-XXVIII, W. E. Norris. The Destruction of Love-Letters, Charlotte Fiske Bates. Our Experience Meetings, IV-My Literary Career, Henry Gréville; How I Came to be a Writer of Books, Joaquin Miller. Our Monthly Gossip-My Friends the Socialists. Craze or Culture, L. S. H.

OUR LITTLE ONES and THE NURSERY for July-Bright, timely and entertaining. Price, $1.50. Russell Publishing Co. Boston, Mass.

RICHMOND COLLEGE, Richmond, Virginia.

EIGHT SCHOOLS-Latin, Greek, Modern Languages, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Philosophy. Full corps of eight Professors. Every facility for selecting studies according to previous preparation and future aims. Several courses of Subsidiary Lectures free. Ample grounds, buildings and apparatus. Library, museum, gymnasium, two literary societies; all the appliances and advantages of a well-equipped and prosperous College. Instruction thorough and standards high. Moral and social surroundings unsurpassed.

TERMS for Nine Months' Session: Matriculation, $15; room-rent, $5; tuition in three schools, $70; board, $90 to $100; fuel, light, washing, &c., about $20.

Next Session opens SEPTEMBER 23, 1886.

For Catalogue with fuller information address

H. H. HARRIS, Chairman of Faculty.

OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT.

J. L. BUCHANAN, Superintendent Public Instruction, Editor.

[The Journal is sent to every County Superintendent and District Clerk, and must be carefully preserved by them as public property and transmitted to their successors in office.]

Text-Books.

Some County Superintendents have been undecided as to the proper construction of the circular relating to Text-Books. The following extract shows the policy of the Board of Education in this matter:

"The policy adopted by the Board of Education does not necessitate changes of Text-Books in any county or city of the State, but leaves the question to be determined by the county and city school boards. Counties and cities having other books than those on the prescribed list can continue in use any one or every one of the books they now have, or they can change any one or every one of them at any time during the next four years. But all changes must be to the books adopted by the Board of Education. Where no change is desired, no action on the part of the county or city board is necessary, as the books now in use will be continued until displaced by the adoption of other books."

The county and city school boards may change the books in use or not as they choose. It is put by regulation of the Board of Education entirely in their hands. If it is desirable not to change the books already in use in their schools (except copy-books, noticed else. where), they are allowed to continue them without action on their part. There is no necessity for re-adopting them. In fact such action is not in accordance with the policy of the Board of Education. Any formal action on the part of school boards necessitates adoptions from the prescribed list. If the books in use are to be continued it must be without action.

Should it be desirable to change any book, or books now in use, formal action in reference to that one or more should be taken, indicating the changes desired. The others, which it is desirable to retain, should not be mentioned, but permitted to remain under this regulation of the Board of Education by non-action.

School Boards can make changes at any time within the four years from August 1st, 1886.

Under the agreement with publishers, made four years ago, it was specified that the books adopted should remain in use not less than four years from the date of their adoption and introduction, provided the books continued so long on the list licensed by the State Board. School Boards are not under obligation therefore to continue in use under that contract the books adopted which are not now included in the list licensed by the State Board. The State Board gives them the privilege of doing so if they wish it. They have a right to change to the State list at any time.

Regulation 3 seems to imply that the books just adopted by the State Board must be introduced in the formation of all new classes. It must be construed, however, in the light of the regulation quoted above. When a change has been decided on, then the new books must be introduced as indicated. Had Regulation 4 preceded Regulation 3 the apparent inconsistency would not have occurred.

Copy-Books.

As supplementary to the Circular of June 1, 1886, issued from this office in regard to Text-Books, attention is called to the fact that no expense attends a change of copy-books, therefore it is required that the copy-books (the Graphic series) adopted by the Board of Education be introduced in all cases where new copy-books are to be purchased. This is in harmony with the policy of the Board, which looks to a one-book series. The publishers of the Graphic series have acceded to the terms proposed by the Board, and will furnish a sufficient supply of the books to meet all the wants of the schools. They will also exchange on equitable terms with dealers having other copy-books formerly on the State list.

Register of Applicants for Teacher's Certificate.

The attention of Superintendents is called to the regulation on this subject. The keeping of this register is a specific requirement of the Board of Education, yet some have failed, it seems, to keep it. The following is the law on the subject (School Laws, page 128, section