the joking of brothers and sisters, of husbands 
and wives, on something that pertains to them 
only,—they, who, by every-day association, havo 
become intimate, and are expected to know tho 
tender points of each other’s character,— is dan¬ 
gerous, and should be avoided. Tho ono who 
utters a good joke rarely thinks ho is doing more 
than giving a good turn which will be as soon for¬ 
gotten by its object, as by himself, while the 
receiver considers that ho Is injured,—is entitled 
to tho privileges of the injured,—and feeia that an 
equal return is not enough, but he will treasure it 
up till, at somo unlucky moment, it returns with 
interest on tho perpetrator, who feels that lie, too, 
has been misused, I have felt, when tho confi¬ 
dence that I would conllilo it to no one else than 
the friend to whom I did trust it, has been turned 
into a joke at my expense, that I would close my 
heart to all—brothers, sisters, friends—and cherish 
in my own soul, only, my thoughts and emotions. 
But wo cannot do so,—we must Impart to friends 
our joy, or we but half Appreciate it, and the over¬ 
flowing sorrow must bo divided, or It will break 
the heart. Who can receive it. so well as a brother 
or sister. We will confide, though it bring the 
blush, and send a pang to the heart, at every meet¬ 
ing, for fear those joys or sorrows will prove the 
subject of a joke. - Solon. 
Genoa. N. Y„ I860. 
[Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.) 
LEARN IT ALL. 
Every hour brings its changes; but more 
especially is change conceivable upon the minds 
of youth. Hence the importance of laying before 
its grasp, principles of truth to satisfy its yearn¬ 
ings for reality; to inculcate lessons of wisdom; 
to fill the vacuities of a vigorous, increasing 
intellect. Every question, solved by searching 
thought and attentive inquiry, has strengthened 
mental talent, and a bonefit is thus retained long 
after the task has been forgotten, and prepared it 
for the next and more elevating duty. Principles 
are imprinted, though ceremonies are forgotten. 
Rules of science, that appear dry and useless, 
may bo of great importance in future. Our 
youth aro quite too apt to denounce many of 
these ns impractical, or useless,—the creations of 
scheming device and pedantic skill, more to puz¬ 
zle the learner than to expand their intellect,—to 
add useless systems of analysis, rather than to 
give light upon science. 
If there arc two methods of solving the same 
question, how can you determine which is 
preferable, or which to adopt, if you do not try, 
learn, and examine them both? Then you will 
have viewed all its hearings, and become much 
better qualified, than to have ceremoniously pass¬ 
ed over the one, regardless of the other. 
Remember, a book is not a science, but an 
explainer of one, and the rules it contains are 
founded on principles, the elements of which 
exist in nature, changeless and immovable. Do 
not try to master any rule easily, or too quickly; 
but let your aim be to sec how much knowledge 
you may obtain from each. Our text hooks are 
mostly compiled by skillful men, adding little 
that may be omitted, with profit, to tho student 
in his present progress, or future advancement, 
though he may desire to indulge present ease. 
The great object of education should be to give 
tact and perspicuity to tho mind, as well as to 
commit, ami fix therein, rules applicable to busi¬ 
ness practice, and, though the latter is important, 
yet enough will be learned by acquiring the 
former. 
Let the fundamental rules lead you to reflect 
upon form», and, in every endeavor, to ascertain 
the reason why. Forma will become familiar as 
a knowledge of these aro acquired, and the prac¬ 
tical will be doubly pleasing- Tims each succeed¬ 
ing Btep will prepare yon for the next higher, and 
so convey you along up the high road to fame. 
McDonough, N. Y., 1800. A. D. 
SPRING.-A LEAF FROM MY JOURNAL 
I have been chopping to-day, and all around 
mo have been seen the evidences that spring has 
come. The poplar and the willow have thrown 
out their feathered buds, And sundry blades of 
grass look up in joyful expectation of a “good 
time coming.’’ The air has that, About it which 
makes one look involuntarily for tho creeping 
flower, and listen for the song of spring birds. 
Long, icy winter has at last given the scepter to 
spring, and soon tho earth will feel the ofleot of a 
inoro gonial Influence, The great resurrection of 
Nature will be ushered in, and the souls of flowers 
will come back to their old tenements, and earth 
will forget that it ever was winter; tho jubilee 
of happy singers will break forth, in the midst of 
swelling buds, and springing grass, and God will 
rejoice that all things praise Him. A frog awoke 
from his long sleep, and upon trying his lungs, 
was surprised to And that he was not alone, hut 
ono of Ills neighbors was “up and dressed” be¬ 
fore him. Then they held a conversation, proba¬ 
bly on the subject of the next national song for 
the brotherhood of frogs. Two woodpeckers met 
in the top of an old tree, and held an animated 
conversation, of which I was an interested, tho’ 
ignorant listener. Porhnps they spoke of the 
hardness of the times, and tho deal of “picking” 
one has to do to get a living. Or they might have 
been making arrangements for house-keeping, 
and were considering tho propriety of building 
a new or engaging an old house. 
Again, tho volubility of their language seemed 
to indicate that they wer© a couple of coquettes, 
holding in debate a gentleman woodpecker, who 
was busily engaged in hammering himself a home 
in an old “stnh” in the distance. At least they 
seemed to be happy in that high degree which the 
GOD of Nature intended they should enjoy. 
A community of crows held ft convention near 
by, greatly to t.he delight of a little squirrel, who 
interrupted the solemnity of the meeting by 
exhibiting his skill in running arid singing in the 
branches of his home-tree. The crows, in their 
speeches, Imitated some of their human betters, in 
their confusion. They discussed the scarcity of 
provisions, and Die prospect of carrion in “ these 
diggins,” and broke up without arriving at any 
definite conclusions; but each seemed to go away 
with a feeling of intense disgust 
Every season has its peculiar charms. Even 
winter, cold and dreary, has its rides, its social 
gatherings around the old hearth, and its long 
evenings at home; summer its haying, tho poetry 
of the farmer’s life; autumn, its fruits, Its Indian- 
summer, and the beautiful golden sunsets; but in 
spring, the earth seems buoyant with a new life. 
It has the rich green carpet dotted with gems of 
gold,—tho magnificent “tree flowers,” and the 
singing birds, and above all, the hope it, brings of 
a season of plenty to the man who earns his bread 
with the labor of his hands. Let him not repine 
■r Vr^filen ft/' 
CORTLAND AOA.X3KIVLV, HOMER, N. V 
Cortland Academy is one of the oldest and 
most successful and prosperous institutions of its 
class in the State. It was incorporated in Feb¬ 
ruary, 181!), and bas gradually advanced In pubtio 
favor and usefulness until it ranks among the first 
academies in tho land,—evidence of the skill, 
fidelity and wisdom of its management. The 
simple fact that of the 180 Academies recently 
reported tothe Regents of the University, this iu 
stitution stands among the first five in point of 
numbers, in the higher branches of English or in 
Classical studies, sufficiently indicates snperior 
merit and popularity. The Academy has ever 
retained ft firm hold on tho confidence of comma 
nity, and during the forty years of its existence 
over eight thousand students have received the 
benefit of its Instruction. Many of its Alumni 
are occupying positions of usefulness and honor 
in their own and other lands, while not a few have 
riBen to eminence “in the State, in the Church, 
and in the various professions of scienceaud art." 
The influence of the Institution has, therefore, 
already been vast and wide, as it will prove last¬ 
ing and inestimable. 
But our purpose i 3 to briefly notice the present 
condition of the A cademy, rather than eulogize 
it, though its former history would warrant the 
highest commendation The institution has ten 
competent instructors, and over two hundred 
pupils. The last catalogue gives an average at¬ 
tendance of 228 during the year, the number 
being 268 at the Winter Term. The course of 
study includes “all the branches usually pur¬ 
sued in tho Common School,—in our best Acade¬ 
mies,—and most of the studies pursued in our 
Colleges.” We learn from the accomplished 
Principal, that special prominence is given to 
the English branches anil the Natural Sciences,— 
such as Chemistry, Botany, Geology, Meteorology, 
dec. This is as it should be, especially as most of 
the pupils arc sons and daughters of Farmers, and 
can hero acquire or lay foundation of a practical, 
substantial education. 
Cortland Academy bas long been celebrated 
for the ability of its teachers, and it is proper 
that wo should here accord proper credit to the 
present board of Instructors. The Principal, 
Steciikn W. Clark, A. M., is widely known as a 
successful teacher and author of educational 
works. Prof. Clark received his early training 
on a farm, specially devoted himself to the Natu¬ 
ral Sciences while in Amherst College, (under 
the care and instruction of tho celebrated Dr. 
Hitchcock,) aud is therefore well qualified to 
teach those branches of education suitable to 
farmers’ sous who would excel in tjidr profession. 
Miss Harriet 8. Gunn, tho Preceptress, has also 
attained an enviable reputation, being admirably 
qualified to perform the varied duties of her 
important position. The other Teachers, said to 
be able ami competent, arc—H uman A. Sanford, 
A. M., Languages; Piikp. B. Downes, A. M., 
Mathematics; Miss Harriet Taylor, Modem 
Languages; J.\s. 8 . Foster, Natural Sciences; 
Miss Lucy B. Gunn, English Department; Mrs. 
Mary Lund and Miss Harriet D. Gaylord, 
Instrumental and Vocal Music; Almon H. Bene¬ 
dict, Penmanship. 
Homer is one of the most, beautiful villages we 
over visited,- and the intelligence, morality and 
refinement of its citizens is widely known. It is 
Indeed a model Rural Village—a pleasant and 
safe residence for pupils, and we regard this ns 
an important consideration for parents who send 
children away from home to be educated. 
The Academy building (of which wo give a 
fine view, recently engraved for tho Rural from 
an ambrotype,) is situated in the public park, 
nestled among the churches, and surrounded 
with ample grounds and fine trees — altogether ft 
most ch inning location. “It embraces various 
apartments for study and recitations, a well-se¬ 
lected Library, philosophical apparatus, and every 
facility needed to impart a good, thorough and 
practical education.” In this connection, and in 
conclusion, we may appropriately quote a brief 
but very complimentary and comprehensivo no¬ 
tice which recently appeared in the New York 
Examiner, as follows:—"The Cortland Academy 
Is one of the oldest, largest, and most prosperous 
Institutions in the 8 t.at.a. Its Trustees aro devo¬ 
ted to its interests, the most trustworthy and 
accomplished teachers arc employed, and Homer, 
tho place Of its location, is a village of unsur 
passed morality, beauty, aud healthfulness. In 
other years we had the beat of opportunities for 
knowing the excellent character of the Institu¬ 
tion, and a reliable friend assures, us that it was 
never in a more nourishing state than now.” 
[Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker.] 
EVER AND NEVER. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —The signs of the 
times seem to indicate that it is becoming fash¬ 
ionable (in the land of Webster’s Dictionaries,) 
for speakers and writers, to misuse the adverbs 
ever and never. They arc diametrically opposite 
in meaning, yet they arc frequently used in such 
a manner as to entirely destroy the sense of the 
sentences In which they are placed. 
Some of tho most able and popular writers and 
correspondents of the Rural, are not without 
fault in tho use of those words, for, iu the issue of 
March 17th, this sentence occurs,—“ but your 
fences be they never so few, must be good.” 
Never is here carelessly used instead of ever, and, 
ub a consequence, the sentence is of doubtful 
meaning. 
We lately heard a line sermon in which never 
was used as follows:—“Let them deal with their 
neighbors never so justly,” Ac. Now, substitute 
ever in the place of never, and the meaning is evi¬ 
dent. A distinguished senator, in a late speech, 
used this language:—“ And even the criminals in 
the penitentiaries rehearse the story of your 
wrongs, and their own, never so eloquent, and 
never so mournfully,” Ac., using never in the place 
of ever. I will conclude this adverbial criticism, 
by requesting all interested in the subject, to re¬ 
fer to observation second, under the rule fifteenth, 
on the 107th page of Brown’s Grammar. 
Mount Morris, N. Y„ 1860, Correspondent. 
consonant combinations, and sentences of like 
character, should he repeated with every exercise, 
for this is not tho produetiou of an hour, a day, or 
a month; but the work of successive months and 
years, and will ultimately produce glorious re¬ 
sults. The teacher should give interest to every 
exercise. He should he able to re-create into life 
each day, what most teachers consider a dry, dull 
and monotonous task. 80 it will bo when the 
teacher fails to thrill the learner with the Impor¬ 
tance of tlie subject, and evidence the same, all 
pver his own being. From his heart to the heart 
of his pupils the telegraph must he established, 
and along the unseen wires, such communications 
must paBB as will make teacher and scholar a unit. 
Then progress will he attained, and good readers 
an inevitable result .—New York Teacher. 
ABOUT SPELLING 
I wish to say that I think some of our teachers 
do notact so wisely as they should, in all eases.— 
What is the object of spelling! Answer:—To im¬ 
press on the memory a correct image of every 
word. But this cannot be done Dy a careless way 
of recitation, as if the only object was to see which 
would beat If a scholar spells a word wrong, and 
it pass on till some other one gets it right, he is 
more likely to remember it wrong than right 
This is my impression, and 1 have had consid¬ 
erable experience. To test the matter, put the 
same word to him at his next turn, and see if he 
don't miss it again. 
What is the object of classing scholars? Ans.: 
That the teacher may drill a number at once instead 
of one. Now, what I have proved by practice, I 
would recommend to others, viz.:—Sec that the 
attention of the whole class is directed to the 
word that is being spelled; then, if one misses, 
Hay next immediately. When the word is spelled 
right, let it be repeated by those that missed it. 
Let the missed word be put again, and if missed 
again, again repeat, until they aro impressed cor¬ 
rectly on their memory. In this way you can see 
your scholars progress in the “manly art” of 
spelling,—one of the most useful accomplish¬ 
ments.— Independent. 
JOKES AND JOKERS. 
delight of common conversation. He who cannot 
give a good turn to words, or make a good joke (tho’ 
he may be wise as Plato,) is considered far inferior 
to the brilliant and flippant wit, whose bits “arc 
wont to set tho table iu a roar.” Practical jokes, 
which are acknowledged to be the sport of the 
low, only, have gone mainly from good society; 
but, the cutting satire, the sneering slant at some 
well-known foible, the look, that, at some favora¬ 
ble moment, can bring the blush to the face—these 
arc the delight of the social circle. A ud if some 
poor fellow, whose face is not hardened to the 
unblushahlc state, happens to feci misused, and 
resents it, he is branded as ill-natured, and “as 
one who cannot bear a joke;” no matter if he be 
one of the best of fellows in the world. 
Now, I know that it is a fine thing to have all 
your tenderest feelings trampled upon,— to have 
all your own and yonr friends’ faults held up to 
the ridicule of those who arc totally unacquainted 
with the contrary virtues,— to have the little 
lapses from duty, whieh havo been the fortune of 
all of us, dragged from oblivion by one whose 
friendliness leads him to remember all our past, 
both evil and good, and handled by no delicate 
hand; still, I must acknowledge that I never pos¬ 
sessed that Christian meekness, that 1 could 
patiently endure, and love the oue who thus used 
me, even though 1 have to bo termed illmatured, 
— “no one to take a joke.” As we are endowed 
by Nature with a love of mirth, fun is allowable,— 
and I know that without it, this world would be a 
dreary world,—still, this indiscriminate joking is 
not conducive to mirth, but rather leaves a smart 
that lasts when the pleasure has departed. 
It may be said that cutting jokes aru not allowed 
in good society, but where is the circle in which 
the sensitive, or even those more hardened, have 
not felt shocked to feel some veil lifted, (by a 
friend, too,) rather than which, had tho choice 
been given, they would have endured almost, any 
suffering. Such things may bring the laugh, and 
cause tho perpetrator to be called smart, yet they 
have not in them the soul of wit,—" good nature .” 
I am not an enemy to tho spirit of laughter, but 
O-r.i-O-n. —Poets, unfortuuately. accent this word on 
the second syllable.— fVebsler'* Dictionary. 
Do they, indeed? Well, that is unfortunate; but 
no more so, perhaps, than the fact that, because 
some lmrd-np rhymester,—who was it, the origi¬ 
nal sinner, we mean? — wanted emphasis in a par¬ 
ticular place, in order to the requisite length¬ 
ening out of line,everybody else, for alt time 
thereafter, should be obliged to endorse his non¬ 
sense, and participate in the torture of tnis harm¬ 
less and beautiful word. O /t-on! It’s perfectly 
barbarous. We shall expect, ono of these days, 
to sec a certain very odorous and nutritious veg¬ 
etable thrust out under our noses, with pronuncia¬ 
tion changed to that of On-t-on. And, perhaps, 
too, when speaking of that beautiful little bird, 
which often builds its nest in the pendant, swing¬ 
ing branches of the weeping willow, wo shall, as 
in duty bound, by the example of some “unfor¬ 
tunate” poet, be compelled! to call it the O-ri-ole! 
Who talks of “poetic license?” We think the 
poet who was first guilty of this offence,—for itw 
an offence, even in the eyes of “ good old Noah ” 
Webster, or he wouldn’t speak of the unfortunate- 
ness of the thing,—must have had his daily walks 
where licenses were either particularly plenty or 
entirely disregarded .—Buffalo Commercial. Adv. 
[Written lor Moore’s Kura! New-Yorker.] 
PARTIAL PAYMENTS-AN INQUIRY, 
CHINESE PROVERBS. 
Good iron is not used for nails, nor are soldiers 
made of good men. 
Wood is not sold in the forest, nor fish at the 
tank. 
Ivory does uot come from a rat’s mouth. 
An avaricious man is like a serpent wishing to 
swallow an elephant. 
Exaggeration Is to “ paint a snake and add legs.” 
To ride a fierce dog to capture a lame rabbit, is 
to attack a contemptible enemy. 
To instigate a villain to do wrong, is like teach¬ 
ing a monkey to climb treeB. 
An inefficient man, to do anything, is like taking 
a locust’s shank for a carriage shaft. 
To climb a tree to catch a fish, is talking much 
and doing nothing. 
Looking for promotion, is hanging to the tail 
of ft beautiful horse. 
Two skins cannot be stripped from one cow, is 
to say that exertion has its limits. 
To win a cat and lose a cow, expresses the folly 
of going to law. 
Chickens will at last come out of eggs, is the 
equivalent to “murder will out.” 
Let every man sweep the snow from his own 
doors, and not busy himself with the frost on his 
neighbor’s tiles, conveys a lesson for people of all 
nations. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —With tho perusal 
of the article, in a late issue of your journal, rela¬ 
ting to partial payments, by “E, M. C.,” I was 
greatly pleased. Being somewhat conversant with 
the principles involved in the subject discussed, I 
have now, as I think, found the only correct way 
of treating them, to wit:—the fifth rule laid down 
by your correspondent. I would ask if “E. M. 
C.” will not make some more contributions tothe 
Rural, on tho subject of arithmetic generally?— 
Also, can “E. M, C.” devise a more practical 
method for the working of “compound propor¬ 
tion,” and “ allegation?” It is my desire to read 
essays on the above subjects in the future num¬ 
bers of the Rural. —G. D. G'., Brighton, N. Y. 
HOW SHALL WE MAKE GOOD READERS 
This is an important question, and should en¬ 
gage tho fixed thought of all workers upon 
minds. A good reader commands the undivided 
attention of all listeners. But how rare Is such a 
treat? To what Hhull we attribute the cause of so 
few good readers? We answer, that it is for the 
want of a proper discipline of the voice, “that 
most wonderful of all instruments.” 
As teachers, we hasten over the elementary 
basis, so essential to make good readers, to repeat 
words , words, as though that was the key to attain 
what we so much desire. Pupils need to be 
drilled for weeks upon the elements, bo that the 
organs of speech will perform involuntarily al¬ 
most, the slightest elemental sound in articula¬ 
tion. If beginners were drilled regularly in the 
elements, articulation would he nearly faultless. 
A faulty articulation cannot be overcome, except 
by a daily discipline iu the utterance of the ele¬ 
mental sounds. Vocal gymnastics, as a regular 
exercise, will not only secure a good articulation, 
but help to develop the physical structure, so im¬ 
portant to the well-being of the child. The 
teacher should start with the monotone, or “read¬ 
ing in a horizontal line. , ' When that is thoroughly 
mastered, then the shades of voice will naturally 
follow, and all errors are quickly detected. Then 
accent, emphasis, modulation, and pilch of voice, 
with their varions examples illustrative of each, 
will succeed each other legitimately. Difficult 
The Office ok Education.—I n the middle of 
the first century a great dispute arose among 
astronomers respecting one of the planets. — 
Rome, in tlmir lolly, commenced a war of words, 
and wrote hot words against each other; others, 
in their wisdom, improved their telescopes, and 
soon settled the question forever. Education 
should imitate the latter.— Horace Mann. 
Schools in the Caucasus. —A letter from St. 
Petersburgh states that the Emperor of Russia bus 
ordered the establishment of six schools in six 
different places in the Caucasus, and has decided 
that the Russian language, writing, arithmetic, 
geography, history and drawing shall be taught 
in them, lie bas also decided that iu each school 
there shall be 720 pupils, 245 of them to be main¬ 
tained at the expense of the State; 150 of 
those 245 to be natives, and the remainder chil¬ 
dren of the Russian functionaries. One would 
think that schools conducted iu this manner, 
would be somewhat Republican in character. 
The Canadians are discussing the subject of 
supporting schools by direct taxation. Tho New 
Brunswick Herald is of opinion that a large ma¬ 
jority of the people are in favor of such a policy. 
Under all our winters lie flowers. Yea, be¬ 
neath death itself; Heaven is waiting; and immor¬ 
tality sings but just beyond the sigh of desolation 
and the touch of weakness. 
px. The great difference between men, the great 
rig and insignificant, is energy. 
Teach your children to help themselves — but 
not to what doesn’t belong to them. 
