ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
Satnrfcan fllormnn, Ungust 25,1855.
Sdftteb
THE CARELESS WORD.
BY MKS. NORTOK.
A word i- ringing through my brain,
It was not raeart to give me pain ;
tha ' no t te o bid it -tay.
When other thing- h-d ;u*-cd away ;
j. iid a > meaning more than all.
Will ai: an id'e hoar may ail;
iv v.-.n litst 1,.i,. v d I heard.
.!y ttci'd. 'icle w >rd.
Tli ; word—O, it d >th haunt ine 11 >w,
in s c o- of joy, in scene- of woe ;
By uig.t, by day, in sun or shade,
Witu the half smile that gently pfiy'd
Iteproai li.Uy, and gave the sound
Eternal p >wer through life to wound.
There is no mi- c 1 ever heard
bo deeply fixed as that one word.
Wiieu in the laughing crowd some tone,
Like those whose joyous sound is gone,
Strikes on my ear, I shrink—'tis then
The careless word comes back again.
When all alone I sit and gaze
Upon the cheerful home-tire blaze,
Lo! freshly, as when lirst't was heard,
Returns that lightly uttered word.
W!i;n dreams bring Lack the days of old,
With al! that wishes could not hold ;
And from my feverish couch 1 start
To press a shadow to my heart—
Amid its beating echoes clear,
That little word I seem to hear ;
In vain I say, while it is heard,
Why weep?—'twas but a foolish word.
It come-:—and with it comes the tears,
Tlii- hopes, the joys of former years ;
F .'.-gotten smiles, forgotten looks,
Tltii k as dead leaves ou autumn brooks,
Aud all as joyless, though they were
The brightest things life's spring could share.
U 1 would to God I ne'er had heard
That lightly uttered, careless word.
fil isrtllamons.
THE JUGGLER'S DUEL
A NAvAI. -KET'.H.
While the old f-'rrsitc Br ; vu ,nv ut
Gibraltar, the American Consul; Mr. S r-.g-ue,
came ou board with a mail who w .Mn-.i ojo n
the ship, and, after some consultation said man
was received by the captain as a sort ol steward,
he having agreed to work .<" -•< • ■ ?
board, awl some .slight, eons. . ; •
His name was Joe Lattit, awl S.e was a re.nlar
specimen of the strolling Yankee ; bat lei
dressed well,and was remarkably good looking,
though there was in his face a peculiar look
which indicated that he preferred fn to sound
sense, allowing, however, that the fuu had some
sense in it. The moment I placed uiv eyes
upon the uian 1 knew I had seen tiiro before,
and when I had an opportunity to speak with
him, I found that he had been a p Hor ner of
legerdemain and ventriloquism in the United
States, and there I had seen i: m. lie uad
travelled through England, Fiance, ami,a pari
of Spain with his implements of deeept.on, and
bad just Drought up at Gibraltar when our ship
came in. He "brought his whole kit on lioard
iu a large chest, which lie got permission to
stow iu the bed room, where it would lie kept
jicrfeetly dry. He hud quite a " pile" of
money, which he placed in the purser's hands
fur -ufe keeping, but he would tell none of us 1
how much. But lie was very liberal aud ojien- I
liearted, and it was not long before the crew
blessed the hour that brought him on board,
for he was the very soul of wit aud humor.
At length our ship went to I'ort Mahon, and i
here our Yankee tars were at home. One j
peasant morning a party of us went ou shore, j
and Joe Lattit was among our number. Joe!
was dressed in a perfect shore-going rig, and 1
41 1 -'red a gciith man el const; ;ueuce. Near
u.t m.dule of ll: iwr>. ••• ■ wof us entered I
atateoruiiiik..., saloon, ami ; . oJy 0.-cu'-uiit, 1
•.sides the keeper was a rij .i.i-h offi .*v.- j
uenuy ;,it .i j Mi'rv e ,t U .i, , i si ;
We ealjid (or v. ine, ai.d I*J ts n o j
-'de next to -In o;i- :.t wb.i!; tin out," r
s"Rtiii'r liiiibvlt so that his ba> k came ga n-i
be Lack of the Spamard ; but he ..id not
uotice when he sat down, how close he would
he.
"nrlangh and jest ran high, and just as Joe
*nd something more than usually funny, he
tev himself back, and thereby hit the Sspaii
with such force as to cause liitti to spill a
V"i> of wine upon his bosom. The fellow
' Kd to his feet, but Vicforc Joe could beg
prdnn for the unintentional mishup, he
mnieneed a torrent of oaths and invective,
r-.tiy iii Spanish and partly in broken English.
!l ■" language was so abusive that Joe's
' i was up in a moment, and instead of
"-king pardon as ho had intended, he surveyed
we raving man from head to foot, and then
said;
Go on. sir. Your language is beautiful—
'. heaatilnl for a gentleman."
, Ah ; you call me no gentleman, eh?" said
•" LSkcr, it a towering passion.
Tr , * W( ' re P°' u ? to call you, I should call
" jackass," calmly aud contemptuously
. ; A'id, a-ha 1" half growled the Spaniard,
.. ' as black eyes wildly aud furiously.—
OW| SaiitA Marie, you shall answer for
1 "j a,il KbLtleeman ! But you—you —oue
;•i (j ( pi„ puppy 1 Ah-a-a-ah ! Now you
V i° ' iave matter off, but
Ht /' ia ' l ' ie Cil l' ta ' u was determined to
tiiai U 'r Ut he resolved to accommodate
sdf f ! £ce P er the cafe called me out
• me that the officer was
trnri" 1 nt ; ou '0 Bizar, oue of the most
' : ' ms duelists in the place—that he was
'i'tnrrcl-ninc when iinder the influeDee of
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
liquor—and that his companions always left
him alone, rather than have a fuss with him.
" Not five minutes before you came in,"
added the keeper, " four of his fellow officers
loft him because they saw he was ripe for a
fuss. So you had better get your friend
away."
I pulled Joe away, and told him all that had
just been told uie, but he only smiled, and
assured me that there was nothing to fear. I
felt sure at once, from his very manner, that he
had some safe fun in his head, and I let him
go.
" My name is Joseph Lattit, sir—a citizen
of the United states, aud a general of the order
of Sublime Darkness," said Joe very pomp
ously, turning to the Spaniard. " Your uaine,
sir ?"
" Antonio Bizar, captain in Her Most;
Catholic Majesty's seventh regiment of Infantry.
But your office sir ?" I don't comprehend."
" O, you wouldn't know if I should tell you.
I am simply geueral of a body of men who
have sold themselves to the gentleman who !
burns siuners and heretics, down there." Aud j
Joe pointed most mysteriously down towards
the floor as he spoke.
The Spaniard smiled a very bitter sarcastic
smile, and thereupon Joe took up two large
knives which lay upon the bar, aud tossed them,
one after the other, down his throat, making
several wry faces as they took their passage
downward. The fellow had evidently never j
seen anything of the kind before, for "he was
astounded.
" Now, sir said Joe, making one or two more
grimaces, as though he felt the knives some
where iu the region of the diaphragm, " you
will wait here until I go and bring my pistols,
and yon shall have satisfaction. Will you
wait ?"
" I can procure pistols," said the officer, for
getting his astonishment, and coming back to
■ his anger.
" 1 shall fight with my own. If you are a
; gentleman you will wait."
Joe turned to us and bade us wait for him.
" Here ! here ! Oh, genteelinen," cried the
keeper, "where be mine knifes !"
" I'll pay you for them when I come back,"
said Joe, and then he beckoned for me to come
out I did so, and he took the knives—one
from h..- ' o-.Oiit i the otle-r from his sleeve
tol m•to k' ji tb'Oii until he returned.
It . ins tl Joe found a boat ready to
r ik- l..ni off to the ship at once, for he was
not gone over three quarters of an hour, and
when he came l ack he had two superbly
iiiOUiitiu pistols w;th him. He loaded them
With powder iu the presence of the Spaniard,
and then mnd.ng him a bail, he asked iiim if
iie would murk it, so he would know him again.
The fellow hesitated at first, but at length he
took it with a mad gesture, and bit it between
Jus teeth.
" ! - . .'hi k ov, t!. t," In said, "unless, it is
- .tii icd against your ooues."
" .\w select your pistol," said Joe.
The man took them and examined them, but
he was satisfied that they wore both alike, and
and both good, and he told Joe he had no
choice. Ho our steward put the ball iu, aud
rammed them carefully down.
The whole party now adjourned to a wide
court, back of the cafe, where twelve paces
were marked off, aud then the combatants
took t it-ir .-tatious. I trembled tor poor Joe,
for i saw iioi yet how he would make fuu of
this.
" Count," cried the Spaniard, impatiently.
" One —two—three !"
Tne captain fired first, and with a most :
deliberate aim. Joe fired into the air. Theu '
ttie latter walked deliberately up to liis antago
nist, and takiug a bull from between his teeth, he
haudeti it to ium.
" You can use it next time," said Joe.
The officer looked first at Joe's teeth, aud
theu at tne bail. It was surely the oue he had
sceu put .u tne pistol, aud now he had seen his
t'oeuiau lake it from ins mouth. He was uu
unstaki.ably astounded.
" Come, let's load again," cried Joe.
" iSan Pablo !" exclaimed Bizar, " you use
some—some —what you call him—some trick,
eh ?" By fiuu Jago, I shall load the pistol my
self !"
" Do so," said Joe calmly, and as he spoke
ne handed over his powder flask.
Tne iSpaiuard poured out an extra quantity
oi j.owuer, and navmg poured it in tue pistol,
i;v i_..iicu ior ine rummer, lie liieu put tile
ft.iiu' .jail in tiial ue uscu before. Meauwuile,
doe bau been loading ins owu pistol.
" Cue moment," uttered Joe, reaching out
his hand. " The caps are in the butt oi your
pistol. Let me get tlieiu."
Tue fellow passed over his pistol but kept his
eves upon it. Joe opened a l.ttie silver spriug
at the end of the butt, aud true, there were
some percussiou caps there. lie took out two,
aud having capped Ins ow u pistol, he gave it a
toss into the air, eatcuiug it very adroitiy as it
came down, and then handed back the other to
the Spaniard. I had watched Joe most care
fullv, but I saw nothing out of the way—and
yet lie had changed pistols with his foe.
" Now," said he, " I'll put a ball iu my pistol,
and theu we'll be ready."
He slipped something in, which looked like
a cartridge, but no one eise saw it.
"Now," cried the Spaniard, "let's see you
hold this in your mouth."
Again they took their stations, and were
ready. *
" One —two —three !"
And the Spaniard tired first by aim, Joe fir
ing in the air as before. Again Joe stepped
forward aud took the self-same ball from his j
mouth and handed it to his antagonist. The j
fellow was completely dumbfounded,and so were
the rest.
" You uo fire at me !'' gasped the captain.
" I'll tire at you the next time," said Joe, iu
a tone of thunder. "Thus far I have only
shown you that powder and bail can have no
effect ou me. Twice have you fired at me with
as true a pistol as ever was made, aud both
times have I caught your ball between my
teeth, while I have fired iu the air. I meant
that you should live loDg enough to kDow that j
for once in vow life vou. Bsd seen, if not the
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
old fellow himself (pointing meaningly down
ward) at least one who is in his employ ! The
old gentleman will like the company of a Span
ish captain of infantry, and I'll send you along.
Come, load again."
But the astonished Spaniard did not seem
inclined to do so. A man who swallowed car
ving-knives as he would sardines, and who
caught balls between his teeth, was not exact
ly the man for him to deal with. While he was
pouderiug upon what he had seen, Joe took a
handful of bullets from his pocket, and began
to toss them rapidly down his throat, and when
these were gone, he picked up half a dozen
good-sized stones, and sent them after the bul
lets !
" Holy Santa Maria !" ejaculated the Span
iard, while his eyes seemed starting from their
sockets. " What a man ! By my soul, 'tis the
devil 1"
And as he thus spoke he turned on his heel
and hurried away from the place. After he
was gone, Joe beckoued for me to give him
! the knives. I did so, and then saw him slip
: them up his coat sleeves. When we returned
to the cafe he approached the keeper.
" You want your knives," he said.
But the poor fellow dared not speak. Joe j
put his hand to his right ear and pulled oue of
the long knives. Then from the left car he •
drew the other. The keeper crossed himself in !
terror, and shrank trembling away. But we i
i finished our wine, and having paid for it, turn- j
ed to go.
" Here," said Joe, " I haven't paid for the 1
use of the yard yet," and as he spoke he threw i
down a piece of silver on the counter.
" No !no !—-no !" shrieked the poor fellow.
" Don't leave your money here —don't 1"
Joe picked it up and went away laughiug.
When we were alone, he explained to me the
secret of his pistols. They were a pair he had
used in his legerdemain performances, and such
as all wizzards use who perform tricks of catch
ing balls, &e. The main barrel of the pistol
hud no connection whatever with the nipple for
the cap, but what appeared to be a socket for
the rammer, was, in fact, a second barrel—to
be-sure, smaller than the other, but yet as large
as the bore of any rifle-pistol—aud with this
secret barrel the priming tube connected. So
the apparent barrel of the weapon might be
filled with powder and ball, and no harm could
be done. When Joe first returned with his
pistols, of course lie had both these secret bores
loaded with blank charges, and then the other
loading was for nothing •ut fleet in appear
ance. At the second loading Joe had charged
the second barrel of his own pistol while the
Spaniard had been filling up the maiu barrel
of his. Then, of course, it became necessary
to make an ex< hange, else Bizar would have
never got his weapon off. As soon as Joe got
the other pistol into his possession, and made the
exchange which we spoke of at the time, he
had only to press smartly upon a secret spring
on the side of the stock, and he had the whole
charge, which the other had put in, emptied in
his hand. So he had the marked ball to dis
pose of as soon as he chose.
Ever after that, while we remained in Ma
lion, Joe Lattit was an object of both curiosi
ty and dread on shore, for an account, all col
ored to suit the exaggerated conceptions of the
cafe keeper, had been spread over the city,and
the pious Catholics there, wanted nothing to do
with such a man, only to be sure and keep on ;
his good-humored Bide.
WAYS OF COMMITIVG SUlClDE. —Wearing thin
shoes on damp nights in rainy weather.
Building on the " air-tight" principle.
Leading a life of enfeebling, stupid laziness,
and keeping the mind in a round of unnatural
excitement by reading trashy novels.
Goiug to balls through all sorts of weather
in the thinest possible dress. Dancing till in
a complete inspiration, and then going home
through the damp air.
Sleeping on feather beds in seven by nine
bed rooms.
Surfeiting on hot and very highly stimulating ;
dinners
Begiuning in childhood on tea, and going on
from one step to another, through coffee, chew
ing tobacco, smoking aud drinking.
Marrying in haste, getting an uucongenial
companion, and living the rest of your Life in
mental dissatisfaction.
Keeping children quiet by teaching them to
suck candy.
Eating without time to masticate the food.
Allowing love of gain to so absorb our
minds, as to leave no time to attend to our
health.
Following an unhealthy occupation because
money can be made by it.
Tempting the appetite with niceties when the
stomach says no.
Contriving to keep in a continual worry
about something or nothing.
Retiring at midnight and rising at noon.
Gormandizing between meals.
Giving way to fits of anger.
Neglecting to take proper care of ourselves
when a simple disease first appears.
NEW FASHIONABLE COLORS. —A lady entered
one of our fashionable hat and cap stores, a
few days since, and asked to be shown some of
the latest styles of caps. After examining quite
a number, and not liking the colors, she very
innocently inquired if they had any of " subdued
mouse color ?" The clerk was somewhat taken
aback, but mauagedto stammer out, " No, but
we have some of an " enraged rat color." The
lady left quickly.
ggf An honest farmer in the southern part
of Massachusetts, talking about his crops, was
told that he must trust in Providence.
" I do'no about that," said he, " I've been to
Providence, and I have been to Bosting, and
I believe I had much rather trust Bosting—
takiu' all things into account."
ttSf In Warren county, Mississippi, recently,
a coroner's jury returned a verdict that the
I " deceased died from the visitation of God or
' or unknown to the jury."
" RESARDLESS OP DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
The County Superintendent's Salary.
To the school men and tax-payers of Bradford
County:
Some appear to think that the salary of the
county superintendent is taken out of the coun
ty's share of the State appropriation to the
schools ; and others again, labor under the im
pression that this officer's salary causes an in
crease of the school or other taxes. Both of
these views are wrong ; and I notice these er
rors now, because an attempt has beeu made
to give them currency by a gross perversion of
the truth ; and a desperate effort to falsify the
public authorities. The recklessness of this en
deavor to deceive the public mind, requires me
to be plain.
I have abundant evidence to prove, that he
who says, either by words or implication, that
the county superindendent's salary is taken out
of the county's share of the State appropria
tion to the schools, or that it takes one farthing
from that fund ; or says that this salary adds
one farthing to any tax-payer's taxes in Brad
ford county, asserts a positive falsehood. Here
is the evidence, aud I cau furnish pleutv more
like it.
Extract of a letter written to the Conven
[ tion of school directors, which met in Towanda.
. on the 28th ult., by the State Deputy Super
intendent of common schools, a bright man and
a sterling officer :
Department or Common Shooi.® of Pevna. )
Harrisbckg, 25th July, 1855 j
The salary of the county superintendent is not paid out
of the taxes of the county, nor out of the State appropria
tion to the schools ; nor does it increase the one or lessen
the other. It is a very important and laborious office re
quiring the best men to fill it, and an adequate salarv
> ur superintendent. Mr. Gcyeb, has proved himself to
lie both a faithful and capable officer ; and has one of the
most difficult counties in the State to get over. In the
opinion of the Department, his present saiarv is not half
what it should be.
For the paot year we pay the school districts nearly ten
per cent, more money than heretofore—llßs,ooo being the
average annual distribution heretofore—while the amount
paid out for the past year will Ire within a small fraction
of *200,000.
Thirty thousand dollars was set apart for the pay of
county superintendents, by itself, and does not effect the
county schools or county taxes.
Yours", respectfully,
H. C. HICKOK, Dept'y. Sup'L
Does any one need plainer language, or a
more definite exposition than is here given ;
aud given too, by the right authority ; aud bear
in mind too, that this officer declares, that for
the past year the school districts hare had more
money paid to them than heretofore. Does that
look as if the county superintendent's salary
used up the school fund ?
But a few ignorant persons ask what right
has the superintenden of common schools, or
his deputy—who is de facto the head of the
Department—to construe the school law, or
decide how the money the State appropriates
for school purposes shall lie divided. People
should road the law. Here are a few ex
tracts :
Superintendent of Common School*—his poteen and duties.
11. That he shall, whenever required, give advice, ex
planation, construction or information to the district offi
cers. and to citizens, relative to the common school law,
the duties of common school officers, the rights and duties
of parents, guardians, pupils and all others, the manage
ment of the schools, and all other questions and matters
calculated to promote the cause of education.
V. He shall prepare, and submit to the Legislature, an
annual report, containing a full account of the condition
ot the common schools in the State, the expenditure of
the sy.-item during the year, estimates of the sums requi
site for the ensuing year, the whole number of pupils, the
cost of teaching each, the number of districts .plans for the
improvement of the sysfem, aod all such matters relating
to the concerns of common schools, and to the duties
of his office, as he may deem it expedient to communi
cate.
Thus it is made the duty of this officer to
give construction to the school laws, and his
decisions are as binding as those of a court.
In the fifth paragraph of the law, it is made
his duty to make estimates of the sums of mo
ney that will be required to keep up the system
for the ensuing year. Now, everybody should
know, that up to 1853, $200,000 was the usu
al amouut of the appropriation to the schools
of the state. Well, during last year the coun
ty superintendency was created, and the state
superintendent estimated it would take $30,000
to pay the salaries of these officers. So that
in deciding that $30,000 of the State appro
priation to the schools, was intended to pay
the salaries of the county superintendents, the
head of the school department construed that
part of the law which he caused to be created,
aud told the truth. Yet poor simpletons ask,
what right he has to make such a decision, as
if he was in as bad a quandary as themselves,
unable to explain their own acts or tell the
truth.
The Hon. C. A. BLACK, a man of ability, a
good lawyer, and better than all, a warm-heart
ed advocate of common schools, was the State
superintendent when the law creating the coun
ty supcrinteudcucy was enacted, and made the
estimates of the cost of this office ; and the
$30,000 was put into the state appropriation
at his request, for the. express purpose of paying
the county superintendents. Iu Mr. B.'s very
able report of last year he savs :
| •• Tbs addition of thirty thousand dollars made last year,
I to the usual amount appropriated to common schools, waf
j intended lor the pay ot county sujierinteudeuts, although
not so expressed in the act. The aggregate of the salaries
is something less than this sum ; some the counties, as
already intimated, having put down the salaries at an un
just, it not absurdly, low standard. This feature of the
law should, I think, te remedied. There should be some
power given to the behool Department to increase such
salaries, at least to a sum equal to what a particular coun
ty would te entitled to receive out of the thirty thousand
dollars, or whatever sum may te appropriated, rating it
according to the uumter of taxablee, or some other mode
by which a compensation wonld te afforded adequate to
toe labor and duties of the position."
Can anything be more explicit than the three
frrt Mnc- of this extract, : .z regard to the ob-
, ject of the addition of the $30,000 to the state
appropriation? And everybody knows that
this addition would not have been made had
there been no county superiutentendents.
Besides, it was in compliance with the re
commendation in the above quotation, that the
Legislature of last winter passed the supple
ment to the school law, giving school directors
the power to increase the county superinten
dent's salaries. After this supplement became
a part of the school law, and in conformitv with
the spirit of Mr. Black —the present head of
the School Department, Hon. A. G. Ccrtin,
eminent as a man of mind, as a jurist and com
mon school advocate, issued a circular to the
school directors last May, tveo months before the
directors of this County met, giving notice of,
and explaining the supplement, in which the
following paragraph occurs :
The Bth section authorizes an increase of the salaries of
County Superintendents, and points out the mode of at
taining that object. This is a nighly important duty de
volving upon directors, and from the*miserably inadequate
compensation originally fixed in many counties, as will be
seen from the accompanying list of counties, salaries and
schools, the Superintendent cannot forbear to urge, upon
Directors, in strong terms, the propriety, and in many in
stances the imperative necessity, of raising the salaries of
these local officers of the system to at least living wages,
that shall bear some just "proportion to the number of
schools to be visited, the territory to be traversed,and the
amount of work to be done. The State Department will
see that the duties of the County Superintendency arc
faithfully and fully performed, or the places of incompe
tent and negligent incumbents filled by those who will be
both able and willing to fulfil the letter and spirit of the
law, and the just expectations of the publie. But Direc
tors, owe it to themselves, apd to the welfare and success
of the system, as well as to the Department, to do their
share in the good work, by furnishing adequate means to
enable the Department to command the time and services I
of suitable laborers in this arduous and responsible field
of duty. It should be stated in this connection, that such
portions of the State appropriations as are not expended ■
for this burpose. go ftito the general fund, and not to the !
respective counties, as has been erroneously supposed.
\Y lien a majority of tlie school directors of
j Bradford county learned, as they did through
the expositions of the Department, and my ex
planations, that the salary of the county super
intendent did not take a penny from the schools
of the county, and that it did not add one far
thing to any man's taxes, they concluded to fol
low the advice of the State superintendent and
raise mv salary ; and I venture to assert here, i
that not ten directors of the county if proper
ly advised and left to their own unbiased judg
ment, will object to this increase.
But some ask, where does the $30,000, out
of which our superintendents are paid, come
from ? It is taken out of the general fund
collected into the State Treasury by the three
mill state tax, canal tolls, &c., &c.
This three mill tax the people of the county
had before they had a county superintendent:
and if this officer's salary adds anything to this
tax, why not increased ? Do people not
see that this tax is just what it was before ?
So this office does not increase it; aud does any
tax-payer believe that this state tax would be
reduced, if the county superintendency was dis
continued ? If there is one such, I pity his
weak credulity. Why was it not reduced be
fore this office was created ? So that, in re
ality, the people have the same tax they had
before, and the county superintendent into the
bargain. The office does not add oue penny
of cost to the county. Why object to it then ?
No intelligent or honest man does. Those who
do oppose it, are either misinformed on the sub
ject, or actuated by unworthy motives. And
what are we to think of any one who is so de
praved and desperate in his opposition, that he
will pervert the truth and strive to falsify the
public authorities,merely to excite the prejudices
of the uninformed against the new school law
and its officers ? Generally speaking, however,
the people of Bradford are too sensible and in
telligent to be deceivoj by such evil ones aud 1
their shallow devices ; and here, as elsewhere, (
" the slauderer's end is the devil's pit."
I make this statement iu justice to those •
school directors who were instrumental in rais
ing my salary. They acted from an intelligent
view of this whole subject, and under the firm
conviction that it would advance the interests
of the schools of the county. They are known
to be right-minded, whole-souled school men,
who understand themselves, the school law,
and their duty to it, as citizens and officers.
Now, to show what I have done to deserve
an increase of salary, I take the following ex- j
tract from my second annual report lo the Do-:
partmcut: —
" I commenced my official labor* on the 3d day of July,
1651, and have since devoted 309 days to the school ser
vice. In that time I examined 620 candidates for the pro
fession of teaching ; traveled 3741 miles—33o2 of this on
horseback. Got seven drenching* from heavy rains ; was
out in three severe snow storms, and twice storm stay
ed." At the first 1 lost over a week-—at the last two days.
I visited 293 schools ; gave 261 lectures ; wrote 419 let
ters. and 300 pages of foolscap ; expended f 103 22."
I have paid three official visits to every town
ship in the county, except two, and these I
visited once. Some I have visited live times.
Yet my labor is not much seen, and solely be
cause the county is so large. Ix't any one look
at its great territory, its number of schools,
teachers, aud the thonsand-and-oue other mat
ters which come under my official notice, and
he cannot fail to see the difficulty of mukiug
much impression the first year. Remember too,
that all is new—that it takes time to start on
a new track, 6nch an immense machinery as
our common school system. Hundreds of little
things, which no one sees hot the operator —
and which it would take volumes to tell—hin
der it movements. This exposition is made to
right up r fsV'j • Tcr tb*t HrciJre !oo§* ;
VOT,. XVI. —NO. 11.
but directly all will be in order, only Lave a
little patience.
E. GUYER, County Sup't.
Highland, Pa., August 12, 1855*
H. C. HICKOK, Esq., our present talented
and indefatigable Deputy Superintendent, sent
to the last convention of school directors, held
at Towanda, his lucid exposition of the " Duty
and pay of county superintendents which is to
appear in the new edition of the School Law.
Here it is, read it, every friend and enemy of
the Law :
The office of County superintendent is one of limited
V" properly Ailed, °f vast Influence
and capability for Rood ; and is regarded bv the Depart
ment, and experienced friends of education, as the right
'r V \, em 'i cope and character are not to be
judged solely by the meagre letter of the law, or the im
£r " V t ,n ,no l t cases, highly serviceable operations
of the hret year. Under the instructions of the Depart
partment and the necessities of the system, it is one of
vi itatinn !m" { in the . Stftte 5 none more so. The
visitation of Schools, the examination of Teachers, corre
spondence with the Department and Districts, the gather
°iv ft . ma f s 0 itatistlcal information not comprised in
the District reports, the formation and instruction of
Teachers, Institutes and Associations, arousing public In
terest in tae cause of education by lectures and addresses
and preparing reports to the Department; the amicable
set dement of local disputes, when requested ; the gather
ing and transmission of documentary and other evidence,
i on both sides of difficultie thr.t can onlv be .settled bvthe
Department, and other miscellaneous duties, requiring
in all but tne smaller counties—the whole time and ser
vice of the superintendent, to the exclusion of other pur
suits, and ot other means of livelihood. The office is in
many respects, not inferior in character and real impor
tance to that oi president judge ; yet, in the medinm and
larger counties the labor, care, anxiety, exposure and offi
cial expenses, are much greater—whife the highest salary
is much below that office. To do all this faithfhllv and
well, requires an adequate salary, but in manv counties
it is not high and in others it has been put at an absurdly
low fig ire. Under the Bth section of the Supplement, Di
i re -tors have the power to remedy this evil, and it is very
< that it be done, so that the wot ma v be macfe
the working forces in the field. There need be 110
t the money will not be fairly earned. The depart
ui vll l see to that. It requires at least three years for
a new movement of this kind to prove its merits and show
what it can do ; and the two coming years will te rears
of hard work. The out-come, it Is not doubted, will prove
that there can be no backward shadow on the Common
School dial. The people of P nnsylvania always like to
have the worth oi their money. It will IK- the aim of the
Department and of the County Superintendents to see that
tuis object is fully realized so far as the Common School
System . concerned. But it should not be forgotten that
the iruits of educational efforts are of slow growth, and
not as r edden or palpable to the senses, as new clearings,
or railroad and canal embankments. And in manv instan
ces Directors and others, who complain most, have taken
the lea.t pains to inform themselves as to what is done,or
wnat progress baa been made.
The office oi County Superintendent, although novel
here, has been tried elsewhere with tbe most striking and
beneficial results. In New York e-'peciallv, an institution
qsute similar in design and the nature of'its duties, and
differing °hly, perhaps, in the mode of appointment, had
done more to advance the cause of education bv common
schools, during the period it was permitted to exist, than
all other causes combined. It was regarded by the most
active and accomplished of the Superintendents of that
"state, as " the vitality of their system, and the only effi
cient means of enforcing a healthy and uniform adminis
tration oi the law, and of obtaining with any degree of ac
curacy, those statistical details in reference to the practi
cal ope: '.ion of the eystem, of so great value to the De
partment. the Legislature, and the public." •' And when
borne down by public clamor," resulting from an unclean
alliance with politics, and other interests, the office was
abolished, in opposition to the opinions and wishes of" the
successive Heads of Department, the several committees
of the Leglislature, charged with the supervision of the in
terests of public instruction, and of the great body of the
most enlightened friends of education throughout the
State.' the act was regarded as most disastrous to the
prosperity of the common school stein. Up to that pe
riod, its progress had been uninterruptedly onward, and
the " abolition of the office of County Superintendent,was
the first retrograde in in its history." During the last
winter, steps were taken in New \ork, looking towards
the restoration oi this office ; and in Louisiana and other
Stales, the same tendency is strongly manifesting itself.
It was, therefore, evident to the Legislature and the
friends of popular education, who had labored so assidu
ously for years in this noble, though unprofitable cause,
that something must be done to render our common schools
worthy of the name and of the people. In other States of
the Union, education was advancing at a prodigious rate,
lu the older, it waj the pride and boast of their people ;
and iu the younger, and perhaps more vigorous commu
nities of the west, the means were set apart with a muni
ficent liberality for the purposes of education, and public
opinion wa.- keenly alive to the importance of well arrang
ed systems of common schools. In many of the countries
oi L'urope, where the idea of public education would seem
to he in conflict with the principles of their governments,
common schools were provided at the public expense, and
every child required to attend. With this active spirit
then every where abroad, was it jnst to ourselves, in view
of the moral and physical graudeur of Pennsylvania, to
disregard this most important provision of her Constitu
tion. end to slight the only reliable means by which her
true greatness can he developed and maintained.
The attention of the Legislature was, therefore, invoked,
in order to devise 6ume means by which new life and vig
or might lie infused into the languid veins and arteries of
the system.
The adoption, then, of this new feature of our common
school system, was the result of an imperative necessity ;
and it was recommended to the attention of the Legisla
ture, not more by the favorable experience of other States,
than the evident adaptation of the measure to the object*
in view.
in this State, the creation of the officer was doubles*
impelled by the absolute necessity of doing something to
rescue the common schools from the apathy and indiffer
ence, if not opposition and ill-feeling which seemed to
brood over them, and impair or destroy their efficiency.
As a whole, the system was perhaps flourishing, especial
ly as compared with former educational movements. Still
it could not be disguised or concealed from those who
looked beneath the surface into the actual working of the
law, that the results were not such as were contemplated
by the Constitution, or that did justice either to the liber
ality of the people or the labors of the friends of educa
tion. The poor were not taught , nor were tire " arts and
science-promoted," in the true sense of that adniirablo
injunction. In many parts of the State the schools were
flourishing, but in too many others they exhibited a spe
cies of still life existence, without the vitality of a single
health; pulsation. In many districts no schools were
opened no taxes were levied, or, if levied, were used as
a mere pretext t > obtain a portion of the State appropria
tion. Directors in such districts were frequently the re
flex of this apathetic spirit, and if not actually hostile,
were indifferent to the system, and suffered it to fall into
disn-e. Under such directory, if schools were opened fit
all, they were generally under the charge of teachcra em
ployed without a proper examination, and selected, not
so nun h in reference to moral habits and intellectual
training, as to some popular expression iu their favor.
HELP ONE ANOTHER. —Sir Walter Scott wrote,
•' The race of mankind would perish did they
cease to help each other. From the time that
the mother binds the child's head, till the mo
ment that some kind assistant wines the death
damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot
exist without mutual help. All, therefore,
that nc" I aid, have a right to ask it of their
fellow mortals ; und no one, who has it in his
power to grant, can refuse without incurring
guilt/'
WATERY POTATOES. —If your potatoes are
watery, put into the pot in which they are to
bo boiled, a small lump of lime ; this will ren
der them perfectly dry and mealy. This is an
easy and effectual way of obviating a very com
mon evil. For a common sized family the piece
of lime should not exceed the size of an English
walnut.
KaT Men of the noblest dispositions alwajs
think themselves happiest, when others share
their h*rr : r.?r? ""ith them