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all smaller bodies, B, in proportion to the 
greater bulk of A than 13. But upon B being j 
moved further from A, A loses its power in 
proportion to the square of the distance. 
Man finds this to be an invariable case. 
Such thiugs he calls “laws of nature.” In 
other words, he would say that a Supreme 
Being, a First Cause, a Creator, called by 
Christians Almighty Cod, so wills it. 
4. “ VVliat is the cause of light and heat in 
the sun ? u When you are transferred to the 
spirit-land ask some one or go yourself and 
see. T am afraid that will be the first oppor¬ 
tunity you will have of knowing. 
0. “ By what power do the heavenly bodies 
move?” The heavenly bodies are material. 
When matter is at rest it cannot of itself 
move. When pul in motion it cannot of 
itself slop. It has no will, no power in 
itself. Space is vacuity between boundary 
lines. The heavenly bodies move in space. 
There is no resisting medium, so these 
bodies once set in motion by a first cause 
Jumps Jenkins’ Queries. 
James Jenkins, Carthage, Mo., asks five 
questions; I will answer him as briefly as 
possible i—t. “Why does the needle of the 
compass point North ?” Magnetism is, from 
some unknown cause, evolved from the 
earth. Its power varies in different places. 
There have been found on the earth three 
great centers of this power. They are called 
magnetic poles, and are situated one in 70 J 
N. lat., and 96j>r W. long ; another a little 
north of 60' N. lat. and in 102 1 E. long., 
while a third lies about 70 J S. lat. and 162° 
E. long.; a fourth is presumed to exist in 
some Antarctic sea or land, hut is, as yet, 
unknown. To one or other of these centers 
tend all things magnetic. Whatever thing 
is under this influence, and has freedom of 
motion, will inevitably point, one end of it, 
to a northern magnetic pole and the oilier 
It appears that the Chinese are very imi¬ 
tative, even in their infancy 1 Consequently 
they easily conform to the practices of the 
people with whom they associate! 
Every “ prodigy of a man ” is indebted to 
influences, which can be easily traced, tor 
bis “wonderful capability or capabilities!” 
Wc have our “ improved animals,” why not 
our “ improved men and women ? ” 
Castile, N. Y. * Rufus Pbet. 
unttrcmal 
NEW PUBLICATIONS, 
WHAT SHALL WE READ? 
Hook* for ChlUirtn. — We are overwhelmed 
With books for Youth, and can only And space 
hero to give the titles. From tho National 
Temperance Society and Publication House, 
New York city, “ Roy’s Search; or, Lost in I ho 
Cars.” From Lee & Shepard, Boston, “ Prudy 
Keeping; House,” illustrated; also, “Plano and 
Plank,” by Oliver Ovuc. From Hick & Fitz¬ 
gerald, Now York, ” Hudson’s Private Thant ri- 
etila for Home Performance;" also, "The Art 
ol’ Dressing \Voll~a Complete Outdo to Econo¬ 
my, Stylo, and Propriety of Costume.” From 
Roberts Brothers, Boston, “ Puck’s Nightly 
Pranks," Illustrated hy Paul, Ronrwka, trans¬ 
lated from tho German of Ludwig Bund by 
Charles T. Brooks. Prom Harper and Broth¬ 
ers, Now York, “Willson's Now Speller and 
Analyzer, Adapted to Thorough Elementary In¬ 
struction,” &c„ by Mahcios Wtllson. From 
Lee, Shepard & Dillingham, New York, “ Manual 
of Bible Selections and Responsive Exercises for 
Public and Private Schools of all Grades,” by 
Mrs, 8. B. Perry; also* “Tim Tone Masters, 
(Handel & Haydn J a Musioal Series for Young 
People,” by Chari, EH Barnard; also, “Tho 
House on Wheels; or, The Stolen Child,” by 
Madame Dk Stolz, translated front the French 
by Miss E. F. Adams, and handsomely illustrat¬ 
ed ; also, “Field and Forest; or, Fortunes of a 
Farmer,” (Illustrated,) by Oliver Optic,; also, 
“Little Folks Astray," by Sophia May. 
From Titos. O’Kane, Now York, “ Wreaths 
of Friendship,” by T. 8. Arthur. From 
Loo & Shepard, Boston, “Letters Everywhere 
— Stories and Rhymes for Children, ” by 
Theopuii.k SriHTLicit; also, six volumes of 
tho "Springdale Stories,” by Mrs. S. B. C. 
Samuels, entitled respectively, “‘Erie’ Joltn- 
s!one’s Farm,” “Ennisfellen," " Herbert," " Net 
tie’s Trial "and “Adele." From Henry Hoyt, Bos¬ 
ton. “ The Whole Armor, nr Fifteen Months in 
National Teni- 
“Knowledge is power” wrote Lord 
Bacon, and wc may add whoever has 
learned to read holds the key to open the 
golden gift. Bat what shall we read ? To 
discriminate in the hooks which arc worth 
reading is a very essential point. We can 
never find it in our heart to utter a sweeping 
condemnation of novels and light stories. 
Many and many an hour of enjoyment have 
they given us, and we feel that the evil to 
be laid to the charge of novels is, they are 
apt to spoil the relish for useful reading. 
But we suppose one aiming at improve¬ 
ment; and wc would say, lake pains to find 
out and procure the best authors. There 
are very many books in the world with an 
appearance of solidity, that are simply trash. 
Don’t spend the time to read that which is 
not worth the reading, simply because it 
happens to drift in your way. And there is 
no advantage in laborious reading; if a book 
fails to interest, it can make no impression, 
nor leave any benefit. 
We will subjoin a list from tbe books 
which we have read with interest. In the first 
place, of History—Bancroft’s United Slates, 
Macauley’s History of England, Knight’s 
England. Frogdk is lengthy, and his views 
to our mind erroneous 
EDUCATIONAL NOTES 
.School - Book Manufacture. 
In reflecting upon the rapid progress of 
Education in this Country, and looking with 
admiration upon the noble system ol Free 
Schools now permeating almost every sec¬ 
tion of our widely-extended Republic, we 
turn, with wonder and amazement, to the vast 
but his description 
of eveuts is charmingly graphic. Miss 
Strickland’s English Queens, and Michelet’s 
History of France. 
One should have some knowledge of the 
great poets of the English language— Shak- 
spkare, Milton, Pope, Campbell,Moore, 
Byron, and those too of our own country, 
Longfellow, Whittier, Bryant, and 
others. 
For Mythology read Bulfincli’s Age of 
Fable. The books of travel which are de¬ 
sirable to read arc numerous— Bayard Tay¬ 
lor’s, Dr Livingston’s, Spike’s, and others. 
Eothen, by Kanglake, that most elegant of 
writers, must not be overlooked. 
The History of tho Reformation, and in 
Connection with it, War With the Saints, 
and the Scltonhcrg Cotta Family arc pleas¬ 
ant books. Prescott’s Ferdinand and Isa¬ 
bella, Life of Frederic the Great, by Lord 
Dover, Irving's Columbus, and Mahomet, 
Zambia, or The Fall of Palmyra, and Ma¬ 
cauley’s Essays are recommended. 
The Biographies, which are excellent, are 
loo many to mention; but we would say, if 
time will not permit the reading of the full 
life of a distinguished person, always turn to 
an Encyclopedia or to a Biographical Dic¬ 
tionary. Two hundred years ago Pope 
wrote: 
“A little learning is a dangerous thing; 
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring." 
Such dreadful nonsense! Thanks to the 
Encyclopedia, which is the blessing of our 
age, one may skim on the surface of knowl¬ 
edge if opportunity is denied for deep learn¬ 
ing. Laura Southgate. 
Jumbletown Hull.” From tin. 
perance Society, Now York, “The PJleher ol 
Cold Water, ami Other Stories,” by T. 8. Ar¬ 
thur; also, “Hopednle Tavern and ‘What It 
Wrought," by J. William Van Namkk; also 
“Come Home, Mother," by Nklsik Brook. 
From Carlton & Latmhnn, New York, "Truo 
Stories of Real Pets, or Friends in Fur and Feuth- 
ers,” by (iWYNKR v.n ; also " Elder Park Garden,’’ 
by Mrs. Alfred Paynis; also “The Birthday 
Present, or Patience Rewarded;" also “Tho 
Wonders of Fire and Water, or Talks with Chil¬ 
dren about God’s Power. Love and Wisdom, ns 
Seen in Fire and Water," by W. S. I Tiny; also, 
by the same author, “Wonders in tlm Air." 
From Ivison, Blnkeman, Taylor & Go., New York, 
“First LossonB hi Mental and Written Arilhme- 
tlc, on the Objective Method,” by Samuel D. 
Barr, A. M. 
I V'orat an* tMr 1'*'", font and Pi-mrut.— 
A story of the English language by Rich ard 
Grant White. (New York: Sheldon & Co.)—Wo 
like this book. Without, agreeing with all the 
author’s positions, we read his vigorous denun¬ 
ciations of our neighbor's errors with great sat¬ 
isfaction, and only think him a little too precise 
when ho bears hardly upon our own easily beset¬ 
ting sins. For school teachers grossly faulty In 
their speech, us many arc, with public speakers 
and writers who seemed to think that any words 
would serve tlmir purposes, if they were large 
enough, or odd enough, or there were enough of 
them, It was I ime such a work as this appeared. 
We commend tho book to the careful study of 
all, sure that It will be pleasant and profitable 
reading. 
.Jrt» or Inloir lent ton—The Aim and the Re¬ 
sults, by Rev- J. T, Crane, I).t>. (New York ; 
TEACHING GRAMMAR, 
In a Rural New-Yorker of August, I 
saw an article beaded, “Teaching Gram¬ 
mar.” Not wishing to controvert the views 
of any other person, I will inform you that 
poverty closed the doors of all the schools 
against me after I was fifteen years old. Pre¬ 
viously to that, my opportunity was very 
limited. At the age of twenty, 1 did not 
know the difference between an adjective 
and an andiron 1 Yet, with a borrowed 
" grammar book,” I undertook to acquaiut 
myself with tbe structure of the English lan¬ 
guage. After years of study and untiring 
exertion, I engaged in the labor of teachiug, 
in the Common Schools of tbe State of New 
York. More than fifty yearn have passed 
since my name was enrolled in the list of 
teachers. I am still a learner. 
I will now remark that if all persons who 
pretend to study grammar, will apply the 
rules of grammar, in all their conversation, 
wo shall not have occasion to urge students 
to engage in the work of correcting “false 
syntax.” Even children would lisp m gram¬ 
matical expression. They might have a 
higher pleasure than Pope had when he 
wrote, “ I lisped in numbers, ’cause the num¬ 
bers came.” They might say, “ My parents, 
and all with whom they associated, taught 
grammar whenever they spoke.” Every 
child would be “ a naturally correct speaker.” 
How much we bear about tbe “ natural 
adaptation of some persons for one employ¬ 
ment and of some for another;” yet It is all 
resolved into th afoot that their parents gave 
them powers of body and of mind for such 
employments I 
The expense of “schooling” is, in our 
country augmented to an unspeakable ex¬ 
tent by tbe fact that parents speak to their 
children in “ baby phrase” in all their inter¬ 
course; and they furnish hooks written in 
the style of " Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and styles 
of a kindred character! How long will it 
be before parents and teachers learn that 
teaching is more effectually done by example 
than by precept? 
must continue to progress till the first cause 
interposes.— D. F. 
Compeusatlou of Female Teachers. 
Speaking of a petition of the female Pub¬ 
lic School Teachers of New York to the 
Board of Education for an increase of sala¬ 
ries— upon the claim that women do ibe 
same work as men, and do it equally well, 
yet only askiug that the pay of female teaoli- 
ers be increased from one-bait' to two-thirds 
of that paid to males—the Tribune very just¬ 
ly observes; 
“The members of tho Board of Education, we 
understand, acknowledge the Justloeof tbe pe¬ 
tition, but. so far have not compiled with tt, on 
tlm ground of economy. This pica In the man¬ 
agement of our city’s finances Is altogether so 
novel that wo have little desire to check any cf- 
fort in tlui mu ell needed direction; but thereto 
such a thing as false economy In some depart¬ 
ments, and ruinous extravagance til others. If 
the millions wasted annually were devoted to 
education, wo slmnld not only bo able to pay our 
teachers of both sexes heller salaries, thereby 
attracting to the profession u higher grade of 
touchers, but should prevent muon of that Incu¬ 
bus of crime unaer which iI iq city sniggers. We 
fully believe the laborer to be worthy or his hire; 
but the apparent Injustice of which the teachers 
complain, is due not, <o mueh perl nips to tho 
Board of Edm-ation. as to those social customs, 
laws, and restrictions, under Which every com¬ 
munity ex Lis. We lrust the Board will, how¬ 
ever, c.are.fully consider their petition, and tiro 
sure that every friend of education will l’cjoico 
if its request be grunted." 
The truth and justice of these remarks will 
apply to other cities, and many country 
school districts, throughout the land. 
end to a southern. Now, there are two dis¬ 
tinct kinds of magnetism; every magnet has 
a south and north pole, where the action is 
more powerful than elsewhere. But in two 
magnetic powers a north pole repels a north 
pole and a south pole repels a south pole, 
whereas a north pole attracts a south pole, 
and vice versa. Hence, one and the same 
end of a magnetic ueedle, when undisturbed, 
inevitably points at all times to the pole 
under whose influence it. may lie. 
3. “What are the Northern Lights, or 
Aurora Borealis?" Vast currents of posi¬ 
tive electric fluid travel from the heated re¬ 
gions of the earth and converge towards the 
poles; the negative electricity of the earth 
meets them there; they discharge. When 
electricity beyond a certain amount is dis¬ 
charged light accompanies it. Moreover, in 
northern regions logs arc abundant, and the 
air is filled, more or less, with extremely 
comminuted fragments of ice. These form 
splendid conductors, and hence the flashing 
of the glorious aurora, and its greater preva¬ 
lence and splendor in the Arctic regions 
than elsewhere. 
3. “ What is the cause of the attraction of 
gravitation ?” A large body, A, will attract 
establishments engaged in manufacturing 
School Books. The figures showing the num¬ 
ber and value of books annually furnished 
by the leading school-book publishers are in¬ 
deed remarkable, and exhibit ail astound¬ 
ing increase during the past decade. Take, 
for illustration, one of the firms represented 
In our advertising department — the long- 
established house of Ivison, Blakeman, 
Taylor & Co., uow the largest educational 
publishers in the world. From their exten¬ 
sive manufactory in Greene street, they issue 
an average of 14,000 bound volumes, daily , 
throughout the year, and employ, in various 
capacities, about live hundred persons! Tbe 
titles of many of their books are as familiar 
as household words—notably Banders’ Union 
Headers, Webster’s Dictionaries, Robinson’s 
Mathematics, Kerl’s Grammar, Spencerian 
Copy Books, Gray’s Botanies, Dana’s Geolo¬ 
gy, and other Standard works. A visit to Hie 
spacious and beautiful store of these great 
publishers in Grain! street, would amply re¬ 
pay any one, and probably excite the wonder 
and admiral ion of many who are compara¬ 
tively well informed in regard to the rapid 
strides making in the important branch of 
business there conducted. 
