Our Language

his hands, and they say, "I do not know." He asks his head, and it says, "I never learnt anything about how to get a living." There is but one man that can befriend this poor wretch, and that is the sexton. Could anything be more useless than such a person? Could there be anything more pitiable than

The following curious calculation has been made by a cotemporary: The number of words in the English language has been variously estimated. Webster's Dictionary contains 81,011; Walker's, 79,114; Worcester's about 83,000, and Johnson's about 54,000. such histories? And yet they are hapBut the words in actual use is about pening every day. 40,000, and those employed in daily

Spelled With Four Letters.

conversation about 16,000. Disregard- The Name of Deity Universally ing nautical, astronomical, legal, medical, and scientific terms, and all those It is singular that the name of God peculiar to any trade or pursuit, we find should be spelled in four letters in althat 40,498 remam. Of these, 20,500 most every known language. It is in are nouns—about one-half; 9,200 adjec- Latin, Deus; in Greek, Zeus; Hebrew, tives, 8,000 verbs, 2,600 adverbs,69 prep- Adon; Syran, Adad; Arabian, Alla: ositions, 69 interjections, 40 pronouns, Persian, Syis; Tartarian, Igad; Egyp19 conjunctions, and 2 articles. It will tian, Aumn or Zuet; Eeast India, Esgi thus be perceived that more than oneor Zuel; Japanese, Zain; Turkish, fourth of the words (11,800) are used to Addi; Scandinavian, Odin; Wallacian, indicate quality or comparison, in Sene; Margian, Eese; Swedish, Oodd; which branch of language the English Irish, Dich: German, Gott; French, is exceptionally rich and varied. Of Dieu; Spanish, Dios, and Peruvian, the 81,011 words in Webster's Diction- Llan. The name of God is the Angloary, 55,424 are of Latin or Greek origin, Saxon conception of the Divine Being. 22,220 of Anglo-Saxon, 1,728 of Semitic, He is goodness itself and the author of 443 of Celtic, and 98 of Sclavonic. Of all goodness. Yet the idea of denoting 79,114 in Walker's Dictionary, 56,107 the Deity by a term equivalent to abare traced to the Latin or Greek, 21,777 stract and absolute perfection, striking to the Anglo-Saxon, 798 to the Semitic as it may appear, is, perhaps, less reand Eastern tongues, and 461 Sclavon-markable than the fact that the word ic. Two-thirds of our words, therefore, man, used to designate a human being, are of Greco-Latin origin, and elevenformerly signified wickedness. twelfths of the others of Anglo-Saxon.

Aimless Education.

Here is a rich man's son, who has been educated at great expense and pains, who has graduated from college, and has come out a gentleman. He has studied, not with a view of fitting himself for any avocation in life, but with the view of being a gentleman. He reads not for the sake of knowing anything, but for the sake of a gentleman. Soon his father breaks down; and he is about twenty-five years old, finds himself a poor man's son, and dependent on his own exertions. And he says to himself "What shall I do for a living?" He asks his feet, and his feet say, "I do not know." He asks

IT is always interesting to know the method of composition used by clever writers. There was Hawthorne, who made notes innumerable—to be afterward worked into his stories-of every fitting, quaint fancy, strange recital, or peculiar personality. Several of the most distinguished American writers have the habit of jotting down a sentence or a line or two here and there down a long page, and then filling up the outlines thus made with persistent revision. Wordsworth, in composing, was prone to a slate pencil and the smooth side of a rock; Schiller sat up all night to write and drank Rhine wine, and Walter Scott worked fasting from five in the morning till about ten.

Locke on Human Happiness.

lights, as far as they will contribute to my health, and consist with my improvement, condition and my other more solid pleasures of knowledge and reputation, I will enjoy but no farther, and this I will carefully watch and examine, that I may not be deceived by the flattery of a present pleasure to lose a greater.

Drinking, gambling and vicious delight will do me this mischief, not only It is a man's proper business to seek by wasting my time, but by a positive happiness and avoid misery. Happi- efficacy endanger my health, impair my ness consists in what delights and con- parts, imprint ill habits, lessen my estents the mind; misery is what dis- teem, and leave a constant lasting torturbs, discomposes or torments it. I ment on my conscience. Therefore, all will therefore make it my business to vicious and unlawful pleasures I will seek satisfaction and delight, and avoid always avoid, because such a mastery uneasiness and disquiet. Let me then of my passions will afford me a consee wherein consists the most lasting stant pleasure greater than any such pleasures of life: 1. Health, without enjoyments; and also deliver me from which no sensual pleasure can have the certain evil of several kinds, that any relish. 2. Reputation-for that I by indulging myself in a present tempfind everybody is pleased with, and the|tation I shall certainly afterward sufwant of it is a constant torment. 3. fer. All inuocent diversions and deKnowledge-for the little knowledge I find I would not sell at any rate, nor part with for any other pleasure. 4. Doing good-for I find the well-cooked meat I eat to day does now no more delight me, and I am diseased after a full meal; the perfumes I smelt yesterday now no more affect me with any pleasure; but the good turn I did yesterday, a year, seven years since, continues still to please and delight me as often as I reflect on it. 5. The expectation of eternal and incomprehensible happiness in another world is that also which carries a constant pleasure with it. If, then, I will faithfully pursue that happiness I propose to myself, I must carefully look that it cross not any of these five great and constant pleasures above mentioned. For example, the fruit I see tempts me with the taste of it that I love, but if it endangers my health I part with a constant and lasting for a very short and transient pleasure and so foolishly make myself unhappy and am not true to my own interest. Hunting, plays and other innocent diver- Franklin, 20 after Colfax, 17 after Marsions delight me; if I make use of them to refresh myself after study and business, they preserve my health, restore the vigor of my mind and increase my pleasure; but if I spend all or the greater part of my time in them, they hinder my improvement in knowledge and useful arts, they blast my credit, and give me up to the uneasy state of shame, ignorance and contempt in which I cannot but be very unhappy.

Of the 1,141 counties in the United States, more are named after Washington than any other President of the United States, the number being 29. The names of the other Presidents represented by counties occur as follows: Jefferson, 23; Jackson, 21; Madison, 19; Monroe, 18; Lincoln, 17; Grant and Polk, 12 each; Johnson, 11; Harrison 9; Adams, 8; Taylor, 7; Van Buren, 4; Pierce, 4; Buchanan, 3; and Fillmore and Tyler, 2 each. In many cases, however, in the above list counties were not named after the Presidents, but the selection of a name was influenced by local considerations. There are 22 counties named after

ion, 2 after Fremont, 3 after Greely, 1 after Hendricks, 8 after Benton and Boone, 9 after Cass, Marshall, and Putnam, 14 after Carroll, 11 after Douglas, and 18 after Montgomery. The names of almost all of the revolutionary heroes except Arnold are represented in the list.

UNCONSCIOUSNESS is one of the most

important conditions of a good style in speaking or in writing.

A Thought.

which our educational stream must emanate. In natural philosophy, it is When the day dawns, and we rise to laid down as a principle that the stream find the sky clear, the bright hours all cannot rise higher than the fountain. before us we are loth to lie down upon In educational matters the same prinour pillow again. There are so many cirle may be applied. If, therefore, things to do; such pleasant things, these country schools be neglected any some of them; our friends are coming educational superstructure that we may or we are going to visit them; then build upon them will be more or less there is a walk or a drive or a little defective. We must not neglect the feast in prospect; it seems so pleasant country schools. They are not little to be awake. But when the day has things in the sense that any class of gone, and the night has come again, we teachers of any kind of instruction will are generally ready for it. We are at best, tired with our frolic or our pleasure. Ten to one, we are disappointed in something; some little unpleasant incident has marred the brightest DARK.-The eyes of many animalshours; some skeleton had taken its those of cats for instance-exhibit a peseat at the feast, or peeped out of a culiar brilliancy which is peculiarily secret closet. It is so delightful to fling remarkable in the dusk. It was formoff the finery it rejoiced us to put on, erly thought that the eyes of such anito put out the light and lie down court-mals emitted light independently, as it ing slumber. was also thought that light could be

answer for them.

WHY CATS' EYES SHINE IN THE

So, in the heyday of life we dread emitted by the human eye, under the that long quiet sleep, no doubt those influence of passion. This brilliancy, who live to be old hail it as their best however, in the eyes of these animals friend. The loves and hopes of early life have ended in disappointment; their dear ones have left them alone; the life that at first seemed so sweet has changed to bitterness, and all the sweetness is with death. Just as we wearily climb the bedroom stairs with our tired feet, so we climb life's last steps. We have danced and toiled alternately; we are as tired of our joy as our sorrow, and we hail the repose of night as when life was all before us.

is caused by a carpet of glittering fibres, called the tapetum, which lies behind the retina, and is a powerful reflector. In perfect darkness no light is observed in their eyes, a fact which has been established by very careful experiments; but nevertheless, a very small amount of light is sufficient to produce the luminous appearance in them.

GOOD MORNING.-Don't forget to say good morning! Say it to your parents, LITTLE THINGS.-Some think a your brothers and sisters, your schoolcountry school is an insignificant thing, mates, your teachers—and say it cheerbut they are mistaken. The country fully and with a smile; and it will do schools will educate a majority of the your friends good. There's a kind of children in the future as they have inspiration in every "good morning" done in the past. This is one great heartily and smilingly spoken, that error we are making in this State. The helps to make hope fresher and work schools scattered over the country are neglected. Inferior teachers are employed, poor wages are paid, and no oversight is given to these obscure and neglected schools. Until the influence of supervision reaches these there is little hope of improvement. These little country schools are fountains from

lighter. It seems really to make the morning good, and to be a prophecy of a good day to come after it. And if this be true of the "good morning," it is also of all kind, heartsome greetings. Let no morning pass that you do not help to brighten by your smiles and cheerful words.

Scolding.

means of another for his own benefit or pleasure.

Scolding is mostly a habit. There is GENIUS is the most peculiar of atnot much meaning to it. It is often the result of nervousness and an irrita- tributes. Genius leaves the water in the wash-basin. Genius never shuts a ble condition of both mind and body. A person is tired or annoyed at some gate or a door. Genius borrows small trivial cause, and forthwith commences sums of money, never to return them. finding fault with everybody and every Genius gets drunk and affects filth. thing in reach. It is astonishing how Genius loses its keys and spectacles. soon one who indulges in it at all be- Genius uses other people's stamps and comes addicted to it and confirmed in stationery. Genius is often a poet. Geit. It is an unreasoning and unreason- nius is incapable of folding a newspaper able habit. Persons who once get in properly or keeping a book clean. Gethe way of scolding always find some- nius always leaves a litter on somebody's thing to scold about. If there is noth- desk. Genius is a grown baby that dising else, they fall to scolding at the arranges everything. Genius is systemere absence of anything to scold at. matic only in bad manners. Genius' It is an extremely disagreeable habit. faults are ascribed to eccentricity. GeIt is contagion. Once introduced into nius would be happy, but his selfisha family, it is pretty certain, in a short ness won't let him alone. Genius, in time, to affect all the members. People an advanced state of civilization, would in the country more readily fall into be stamped to death by an infuriated the habit of scolding than in town. mob, paradoxical as such a tragedy Women contract the habit more fre- may seem. quently than men. This may be because they live more constantly in the house, in a confined and heated atmosphere, very trying to the nervous system and the health in general; and it may be, partly, that their natures are more susceptible and their sensitiveness more easily wounded.

The biggest tree in California is not in the Yesomite Valley. King's River Valley in Fresno county is 5,000 feet above the sea, and its walls, which are about three thousand feet high, are very precipitous. In this valley a new grove of colossal red-wood trees has been discovered. One of them eclipses all that have been discoved on the Pacific coast. Its circumference, as high as a man can reach and pass a tape-line around, is a few inches less 150 feet. This is beyond the measure of any tree in Calaat 160 feet, and a part of the top lying veras grove. The height is estimated on the ground is over one hundred feet in length.

PAY AS YOU Go.-It is reported that John Randolph once astonished Congress by springing from his seat, bending forward his long, lean body, extending his attenuated fingers and speaking in his thin, high tones: "Mr. Speaker -Mr. Speaker, I have found the philosopher's stone. It is-pay as you go." Now few and small as these words are, they are worthy of the careful attention THE report of James H. Smart, of all, and any young man by heeding superintendent of public instruction, them will find, if they do not turn for the year 1876, shows that the comeverything into gold, they will help him materially in his efforts to secure a sufficient amount of that coveted commodity to raise him above want. He who pays as he goes may be sure of one thing-he will never live beyond his income and will, at least, be saved the mortification of duns and, what is worse, the consciousness of using the

mon school fund of our State amounts to $6,423,771.04; congressional fund, $2,442,189; total fund, $8,870,871. 93; increase during the year $71,780. 29. There are 9,244 acres of congressional school lands still unsold.

PROSPERITY is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comfort and hopes.

The Man who Don't Read.

SAY what we will, you may be sure that ambition is an error; its wear and The man who don't read is always tear of heart are never recompensed; prating about how things "used to it steals away the freshness of life; it was." He is a knowing fellow, full of deadens its vivid and social enjoyments; worn out truisms. He is a rich and in- it shuts our souls to our own youth; exhaustable mine for every sharper and we are old ere we remember that who travels on his wits, selling poor we have made a fever and a labor of clothes at high prices, or an expired our best years. patent right. The man who don't read has a very large disgust for "new fang-turn sweet until the frost has touched THERE are many fruits which never led things" and believes in his children | getting along as he did and boasts that he never went to school but two quarters. We like this sort of men, there ought to be one in every community, just for the parents who do believe they owe something more to their families and themselves, than to be mere dull, brutal machines. The man, who don't read, usually has a mission-it is to grow corn and pork, and pay taxes, or work through the week at his bench or forge as a machine. His home is a place to eat and sleep, his life a round of drudgery, a struggle only for bread and butter.

The man who does not read falls behind the age in which he lives, he drops into the narrow groove of his personal observation, and declares the progress around him to be departures from the virtues and goodness of bygone times. Every day has a superstitious sign, every change of the moon, every sud

den variation in the weather fills him with prophecy which bodes everybody ill luck. The man who does not read misjudges the common natural laws of matter, the easily explained changes of vegetable and animal life are subjects for superstitious dread and trouble. The great progress of the world in literature, science and arts, the news of the day at home and abroad are blanks to the man who does not read.

them. There are many nuts that nevthe frost has opened and ripened them. er fall from the bough of the tree till that never grow sweet and beautiful till And there are many elements of life

sorow touches them.

TEACHERS should never allow pupils to reply saucily to a command given, but should teach them that you will hear what they have to say in private. Teachers often loose the respect of their scholars by urging the matter with the refractory pupil in the presence of the school.

BE not affronted of a jest. If one threw ever so much salt at thee, thou wilt receive no harm, unless thou art raw and ulcerous.

IF there are men in whom the ridiculous have never appeared, it is because they have never been well searched.

EVERY human being is intended to have a character of his own, to be what no other is, to do what no other can.

IN youth our souls are great, and our bodies slender; in old age our bodies are often great and our souls slender.

WE sound our modesty, and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.

MARRIAGE is a ring in which foolish people contend for the mastery instead of walking around in it together.

THERE are cases in which a man would be ashamed not to have been imposed upon.-There is a confidence necessary to human intercourse, and without which men are often more in-unpalatable and indigestible. jured by their own suspicions than they could be by the perfidity of others.

A CROSS husbard and father at the head of the table makes the best dinner

HALF the discomfort of our life is the result of getting tired of ourselves.