-Dean Minnich addressed a large gathering of teachers at Bellevue, O., January 26th, at the "Four County Association" meeting.

-If teachers have confidence in what the Monthly suggests on the subject of books they may take our word that nothing they can do will be more fitting by way of celebrating Lincoln Day than by reading to the school "The Perfect Tribute" which is published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. The book costs 50 cents, but it will prove a good investment. Those who act upon this suggestion will be grateful to us for making it. The book may be had of A. H. Smythe, Columbus.

-Prin. E. L. Rickert, of Youngstown, has resigned to accept the superintendency at Maquoketa, Iowa. There are 24 teachers in the corps, 125 pupils in the high school, the town is a beautiful county seat, and, of course, Mr. Rickert receives more money. We are sorry to lose him from Ohio, but if we must supply Iowa with school men we are glad to have such a man to represent us. We wish him the greatest success in his new field.

-At a recent meeting of the Board of Education, of Steubenville, the resignation of Principal D. W. Matlack, of the Stanton building. was accepted with resolutions of appreciation and regret. The passage of the resolution called forth, so the daily papers of that city report, a feeling statement from Supt. Van Cleve in appreciation of Mr. Matlack's services, and the loyalty and kindly attitude toward himself, so many years his junior. Mr. Matlack has served almost continuously, the schools of Steubenville, for thirty-five years and only gave up

when his serious disease made it not possible for him to remain at his post. He was one of the founders of the E. O. T. A. and has been in that part of the state, for many years, a prominent figure in educational circles, and he has been a loyal and devoted worker for the success of the O. T. R. C., as secretary for Jefferson County.

-Prin. Charles Kime, of Mingo Junction High School, has been appointed a teacher at Steubenville, and assigned as principal of Stanton Building, to succeed Principal Matlack.

-Miss Winfred Williams, niece of Dean Williams and teacher in the Athens Normal College Training School, is helping out with the work at Steubenville this year.

-Miss Jennie Williams, of Belpre, was released at the holiday time in order to admit her acceptance of the appointment as teacher in the Steubenville corps.

With the opening of the second half of the year, two new teachers were appointed at Steubenville, both of them graduates of the Normal Department, in charge of Miss Isabella Tappan. These young ladies are Miss Marie Floto and Miss Edna Powell.

-Mr. W. W. Parmenter, Science Teacher in the Steubenville High School, is seriously ill with typhoid pneumonia at his home in Mount Vernon.

Recently the Herald Star, of Steubenville, issued a Centennial edition, the paper being a hundred years old. To the schools it gives considerable space with fine illustrations and a descriptive article.

-In the course of a few weeks, the program for next summer's meeting, O. T. A., will be issued. It will be a great meeting and there will be a great attendance.

AMONG TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

A most pleasant week of school visitation was commenced at Fostoria, with a talk to the city teachers, on January 14, and ended at Piqua, January 18, at the first of a series of educational meetings to be held in that city to take the place of the week's institute.

Supt. S. H. Layton, of Fostoria, is so well pleased with his experience in that city that he feels as if he would like to challenge Ohio to name a community where better educational conditions prevail. All connected with the schools seem to be enthusiastic in the work. Some of the special features are manual training, departmental work in the upper Grammar grades, and a systematic study of a great picture in each. month of the school life of the child.

The next stop was Bowling Green, where Supt. N. D. O. Wilson, who deserves at least as many letters after his name as he has before it, and his teachers make up another happy and harmonious family. In this city the high school is developing rapidly and the spirit of teachers and pupils promises much for successful work. Supt. Wilson's generous heart prompts him to say that conditions in the schools, due to the careful foundations laid by his predecessors, are the cause of the rapid development during his administration. This is, no doubt true, but it is simple justice to add that the educational structure which is now going up in that community is wisely supervised by a clear head and a warm heart.

I found Supt. E. F. Warner, of Bellevue, in his office in close and sympathetic conference with a boy, troublesome in the schools, whom he is trying to save. The outcome of his special effort will be awaited with interest. In a most tactful and friendly manner this boy is being taught and disciplined by the superintendent, who for twenty years has directed the young lives of that community. The course pursued seemed to be a combination of study in the superintendent's office and an opportunity to help in the routine work which has to be done. When I left, "Fred" was using up some of his surplus energy in tackling his lesson in long division. While many other good features were noted in the management of the school, I am sure Supt. Warner will pardon this special reference which so deeply impressed me as indicating the ruling desire to help the boys and girls to the best things in life.

Everywhere in Fremont can be seen and felt the lasting impressions upon the school and the community of the forty-two years of consecutive service of W. W. Ross. In each building hangs his picture, in the high school is the tablet to his memory, but best of all, in the hearts and lives of the children in the schools and of the citizens in the community, is the permanent influence of his life and character. His successor, J. E. Collins, has already won a warm place in the esteem and affection of all, and the mantle of the superintendent who has gone, has fallen on worthy shoulders able to continue the work with the same fidelity and

success.

Tiffin is not growing in school population as rapidly as some cities, but few cities care better for the pupils. Housed in a beautiful build

ing, with H. H. Frazier, whose recent article in the MONTHLY on the work being done in the Pupils' Reading Circle will be recalled, as principal, and with C. A. Krout, whose long and successful experience as principal, before he became superintendent, admirably fitted him for the work, as general manager, the firm and all their assistants are doing well. A large number of high school pupils attend the University Extension Lectures which opened January 16.

For

It is a real joy to visit Findlay and see Supt. Zeller at work again, hearty, happy, and grateful that life has been spared. No hint of a murmur or a complaint from him although his affliction has been such as few souls have to meet. thirty years the Findlay Schools have been directed by his wise counsel and for nearly a score of years his chief lieutenant has been Principal J. F. Smith of the high school, which enrolled 69 when took charge and now numbers 456, of whom 42.4 per cent. are boys. Think of Findlay's senior class of 61, with 31 boys! Can any school in Ohio beat that!

Lima, where I made a few hours' visit, has practically the same percentage of boys enrolled, and Principal Steffens is at last enjoying a high school building and equipment worthy of his long and successful career. Even the hay fever has relented somewhat and he does not sneeze so hard and so long as in the days gone by. Supt. John Davisson is "making good" in every particular and conducts himself like a veteran in the business.

Wapakoneta too bad to change. such a musical name into "Wahpuk" even for the sake of brevity — is brim full of educational sentiment for the best things in school life

under the leadership of the three H's - H. H. Helter, whose recent appointment as a member of the State Board of School Examiners has given such universal satisfaction throughout Ohio.

Many years ago, greater in number than seem either possible or desirable, an institute instructor came two years in succession to Preble county. His kindly sympathy, good sense, practical suggestions, and conservative statements found a lodgement in the minds and hearts of all who attended. It was my good fortune to be among the number. Our instructor was then superintendent of the Piqua schools. It is needless to inform any reader of the MONTHLY that he is still "doing business at the old stand" with a third of a century of good works to his credit, and that his name is C. W. Bennett. To address his corps of sixty-two earnest, studious, welltrained teachers was a real pleasure and made a joyous close to a happy week. O. T. CORSON.

SUPT. J. G. LELAND.

The pen trembles. Leland is dead. There is a hush in Mt. Vernon. The children speak in whispers. They have lost a friend. The teachers brush away the tears. They have lost their leader. Men and women speak together in subdued tones. They have lost their superintendent. A woman sits solitary with her little boy and her little girl upon her lap. Papa is gone. Ohio school men and women stand in reverent silence. The profession has lost a man. All the generous plans for the future seem to lie in ruins. But not so, Mt. Vernon will never lose the influence

of this man. Character is eternal.

The bells will cease to toll, the flowers will fade; the emblems of mourning will disappear, but the spirit and work of J. G. Leland will live on. In the heart of every teacher and child his spirit will live on, will blossom and bear fruit through the years. They all know his work was for them and the great tribute to his memory will be the carrying forward of his plans. His plans were so wide and far-reaching as almost to bewilder, but as the days go on everything will become clear, and then tears will flow afresh. The great joy of his life was that his Board of Education gave him their hearts, and encouraged him to go forward. They knew him to be a man

a man

with a great unselfish purpose animating him every hour of the day, a man who was working for the teachers and the children. Therefore, they trusted him, and respected him. The beacon that guided him, from its high place, threw its light upon the years that are to be. His was not a policy for today, merely, but looked down the vista of time.

But he is gone. His place is silent. And yet there is a glory tinging the clouds as we recall his transparent manhood, his tendernes to wife and babies, his joy in finding the good in those about him, his purity of life, his high aspirations, his integrity in all matters, great and small. Never a life that he touched, but is the better for it, and this will be his most enduring monument.

AN OHIO TEACHER'S EXPERIENCE
WITH THE BUREAU OF UNI-
VERSITY TRAVEL.

'By Mary E. Morris, Teacher of Literature and English, Newark, Ohio, High School. After having had five months in which to cool off, my enthusiasm for

the methods and work of the Bureau of University Travel is still at white heat.

My prejudice against "parties" was so strong that it was with great. difficulty that I was persuaded to join one last summer for a twelve weeks' tour in Europe. Before two weeks had passed, however, my views had changed so radically that I wanted all my friends to see England and the continent in the same delightful way.

There was a perfect freedom from care that meant a great deal to a tired school teacher. All tickets were purchased; all baggage-except the hand bags we carried taken care of; all fees paid, except on the ocean steamers; all meals provided; all carriages ordered and paid for in fact, everything done for us except eating, sleeping, looking, and listening.

Even better than all this was the way that the sight seeing was conducted. Each little party of twenty had a man of culture and education at its head. Versed in the history of art and of architecture, familiar with the best things in galleries and museums, he pointed out to us the beauty of form or color, the depth of meaning underlying the outward expression, and the greatness of conception involved in each production, whether of ancient, mediaeval or modern times. A sonnet from

Michael Angelo or a poem by Browning was forever invested with a new interest when read or quoted in the very presence of that which first called it into being.

The daily lectures all down through Italy and in Greece, recalled to our minds historical facts that had long been forgotten and gave us much that we had never known before the product of the exhaustive