MOOSE’S RUSAL NEW-YOSKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
(Bhutatioiml lepartimnt. 
BY L. WETHERELL. 
SCHOOL BOOKS. 
THE ART OE REAHING. 
All admit tiie importance of learning to 
read well. Few of the many who engage 
in teaching the young, are good readers, and 
fewer still possess the art of making good 
readers of their pupils. It was said in Eng¬ 
land, a short time since, that it was far more 
difficult to find competent persons to teach 
the English language, than either the Latin 
or Greek. This was owing to the fact that 
the Latin and Greek are taught and learned 
methodically, while our own tongue is not 
so studied. This accounts for our having 
so few good teachers of the arts of Reading, 
Spelling and English Grammar. It is much 
easier to find competent persons to instruct 
in the Higher Mathematics, than to teach 
well the art of reading, which is a vastly 
more important acquisition for mankind than 
a knowledge of mathematics. 
In order to make good readers of all the 
children sent to school, Ave must procure 
persons for teachers in the Primary Schools, 
that have a thorough knowledge of both the 
science and art of reading, and skill to in¬ 
struct and train such as are committed to 
them to be taught It is sometimes said of 
a person who desires to obtain a situation as 
teacher, that his qualifications are meagre, 
yet he will do for such a school, for the 
children are all young. This is a strong 
reason why they should have a good teach¬ 
er—one who is well qualified. It all the 
teachers in the Primary Schools were qual¬ 
ified to teach the art of reading, and dis¬ 
charged this duty faithfully to all commit¬ 
ted to their trust, we should find good read¬ 
ers as common in our schools as they are 
rare now. It is the monotonous “ school¬ 
boy tone ” acquired in the Primary School 
that renders it so difficult aftcrAvards to make 
good readers. 
We propose to point out a remedy for the 
evil of bad reading. The first is, procure 
good teachers. The second is, provide suit¬ 
able books to be used by the learners, else 
it is preposterous to expect success to croAvn 
the efforts of even competent teachers.— 
Having procured skillful teachers and suita¬ 
ble books, the attention of the learners should 
be directed to but one thing at a time. If 
articulation, be the subject ol instruction, 
say nothing about inflection, emphasis, or 
accent, though highly important in their 
place. One thing at a time should be the 
motto of the instructor when teaching read¬ 
ing. In teaching to articulate distinctly it 
will be found necessary not rmfrequently to 
exercise the learners on the letters, sepa¬ 
rately, that compose the words. “ In pro¬ 
nouncing the elements singly, they receive 
a concentration of organic effort, Avhicli gives 
them a clearness of sound and a definite 
outline, if I may so speak,” says Dr. Rush, 
“at their extremes, that makes a fine prep¬ 
aration for a distinct and forcible pronun¬ 
ciation in the compounds of speech.” Train 
the classes in exercises on articulation until 
words are habitually “delivered out from 
the lips as beautiful coins, newly issued from 
the mint, deeply and accurately impressed, 
perfectly finished, neatly struck by the prop¬ 
er organs, distinct, in due succession, and of 
due weight” 
After having trainSd the class accurately 
and thoroughly on articulation, so that the 
enunciation shall be clear and distinct, then 
take up inflection and so on, one thing at a 
time, until all the arts and graces be acqui¬ 
red necessary to make one heard, tmder- 
stood and felt whenever called upon to read; 
then, Avhether reading for the entertainment 
or the instruction of others, or for his own 
edification and improvement, pleasure Avill 
result from the exercise, and it will be re¬ 
sorted to in the hours of leisure as one of 
the highest sources of earthly enjoyment. — 
We hope the time is not far distant Avhen 
this department of primary education shall 
receive all the attention which its importance 
demands. 
Corrections. —On the ISYthpage of the 
last number, first column, fourth paragraph, 
read after or, “ artizans of some other kind 
that shall constitute them successful agents 
in money getting.” On the same page, in 
the third paragraph, of the second article 
of the third column, read, “ haihinger of 
luinter,” <fec. 
At the Teachers’ Institute at Georghi, 
7 2 teachers Avere in attendance—V 2 out of 
the 800 who expect to teach in the Counties 
for Avhich the Institute Avas held! 
Swan’s Series of School Readers. Philadel¬ 
phia: Thomas, Cowporthwait & Co. 
This valuable and progressive series of 
reading books is formed on the plan of 
teaching “ one thing at a time.” The author 
has, very judiciously, avoided the use of 
cuts. 
The lessons in part first are composed of 
Avords of the simplest sounds, so arranged as 
to furnish exercises in the different sounds 
of the vowels, and then, in the sounds of the 
consonants, accompanied with the author’s 
directions to aid the teacher in executing the 
course of instruction. The chief design of 
Part First is to teach articulation. The same 
object is kept in Anew in Part Second, and 
so on through the entire series, combining 
also exercises in inflection, emphasis, accent 
and punctuation, suited to all grades of 
children learning to read. The reading les¬ 
sons in the combination are adapted to the 
exercises of vowels and consonants that pre¬ 
cede them. Also with reference to the 
other things necessary to be taught and 
learned in order to make good readers. 
The author of the series here noticed, 
prepared, in compliance Avith a suggestion, 
made by the Boston School Committee, a 
book Avhich he named tlie “Instructive 
Reader.” This volume embraces a great 
variety of subjects connected with the three 
great kingdoms of nature. It is well de¬ 
signed to be used in connection with the 
aforesaid series—not as a substitute for them. 
It is also, exceedingly well calculated to aid 
the teacher in suggesting topics for general 
instruction, and to furnish children and 
youth Avith accurate knoAvledge on a great 
variety of subjects connected with the na¬ 
tural sciences. 
We commend this series, with the “ In¬ 
structive Reader,” to teachers and others 
interested in the selection of reading books 
for Schools. 
For the Rural New-Yorker. 
RURAL RH APSOD lES.—NO, 
4. 
BY WILL WICKI.IFFE. 
EDUCATE YOURSELE. 
Knoavledge is its own exceeding great 
reAvard. It is not the gift of a College, 
particularly. It is Avhat the mind produces 
whenever it acts. Great schools are chiefly 
appliances for the lazy, to furnish substitutes 
for knoAvledge by which to make their Avay 
in the Avorld. A youth Avho has a noble 
thirst for science, is not so much benefited 
by a “ liberal education ” as he is apt to im¬ 
agine that he will be, before trying it. If 
your parents are rich, and have nothing bet¬ 
ter to do with tlieir money, let them board 
you at Cambridge or Yale for four years. 
But if they are poor, labbring people, stay 
Avith them and labor too. But don’t the 
less strive for a liberal education. Be lib¬ 
eral in supplying yourself with books and 
time. Journey on foot and study nature 
and men. Ask questions of OA^ery body and 
every thing. 
Thus doing, you Avill probably acquire 
more satisfactory and useful knoAAdedge, 
and what is more, sounder character and 
firmer health —you will be more of a man 
than if you distress your parents to have 
knoAvledge put into your mouth Avith a pap- 
spoon. It is thus that the greatest and best 
men are made in every country. 
The folloAving persons have been invited 
by the Secretary of War to attend to the 
examination of the Cadets of the Military 
Academy at West Point, to commence on 
the fii-st day of June next:— 
1. Charles B. Haddock, Esq., Ncav Hamp¬ 
shire. 2. George W. Benedict, Esq., Ver¬ 
mont. 3. <Ten. James B. M. Potter, Rhode 
Island. J. Gen. Thomas CadAvallader, Noav 
Jersey. 5. Capt. Henry Dupont, DelaAvare. 
C. Vincit Wichel, Esq., Virginia. V. Mat- 
theAv J. AVilliams, Esq., South Carolina 8. 
Richard Hawes, Esq., Kentucky. 9. Dr. 
George R. Grant, Tennessee. 10. James 
P. Milliken, Esq., Indimia 11. Col. N. B. 
Bedford, Illinois. 12. Geo. H. Hazleton, 
Esq., Michigan. 13. James S. Rollins, Esq., 
Missouri. 14. Capt. James D. Cobb, Ar¬ 
kansas. 15. S. A. Roberts, Esq., Texas. 
Semi-Centennial Anniversakv of Mid- 
DLEBURY (Vt.) College.— Tlic Associated 
Alumni of Middlebury College Avill cele¬ 
brate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the foun¬ 
ding of that institution, on Wednesday and 
Thursday, the 21st and 22d days of August 
next. Rev. Dr. Joshua Bates, Rev. Dr. 
Stephen Olin, Rev. Dr. John Hough, Rev. 
Dr. N. S. S. Beman, Hon. Alexander W. 
Buel, John G. Saxe, Esq., and others, have 
accepted appointments as ‘Speakers for the 
occasion. A very full attendance of grad¬ 
uates is expected.— Vt. Chronicle. 
Thought.— One great and kindling- 
thought from a retired and obscure man, 
may live Avhen thrones are fallen, and the 
memory of those Avho filled them oblitera¬ 
ted, and, like an undying fire, may illumi¬ 
nate and qniclcen all future generations.— 
Channing. 
DOMESTIC PETS. 
Unless you are a misanthrope, have 
some animal or fowl about, upon which you 
may bestow a goodly share of care and at¬ 
tention during your leisure hours. ^ It help- 
eth mightily to dissipate ennui, and the in¬ 
fluences upon the mind will not be as chaff 
before the wind, as idle hours, more idly 
spent, most certainly are. Although the 
impressions conveyed are like magic Avork- 
ings, scarcely distinguishable, yet drop after 
drop maketh the streamlet, the streamlet in- 
creaseth the riyer, and the river sAvelleth 
out into the boundless lake. A cat, a dog, 
a lamb, a rabbit, poultry—any or all of these 
can teach us profitable lessons, and we can 
be susceptible pupils if we Avill. 
Why, man, do you think that your digni¬ 
ty would be injured by devoting a reasona¬ 
ble share of your time to the caressing of 
some pet that Avould exchange something- 
more valuable than dollars and cents, for 
your kindness ? Poh! for such dignity — 
you are too much exalted to commune with 
the spirit of the beautiful as it predominates 
in nature. We would advise your removal 
to the merchant’s counter, or the banker’s 
desk, there to count filthy lucre. 
Idelness, the huge monster that has de¬ 
voured many a poor creature, deeming life 
not worth its saving, may never be knoAvn 
in the country. During leisure hours—and 
every living being- should have some—have 
a tumble with your dog out upon the green- 
SAvard, or take a chase across the fields or 
through the Avoods, and happier moments 
Avill be guaranteed, when you return to 
your labors. No matter if you are groAvn- 
up and call yourself a man ; you should 
never grow-up so tall that your head Avill 
run to seed, Avhile the stalk is yet green. 
Poor puss! do not misuse her; but if you 
do happen to twist her ears or pull her tail 
a little, and she should return the compli¬ 
ment by scarifying you, never mind — it is 
highly recommended, and practiced by all 
good physicians. Do not throAV her down 
as if you would crush every bone in her 
body, but treat her Avith kindness and she 
Avill soon learn to love you. The pet-lamb, 
emblem of innocence, is a gay, pretty crea 
ture, as she skips about over (the laAvn, and 
leaps so gracefully over the ditch or any ob¬ 
struction that appears in her Avay. It is a 
feast for the eyes to behold a flock of lambs 
separated from the sheep, as they naturally 
and frequently are, all frisking about, upon 
some bright summer day, leaping ditches 
one after another; and when all are over, 
Avalking gently along, and as if by some sud¬ 
den impulse, Avlieel about and come gam¬ 
boling back in most delightful confusion. 
Ye care AA'orn and sick at heart, gather a 
ncAV life from such scenes as these, and our 
Avord for it your heart Avill expand Avith its 
fulness—your A'oice become richly eloquent 
in the praise of the beautiful, and your 
journey through life be over pleasant path¬ 
ways, bedecked Avith magnificent flowers, 
lavish Avith SAveet scents. 
Gleii Cole, 5th mo., 1850. 
PLEASURE OF READING. 
PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
George Washington, a native of Vir¬ 
ginia, was elected President of the United 
States in 1788; John Adams, of Massa¬ 
chusetts, Vice-President. Both were re-e¬ 
lected in 1792. 
John Adams Avas elected President in 
1796; Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, 
Vice-President. 
Mr. Jefferson Avas elected President in 
1800; Aaron Burr, of Nsav York, Vice- 
President Thomas Jefferson was re-e¬ 
lected in 1804; George Clinton, of New 
York, Vice-President 
James Madison, of Virginia, Avas elect¬ 
ed President in 1808; George Clinton 
re-elected Vice-President Mr. Madison 
re-elected 1812 ; Elbridge Gerry, of Mas¬ 
sachusetts, Vice-President. 
James Monroe, of Virginia, elected Pres¬ 
ident in 1816; Daniel D. Tompkins, of 
Ncav York, Vice-President Both re-elect¬ 
ed in 1820. 
John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, 
elected President in 1824; John C. Cal¬ 
houn, of South Carolina, Vice-President. 
Andreav Jackson, of Tennessee, elected 
President in 1828; John C. Calhoun re¬ 
elected Vice-President Gen. Jackson Avas 
re-elected, 1832. Martin Van Buren, of 
New York, elected Vice-President 
Martin Van Buren elected President in 
1836; Richard M. Johnson, of Kentuckv, 
Vice-President 
William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, 
elected, 1840; John Tyler, of Virginia, 
Vice-President 
James Knox Polk, of Tennessee, elect¬ 
ed President 1844; George M. D.yllas, of 
Pennsylvania, Vice-President 
Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, elected 
President 1848; Millard Fillmore, of 
New York, Vice-President 
Of the eleven Presidents, four Avere resi 
dents of Virginia, tAvo of Massachusetts, 
tAvo of Tennessee, one of Ncav York, one 
of Ohio, and one of Louisiana, Of the 
Vice-Presidents, five Avere residents of New 
York, tAvo of Massachusetts, two of Virgi¬ 
nia, one of South Carolina, one of Ken-1 
tucky and one of Pennsylvania. The 
Southern section of the Union has furnish¬ 
ed Presidents 48 out of 60 years, since 
WASHtNaTo>T wne Grot <>lectpd. Tbo Nor¬ 
thern section has furnished Vice-Presidents 
40 years—during four of the remaining 20 
years the office was vacant Three of the 
Vice-Presidento were subsequently elected 
to the office of President Virginia alone 
has furnished Presidents for 36 years. 
It is rather remarkable that the South 
should have furnished so many more Pres¬ 
idents than the North, Avhile the latter had 
and ^has many more eminent Statesmen 
than the former. It is a matter, hoAvever, 
of very little importance, unless it can be 
shoAvn that it was the result of claim cm the 
part of the South and concession by the 
North. This no one will pretend Avas the 
case until within the past fcAv years. We 
hope that the affairs of this Republic Avill 
be so administered that this Union with 
the line of Presidents may continue un¬ 
broken until the angel whose future mission 
it is, proclaims, there shall be time no lon¬ 
ger. w. 
PHILOSOPHY OF HAPPINESS. 
In a recent letter to the New York Jottr- 
ned of Commerce, a foreign correspondent 
says;— 
You will note that Avarm commendation 
is bestoAved in the London literary Journals 
on the elementary sketches of Moral Phi¬ 
losophy, delivered at the Royal Institution 
in 1804, 1805, and 1806, by the late Rev. 
Sydney Smith. I am quite enamored with 
the copious and very characteristic extracts, 
furnished in the London Examiner of the 
13 th. Allow me to repeat one: 
“Mankind are always happier for having 
been happy; so that if you make them hap¬ 
py now, you make them happy tAventy years 
hence, by the memory of it. A childhood 
passed with a due mixture of rational indul¬ 
gence, under fond and wise parents, diffu¬ 
ses over the Avhole life a feeling of calm 
pleasure; and in extreme old age is the very 
last remembrance Avhich time can erase 
from the mind of man. No enjoyment, 
however inconsiderable, is confined to the 
present moment. A man is happier for 
life for having once made an agreeable tour, 
or lived for any length of time with pleas¬ 
ant people, or enjoyed any considerable in¬ 
terval of innocent pleasure, and it is more 
probably the recollection of their ptist pleas¬ 
ures, which contributes to render old men 
so inattentive to the scenes before them, 
and carries them back to a world that is 
past and to scenes never to be reneAved 
again.” 
How true the above. Past happiness is 
Avhat Ave can truly appreciate. Many re¬ 
member a true friend, Avho made them hap¬ 
py—a beautiful flower, or a choice fruit, 
that wixs groAvn on the place of their birth, 
and Avere it Avhere we could still grasp it, 
it would prove a “ sine-qua-non.'” 
3 . H. AV. 
WHAT I LOVE TO SEE. 
Of all the amusements that can possibly 
be imagined for a working man, after daily 
toils, or in the intervals, there is nothing like 
reading a neAvspaper or a book. It calls 
for no bodily exertion, of Avhich already he 
has had enough, perhaps too much. It re¬ 
lieves his home of dullness and sameness. 
Nay, it accompanies him to his next day’s 
Avork, and gives him something to think of 
besides the mere mechanical drudgery of 
his every day occupation; something he can 
enjoy wliile absent, and look forAvard to Avith 
much pleasure. If I Avere to pray for a 
tJiste which would stand by me under every 
variety of circumstances, and be a source of 
happiness and cheerfulness to me through 
life, and a shield against all its ills, hoAvever 
things might go amiss, and the Avorld froAvn 
upon me, it Avould be a taste for reading.— 
Herschel. 
“What shall aa'e Eat?”— A A'fist ma¬ 
jority of the human race spend all their 
time, and employ their Avdiole mind in get¬ 
ting enough to eat and drink, and guard 
against the inclemency of the Aveather.— 
The hen Avho picks AA’-orms from the ground, 
the fox Avho steals geese, and the bird avIio 
wades in the Avater for fish, do as much.— 
What a noble creature is man! 
V irtue is made for difficulties, and grows 
^ stronger and brighter for such trials. 
THEEE POETS IN A PUZZLE. 
I LED the hoi-se to the stable, Avhen a 
fresh perplexity arose. I removed the har¬ 
ness Avithout difficulty, but, after many stren¬ 
uous attempts, I could not remove the col¬ 
lar. In despair I called for assistance when 
aid soon drcAv near. Mr. WordsAvorth 
brought his ingenuity into exercise, but, af¬ 
ter several unsuccessful efforts, he relin¬ 
quished the achievement, as a thing altO' 
gether impracticable. Mr. Coleridge now 
tried his hand, but shoAved no more groom¬ 
ing skill than his predecessors; for after 
tAvisting the poor horse’s neck almost to 
strangulation, and the great danger of his 
eyes, he gave up the useless task, pronoun¬ 
cing that the horse’s head must have groAvn 
(gout or dropsy) since the collar was put 
on; “for,” he said, “it Avas a doAvnright im¬ 
possibility for such a huge os frontis to 
pass through so narrOAv a collar!” Just at 
this instant a servant girl came near, and 
understanding the cause of our consterna¬ 
tion, “ La, master,” said she, “ you don’t go 
about the Avork in the right Avay. You 
should do like this,” Avhen, turning the col- 
hu’ completely upside doAvn, she slipped it 
off in a moment, to our great humiliation 
and Avonderment; each satisfied afresh that, 
there Avere heights of knoAvledge in the world 
to which we had not yet attained.— Cottle's 
Life of Coleridge. 
I LOVE to see a child, Avhen the father or 
mother, or any superior, enters the room 
and there is no chair by the fire in which 
either can sit, immediately rise and place 
one for their accommodation. 
I love to see a child, Avhen handing a book 
or newspaper to a parent, so hand it, that it 
will be received by the parent’s hand, all 
ready to open and read. 
I love to see a child, Avhen going to the 
table for refreshment, not to take a seat if 
there be no chair at the place usually occu¬ 
pied by the father or mother, or some older 
person, until one is placed there. 
I love to see a child, Avhen addressed by 
a superior, give attention, and ahvays an¬ 
swer any question with tUeJuldition of 
and Ma’am, to No and 
I love to see n child Avhen 
brother or sister, always gentle and kTnB.’'’' 
I love to see a child, when sent on an er¬ 
rand, immediately start and promptly per¬ 
form the duty and then at once return home. 
I love to see a child, when sent to school, 
not loiter by the Avay, but reach th« school¬ 
room at the time the teacher enters. 
I love to see a child, Avho never insults 
strangers in the street,—Avho neA'er throws 
snoAV-balls after sleighs as they pass. 
I love to see a child who runs away from 
the children avIio use profane or vulgar lan¬ 
guage, who shuns the society of the wicked. 
I love to see the child, who is always 
obedient and respectful to parents, and who 
takes pleasure in rendering the many little 
attentions which much reheve a dear moth¬ 
er or a devoted father. 
I love to see a child, on the Sabbath, ev¬ 
er in the parent’s pew, and always sober in^ 
countenance, and respectful in attention to 
the services of the sanctuary. 
I love to see a child when told to do this 
or do that, at once perform, and never ask, 
“Why can’t John do it ?” or say, “you alwa^ 
ask me,” or “I have all the work to do, 
or, “John don’t do anything.” 
In fine, I love to see a child who knows, 
the place of a child, and who ever conducts 
in such a manner as to secure the love of 
parents, and the approbation and esteem 
neighbors and friends.— Youth's Instructor. 
BELL BIRD. 
One meets in the forests of Guyana! 
bird much celebrated with the Spaniarc 
called campanero or bell-bird. Its voice 
loud and clear as the sound of a bel 
may be heard at the distance of a lea^ 
No song, no sound can occasion the 
ishment produced by the tinkling < 
campanero. He sings morning and even? 
like most other birds, at mid-day he sii 
also. A stroke of the bell is heard, a 
of a minute ensues; second tinkling, ana’ 
pause of the same duration is repeated 
ly a third ringing, followed by a sihi 
of six or eight minutes. “Acteon,” sa) 
enthusiastic traveler, “ would halt in 
heat of the chase, Orpheus would let 
his lute to listen; so novel, sweet, and rc 
tic is the silver tinkling of the snovv- 
campanero." 
This bird is about the size of a jay, 
its head arises a conical tube of about ( 
inches long, of a brilliant black, spi 
small Avhite feathers, which communie 
with the palate and which, when 
with air, resembles an ear of com. 
