THE SCHOOLMASTERS' CLUB. Last Saturday's meeting of the Schoolmasters' Club, at the St. Denis, was attended by a large number of teachers of New York and vicinity. President Charles De Garmo, of Swarthmore, was presented by Dr. Poland, and was listened to with interest after the dinner. His remarks were discussed by the members present. Among those present were:

D. B. Frisbee, Dr. P. H. Grunenthal, B. W. Purcell, Hanford Crawford, S. McC. Crosby, W. H. C. Jackson, Abner B. Holley, J. A. Godwin, W. H. H. Dun, H. J. Heidenis, L. M. Kolb, A. R. Bogert, J. M. Edsall, G. O. Tappen, O. E. Shaul, John Gallagher, Jas. Lee, Hugh G. Connell, C. F. Suhling, W. B. Friedberg, T. B. Barringer, W L. Heineken, J. M. Ralston, David Haney, T. T. Collard, E. C. Sherman, Frank S. Tisdale, Edw. H. Dutcher, C. E. Morse, T. H. Hanson, S. M. Feurst, H. G. Schneider, J. G. Furey, Benj. Yates, J. H. Haaren, W. E. Pulsifer, Moses Becker, Jr., Sam'l L. Wacker, P. C. K. Gaines, W. B. Gunnison, Thos. B. Lawlor, W. L. Fitzgibbons, W. F. O'Callagher, Alanson Palmer, T. S. O'Brien, F. A. Young, J. F. Wingebach, C. J. Marjory, H. W. Smith, E. L. Hackney, John Melville, J. E. Soners, A. Fichlowitz, R. Russell Requa, Jos. S. Taylor, C. D. Larkins, E. D. Bagen, G. F. J. Gutg. sell, Wm. N. Barringer, E. D. Farrell, C. R. Ab. bott, H. B. Willis, J. H. Hulsart, John H. Clark, J. F. D. Heineken, W. S. Willis, W. B. Sprague,

O'Neill's

Sixth Ave., 20th to 21st St.

UMBRELLAS

For the Holidays.

ALL OUR PREVIOUS OFFER

INGS ECLIPSED.

Ladies all-silk Umbrellas, 26-inch, black, blue and red, steel rods, with an elegant assortment of Dresden handles, actually worth 4.25 on sale at

2.98 each.

Men's small rolling all-silk Umbrellas, 28-inch, fine assortment, sterling silver

trimmed handles, worth 5.25, on sale at

3.98 each. Elegant Assortment.

Canes

In Silver and Ivory deposit, Horn and
Natural Sticks and all
THE LATEST DESIGNS
In Sterling Silver Trimmings at
LOWEST PRICES.

L. S. Thompson, Melvin Hix, N. W. Pease, I. T. Town, B. Homes, Chas. E. Bose, H. M. Maxson, Jos. Clark, Chas. A. Dorsey, J. A. Hallock, E. C. Earl, H. E. Harris, P. H. Beemer, A. D. Stratton, R. B. Elliott, J. F. Kennard, W. C. Armstrong, A. F. S. Clarke, A. B. Woodford, Andrew I. Sherman, Ernest Richard, H. F. Towle, W. A. Mc Andrew, V. L. Davey, J. P. Conroy, H. P. O'Neil, A. Shiels, Sam'l Ayers, A. B. Poland, J. H. Hyslop, Wm. J. Kennard, Martin H. Ray, Randall Spaulding, George G. Ryan, Stephen Jenkins, Dr. Perkins, C. W. Lyon.

THE MAGAZINES.

Under the sarcastic title, Scientific Temperance, President David Starr Jordan will contribute to the January Popular Science Monthly a scathing denunciation of the women reformers who have forced most unscientific and ill-proportioned requirements as to the teaching of the physiological effects of alcohol and narcotics into the school laws of many States.

In the December Cosmopolitan appears the last story written by Stevenson, Ouida, Sarah Grand, Zangwill, and the beginning of James Lane Allen's new Kentucky realistic story, Butterflies. No magazine ever had a larger number of really distinguished artists engaged upon the illustration of a single number. The first result is given of the reproduction of a water color, drawn by Rossi for the

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY'S

LIBRARY BOOKS,

ADOPTED by the
Board of Education.

All Libraries should have a good Encyclopædia, and the

New Chambers's Encyclopædia

Is the Best for Schools, and the Price is Low.

Then you will want the following:

Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World,
Lippincott's Biographical Dictionary,
Chambers's Book of Days,

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,
Brewer's Reader's Hand-Book,

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonymes,
Walsh's Handy Book of Literary Curiosities,
Allibone's Dictionary of Poetical Quotations,
Allibone's Dictionary of Prose Quotations,
From Socrates to Macaulay.
Allibone's Great Authors of All Ages,
Jackson's Lessons on Decorative Design,
Jackson's Theory and Practice of Design,
Legouve's The Art of Reading,
Our Young Folks' Plutarch,
Our Young Folks' Josephus,
Prescott's Works, 8 vols.,
Mexico, 3 vols.,
Peru, 2 vols.,

Ferdinand and Isabel, 3 vols.,
Abbott's Birds About Us,
Animal Life of Our Seashore,
Morris's Historical Tales, 4 vols.,

America, England, France and Germany. Palgrave's Golden Treasury, the finest edi

tion.

Preserve this list and order from it.

Ask for our editions of the foregoing books, and you will be sure to get the best.

Catalogues sent on application.

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, 715-717 Market St., Philadelphia. New York Agent:

E. R. PELTON, 144 Eighth St.

Call at our New York Office.

PIANOS

Are the

favorite of the

Artist

Cosmopolitan and redrawn upon stone by the Cosmopolitan lithographic artists, and printed upon the Cosmopolitan lithographic presses. Work upon even a more extended scale is promised for the January number.

Of several new stories of Lincoln told in the second installment of the new "Life of Lincoln," in McClure's Magazine for December, one of the most interesting is that, when Lincoln removed with his family from Indiana to Illinois, he made thrifty use of the opportunities of the journey to peddle out, at a good profit, a stock of small wares which he had bought for the purpose. The whole instalment is rich in picturesque details, and in Lincoln, as he undertook life on his own account, first as a flat. boatman, and then as a grocery clerk at New Salem, exhibits a young genius and hero, doing wonderful feats of strength, risking his life to save comrades from drowning, and magically winning his way in a new community. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, in the same number, describes, with fond and humorous touches, her girlhood in one of the most attractive of New England university towns. Some portraits, hitherto unpublished, and other pictures add to the interest and value of the article. Another notable piece of literary autobiography is the story derived from conversations with Mr. Hall Caine, of the trials and labors which he, the son of a humble Manxman, had to endure in order to become one of the foremost of English novelists.

PIANOS.

Warerooms,

100 WEST 125TH STREET, (Corner Lenox (Sixth) Ave.

USE

Nuyler's

SOLD BY
DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE

LICORICE TABLETS FOR COUGHS AND COLDS GLYCERINE TABLETS

FOR ALL THROAT AFFECTIONS

BICYCLES.

Waverley

Save
Car Fare
and
Cuss Words

By riding a .

Waverley Bicycle.

For sale on easy payments at our own stores.

BROADWAY, cor. 30th ST.,

NO. 67 CORTLANDT ST., and at WAVERLEY CYCLING ACADEMY, Madison Ave. cor. 59th St.

INDIANA BICYCLE COMPANY.

SOMETHING NEW. See page 33, supply book.
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL USE, 1895.

Scholar's Record Composition, Tablet No. 50; Form and Drawing,
Tablet No. 80; Letter Writing, Tablet No. 60.
DEFIANCE PENS. See page No. 35, Supply Book.
Extra Chilled Steel Points Pens, Highly Endorsed by both Principals and
Teachers.

The L. W. Ahrens Stationery and Printing Co.,

85 LIBERTY STREET, OFFICE AND SALESROOM.

KNICKERBOCKER

TRUST Co.

234 FIFTH AVE., COR. 27TH ST.

Scientific American Agency for

PATENTS

CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, DESIGN PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, etc.l For information and free Handbook write to MUNN & CO., 361 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. Oldest bureau for securing patents in America. Every patent taken out by us is brought before the public by a notice given free of charge in the

Scientific American

Largest circulation of any scientific paper in the world. Splendidly illustrated. No intelligent man should be without it. Weekly, $3.00 a year; $1.50 six months. Address, MUNN & CO,, PUBLISHERS, 361 Broadway, New York City.

St. Denis Hotel,

Broadway and 11th St., NEW YORK. EUROPEAN PLAN.

Within a radius of a few blocks from the Hotel are all the Educational publishers of the city. The American Book Company, largest Educational publishers in the world, are directly opposite the hotel.

Prices are Very Moderate.
WILLIAM TAYLOR, Proprietor.

Packed in Boxes Containing 10 Capsules.

MANHATTAN School and Church Furniture Works,

WM. S. ANDERSON, Prop., No. 127 Clinton Place, N. Y. The only School Furniture Factory in the Metropolitan District. We manufacture the FOLDING SCHOOL DESKS used in New York City Public Schools.

AMUSEMENTS.

Academy of Music-Fourteenth street and Irving place, at 8:00-"The Sporting Duchess."

American Theatre-Forty-second street and Eighth avenue, at 8:00-"Northern Lights."

Abbey's Theatre-Broadway and 38th st. -"The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith."

Bijou Theatre-Broadway, near Thirtieth street, at 815.-Peter F. Dailey in "The Night Clerk."

Broadway Theatre-Broadway and 40th street, at 8:15-"An Artist's Model." Casino-Broadway and 39th st., at 8:15"The Wizard of the Nile."

Daly's Theatre-Broadway, near Thir tieth street, at 8:15-Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."

Eden Musee-Twenty-third street, near Sixth avenue-Waxworks.

Empire Theatre-Fortieth street and Broadway, at 8:15-Miss Nethersole as "Carmen."

Fifth Avenue Theatre-Twenty-eighth Street, near Broadway, at 8:15.-James A. Herne in "Shore Acres." Fourteenth Street Theatre-Fourteenth st. and Sixth ave., at 8-"Bonnie Scotland."

Gaiety Theatre-Broadway and Twenty ninth street, at 8:15-Burlesque. Garden Theatre. Madison Square Gar

den, at 8:15.-"A Stag Party." Garrick Theatre-Thirty-fifth st. and Broadway, at 8:30-Cissy Fitzgerald and The Foundling.

Grand Opera House-Twenty-third street and Eighth avenue, at 8:00-"Humanity." Hammerstein's Olympia-Broadway and 44th st., at 8:15- Music Hall, Yvette Guilbert. Theatre, Rice's "Excelsior, Jr." Concert Hall, Promenade Concerts. Harlem Opera House-One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, near Seventh ave., at 8:15-"The Masqueraders." Herald Square Theatre-Broadway and Thirty-fifth street, at 8:15-"The Heart of Maryland."

Hoyt's Madison Square Theatre-Twentyfourth street, near Broadway, at 8:30."The Gay Parisians."

Koster & Bial's Music Hall-Thirtyfourth street, bet. Broadway and Seventh avenue, at 8:15-Variety.

Lyceum Theatre-Fourth avenue, near 23d st., at 8.00-"The Home Secretary." Madison Square Garden.-Madison avenue and 26th street.Metropolitan Opera House-Broadway and 39th st., at 8:15-Grand Opera. Palmer's Theatre-Broadway and Thirtieth street, at 8:15-"The Shop Girl." Proctor's Pleasure Palace-Fifty-eighth street, bet. Lexington and Third aves.continuous from noon to midnightVaudeville,

Proctor's Twenty-third Street Theatre -continuous from 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. -Vaudeville.

Standard. Thirty-third street and Broauway, at 8:30.-"The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown." Star Theatre

Thirteenth street and Broadway, at 8:15.-"The County Fair."

Agents Wanted-MALE AND FEMALE in each county. State previous occupation to receive special proposition. Steady work. Good pay and advancement.

STAR PUBLISHING CO., CHICAGO.

ESTERBROOK'S

A PROFESSIONAL

Is the best pen for school purposes. Where not known write for samples to

Union Square Theatre Fourteenth street The Esterbrook Steel Pen

near Broadway, continuous performance from noon to 10:30 P. M.-Vaudeville and Opera.

26 John St., New York.

Co.,

(Written for School.)

THE CHILDREN CALL ME SANTA CLAUS.

BY COL. G. DOUGLAS BREWERTON

The children call me Santa Claus;

'Tis strange that I cannot see

Or comprehend the hidden cause

For he don't resemble me.

But still they shout where'er I go,

"Oh, here comes Santa Claus, you know."

I lack the legs-the stomach round

That shakes like calves-foot jelly,

Nor on my person can be found

The good saint's portly belly.

Yet still they shout where'er I go

"Oh, here comes Santa Claus, you know."

I own no sleigh, no fleet reindeer

That o'er the roofs go rocking,

And want the wealth, I really fear,

To fill each ample stocking.

But still they shout where'er I go,

"Oh, here comes Santa Claus, you know."

Perhaps it is my silver hair

And the beard as white as snow,

Or why should those bold urchins dare

To shout where'er I go.

Say, fellows, run to see the fun,
Here's Santa Claus, you know."

I don't condemn the harmless chaff
That serves to make them merry,
It's subject can afford to laugh
And all resentment bury.

Or e'en enjoy, once more a boy,
The fun they fancy might annoy.

I only wish, God bless the boys,

That I indeed were able,

I'd load a train with lots of toys

To shame Aladdin's fable.

Then they might shout where'er I go, "He's really Santa Claus, you know." And when like me your young locks show By flight of years depleted, The tint of Time's unmelting snow That tells life's work completed,

May you, too, hear with willing ear, The shout, "Old Santa Claus is near." The Irving, 433 West 57th st., New York, December, 1895.

WORK OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS. In his monthly report of the schools for November, Superintendent Jasper says, among other matters, that classes of 15 substitute teachers, holding probationary licenses, were visited by the assistant superintendents. Of these 15 teachers, 14 were found to have " satisfactorily completed sixty days of actual teaching." All of the successful teachers were graduates of the Normal College, and, in conformity with the bye laws, they received provisional licenses-5 to teach in Grammar grades and 9 in Primary grades. During the month 25 candidates were duly examined for licenses as regular or special teachers in the Grammar, Primary and Evening schools; 6 of the candidates were males and 19 were females. Of the whole number examined there were licensed a male and 15 females. The successful male applicant was licensed to teach German in Day schools. The 15 females were licensed as fol

lows: Grammar grades, 7; German in Day schools, 1; French in Day schools, 2; music in Grammar schools, 1; English to foreigners in the Evening schools, 3; music in Evening schools, 1. In accordance with the by-laws of the Board, conferences of the City Superintendent's Department with the teachers were held in the several districts into which the schools have been divided, three conferences being held in each district. The assistant superintendents gave suggestions in the following subjects: Higher Grammar Grades, Arithmetic, Physics, Oral Lessons, History and Civics. Lower Grammar Grades, Drawing, Reading, Oral Lessons; Higher Primary Grades, School Hygiene, Object Lessons; Lower Primary Grades, Number, Music.

Of the 2,775 teachers of the grades notified to

attend the Conferences, 2,641 were present, and there were in addition 528 visitors. The monthly reports of the Principals of Grammar and Primary schools show that 184,381 pupils were on register on the 30th day of November, and that the average attendance for the month was 174,101. There was an increase of 8,502 in the registration, and of 12,080 in the average attendance over the numbers reported for November, 1894.

The whole number of teachers employed, including principals, was 4,128, or 318 more than the number employed at the corresponding period last year. The number of days lost by absence of teachers was 1,968, or 275 less than were lost during November, 1894.

Appended will be found a list of teachers in whose classes the absenteeism was in excess of twenty per cent. In concluding my report I would call particular attention to the number of children refused admission to the schools, as shown in an appended summary by wards. It is of the highest importance that all means be taken to provide the needed accommodations for these and other unsuccessful applicants. I would recommend, therefore, that search be made for suitable premises in all cases where there is not an immediate prospect of the addition of "sittings" through the erection of new school buildings or the enlargement of old ones. The prospective increase in the number of attendance officers should result in an increase in the regis tration and some slight improvement in the percentage of average attendance, but it will be im possible to effect this and to enforce thoroughly the Compulsory Education Act, if the needed ac commodations are not provided.

The following shows the number of children refused admission to the Grammar and Primary schools during the month of November, 1895: Seventh Ward, 161; Tenth Ward, 365; Eleventh Ward, 78; Twelfth Ward, 850; Thirteenth Ward, 193; Seventeenth Ward, 111; Nineteenth Ward, 172; Twenty-second Ward, 59; Twenty third Ward, 379; Twenty-fourth Ward, 17.

JOHN H. GROTECLOSS.

Principal John H. Grotecloss, who was recently appointed by the Board of Education principal of Grammar No. 11, in West 17th st., is one of the youngest principals in the city. His examination was pronounced by Dr. Hunt, the chairman of the Committee on Teachers, as passed with most exceptional credit by Mr. Grotecloss. Although a teacher of about twelve years in New York, he has earned a high reputation for his efficiency. His early education was received in New York schools. He attended for several years No. 8, of which Mr. Southerland is principal, and subsequently Grammar No. 35, in West 13th st., from which he was graduated to the City College. After a short time at the College, he left to enter Cornell University, from which he was graduated in 1884 with high honors. He took an active part in athletic sports at Cornell, and for several seasons was captain of the football team and the rowing crew. Mr. Grotecloss was married only about a year ago to a bright and cultivated young lady of St. Paul, Minn, and there was a pretty touch of romance in the match, growing out of their meeting at the Conservatory of Music in the city, at which the young lady was a student, and at which, also, Mr. Grotecloss, who is a lover of music and a fine baritone, was giving his spare hours to study. The result of these meetings was several trips over the western prairies, and the marriage in St. Paul.

Mr. Grotecloss is exceedingly popular as teacher and principal among his pupils, and the school is taking new life since he assumed control of it. He is a member of the Teachers' Association, the Pedagogical Society, and other educational associations of the city.

"No, John," said Mrs. Jenkins. "Tommy shan't go to the circus, for they say there's a Bacterian camel in it, and I won't have my child exposed to these horrid germs!"

Teachers may also subscribe by sending a Postal Card to this office with address and the time of subscription desired.

FOR SALE BY

BRENTANO'S, No. 124 Fifth ave.

E. J. NIEUWLAND & CO., 10th ave. and 157th st. Washington Heights.

MRS. J. J. BEYRER, 68 Suffolk st.
8. ELKINS, 128 Broome st.
MRS. C. SCHRAM, 214 East 63d st.

SCHOOL PROVISIONS FOR 1896. With its new plan of committees and its proposed legislation, the prospect of New York schools at the beginning of the new year is an ambitious one. The appropriation which has just been granted is the largest ever given New York schools for a single year. In addition to it and the amount required for the colleges, there is also to be added the money to be expended for the new City College site, part of which, if not all, is likely to be paid during the year, reaching, in aggregate, about $500,000. Besides this, there is the land under condemnation for school sites; funds to be expended for new school buildings, all of which will make the school expenditure for 1896, by a conservative estimate of the chairman of the Committee on Finance, a total that will reach $8,000,000. The present value of school property in the city of New York is roundly estimated 000,000.

at $20,

This great expenditure has become a necessity to meet the educational requirements of the largest city on the continent. And the necessity is doubtless greater by far in New York to-day than in any city on the continent. No other city has such large numbers of children of every nationality in its schools, and no other city has to meet so directly the problem of training them, transforming them at short notice and in so short a time into something like American citizens. Whatever may have been the defects of New York schools in the past, they have met and combated this problem stoutly and continuously. They have frequently been handicapped, but the struggle has gone on, with the facilities at hand. With what results may be apparent to anyone who stops to think what would have been the condition

mands come with the authority of a statute enforced by the State, the Board of itself has no other course than to comply with the law. Such an instance is presented in the law which was passed last year making necessary a course of study on alcoholic liquors in all grades of the schools. The existing statutes provide in a measure for this, but under the new law, new text books will be required in all the departments, entailing at the start an expenditure for this purpose of $55,000. The Board of Estimate and Apportionment has done wisely in referring this to the Corporation Counsel for an opinion before it proceeds to grant the money.

** *

That cantankerous old lady on the Evening Post who devotes herself occasionally to the supervision of the school officers of the city, is again flouting her ancient skirts and working herself into a fit of frumpishness over the bad conduct. and general perversity of her pupils in the Board of Education, and in the school system generally. 'Tis a pity that she could not be placed on the retired list under the recent enactment, where she could devote her entire time to these

incorrigable pupils witho it fear or favor. Her doldrums are now caused quite as much by the present Board of Education as its predecessors, though but a few short weeks ago she was induced to praise this Board so highly, expressing implicit belief in the “skillful and experienced leadership" of Commissioner Hubbell.

**

The burden of her present refrain is the "inability or the indisposition" of the Board in its project for new legislation to take up more "radical" school reform. This good dame has not yet thoroughly learned the lesson which was so vividly put before her hardly a year since, on the ill-timed and gratuitous interference in public school affairs, of those who know nothing about them except in theory. As a public department; the schools and their management are, and should always be, open to intelligent suggestion, but when it comes to a gratuitous assumption on the part of any

individual or individuals who have no actual knowledge of the schools, of their sole inspiration, to supervise and conduct them, we have confidence that there exists a sufficient force in the public which is directly in touch with the schools, to place such assumption where it belongs.

**

The Committee on School System, which has had the framing of the bill that is to be presented this winter, called for the widest suggestion as an aid in its work, and its steps have been taken with care and forethought. There may still be changes and modifications to be made in the measure by the Board, which considers it this week, but if those changes were to take any of the radical tendencies which the Post desires, the doom of this bill would be sounded before it was born. It has been suggested that the measure should have been submitted by the committee to revision by President Low, Dr. Butler and other continental educational experts. The Committee, on the contrary, had the courtesy to ask the views of some of these gentlemen-whose ideas do not appear to have been highly remarkable-but if it should think necessary to further submit its work in advance of the presentation to the body that appoints it, that body would do quite as well to appoint a new committee that knew its business better.

**

One of the radical reforms in which the Post is most interested, is the abolition of the wicked school trustees. There is an inkling of an "open secret" in its denunciation at this late hour of the reelection of Trustee Hornthal of the Nineteenth Ward, and of other matters of interest, but at the idea of an increase of school trustees by an equitable disindulges in impotent rage about "favortribution of their supervision, the Post ite" daughters, neices, plumbers, painters and candlestick makers. 'Tis a great pity that the mis-information of the Post, the sources of which are transparent, could not be supervised and derived from better authority. Its utterances would then be less cloudy and its influence less futile.

The death of Assistant Superintendent Calkins, who has for more than thirty years been associated with the public schools of the city, makes three vacancies to be filled. Dr. Calkins had a national reputation as a supervisor of Primary work. He was the only member of the Superintendent's staff who had not been selected from New York schools, and his death at this moment makes it more probable that the Board of Education will desire to secure the services of an educator of experience and repute throughout the country.