1847. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
333 
sured me had been very slightly corrected by him. It 
was certainly quite remarkable. Then commenced an 
examination of the whole class upon this branch of 
Natural Philosophy, conducted something as that had 
been in Moral Philosophy. It was highly satisfactory 
to the commissioners, and revealed the happiest talent 
in the teacher of interesting his pupils in what they 
studied. He asked them, among other things, what a 
man about to ascend Mt. Blanc should take for food ? 
“ Meat, because it is the most solid.” How would you 
prepare it ?” “ Boil it ?” “Why ?” “ Least trouble.” 
“What temperature does the proper preparation of 
meat require ?” “ 212o.” “ Could you heat water to 
this temperature, in an open vessel, on Mt. Blanc?” 
Following this up with questions calling forth explana¬ 
tions, he gave the most satisfactory evidence of the 
thoroughness of their instruction. 
Algebra succeeded Natural Philosophy, and though 
the teacher performed most of the solutions himself, 
there was a promptitude and eargerness displayed, in 
directing him what to write, that proved his having the 
secret of advancing his pupils. The achievments were 
not of the highest order-—indeed not so high as I have 
known among young Misses of equal age. Still they 
were such as to indicate thoroughness on the part of 
the teacher. 
In the afternoon, the exercises, commencing with a 
song, in which as before most of the pupils joined, were 
conducted in the same general manner as in the morn¬ 
ing. The government commissioners, a few patrons, 
and a few strangers were present. Immediately after 
singing, the teacher of History commenced the exam¬ 
ination of his class. It was most exciting to all, the 
audience as well as pupils. He opened by saying— 
“ In the sixteenth century there was a war in Ger¬ 
many called the”——“ The thirty years’ war,” shouted 
the boys. He resumed—“ which commenced”— “ in 
the year so and so,”—“ at”— 1 “ such a place.” “ A 
battle occurred between”—the Generals’ names were 
given, and so on. Occasionally a mistake was made 
by some one, which the teacher reproved by a deep ex¬ 
pression of pity, regret, and surprise. The pupils 
were conducted through the history of Germany gen¬ 
erally, and of their own state particularly. 
Then followed an examination of the classes in 
French, including recitation and declamation. 
Then succeeded organic Chemistry—commencing 
with the formation of starch in plants—their gum and 
sugar. Then the conversion of sugar into carbonic 
acid and alcohol. Then the absorption of oxygen by 
the latter, and the formation of vinegar. Then came 
a parallel between the egg and seed, showing how the 
seed contains in its nitrogenous ingredients something 
like the essential to the development of the chick. It 
was profoundly grateful to find in these boys a knowl¬ 
edge of the great fundamental principles of animal 
and vegetable physiology. 
At the close of the day’s examination, the director, 
in a very unfeeling manner, with no language of ap¬ 
probation or condolence, announced that of the second 
class, all would, at the commencement of the next 
term, be promoted to the first, except three, whose 
names he mentioned, and whose seats he pointed out. 
The lads, who were not poor students, but unfortu¬ 
nately of subordinate capacity, burst into tears. One 
of the teachers remarked to me—“ The director knows 
very little of human nature—these boys are dispirited. 
They might have been saved.” 
The total independence of the teachers from all re¬ 
sponsibility to parents, has its advantages doubtless, but 
it sometimes permits men, who, though possessed of 
intellect, lack the higher requisites of human feeling, 
to occupy situations of great responsibility, and to 
which they ought never to have been appointed. 
This director is quite a little tyrant in his way. All 
the subordinate teachers approach him, though the in¬ 
ferior of many of them, as if he were the grand duke 
himself. Their salaries depend upon their being at peace 
with him. He knew Pestalozzi, and wrote a book 
which was thought to indicate fitness for such a situa¬ 
tion, and thus gained it. 
Teachers are removable only for misdemeanor, and 
are therefore at rest about their salaries and their liv¬ 
ing, when once connected with an Institution. The 
road to preferment is through the press ; and hence it 
is that the German bookstores teem with such multi¬ 
tudes of books, given out every year. 
The salaries increase with years, and when the tea¬ 
cher is too far advanced to perform his duties with effi¬ 
ciency, he is pensioned, and permitted to retire. The 
director receives $40Q; rf the teacher of Chemistry and 
Natural Philosophy $320 5 the others less, down to 
$100. ’ 
In Giessen, there are seven different kinds of schools. 
Three for the humbler classes, receive boys and girls 
of different ages, up to fourteen years. Two for the 
better classes ; and the Beal Schule, and the Gymna¬ 
sium, more nearly corresponding with our colleges, 
make up the number. 
Every child less than fourteen years of age must at¬ 
tend school, upon penalty, in case of neglect, of the im¬ 
prisonment of the father. The teachers are paid by 
government, though the parents must pay a part of 
the expense of tuition, directly. 
Boys intended for the superintendence of mining 
operations; for apothecaries; for any of the avocations 
where profitable pursuit requires a knowledge of sci¬ 
ence, as well as all intended for the professions, are 
sent to the Gymnasium. Either of these schools re¬ 
ceive pupils at six or seven years old, and they ordina¬ 
rily continue in each till they complete its course. 
The title of teacher and of Dr., if it had been con¬ 
ferred, belongs to those gentlemen who preside over 
the various departments of instruction in the Gymnasi¬ 
um and Real Schiile. Professor is conferred only upon 
those who hold ordinary or extraordinary professor¬ 
ships in the University. 
The Misses, who will extend their education beyond 
the range of primary schools, are instructed by private 
tutors. 
All young gentlemen destined to the University, 
must have passed through the Gymnastic course, which, 
in its classical and mathematical features, is quite 
equal to our college course. 
Lightning diminished by Telegraphs. —We see 
it stated on various hands, that the multiplication of 
telegraphic wires through the country, is going to re¬ 
store the electric equilibrium between different places 
How will it do that, pray ? A thunderstorm is often an 
accumulation of clouds five miles high, and forty miles 
in diameter, and a half a mile or more up to the lowest 
part. The earth itself is already an excellent conduc¬ 
tor, and would do much more towards restoring equili¬ 
brium, by means of its ten thousand points, everywhere 
stretching upwards, in the form of hills and trees, thai 
a few horizontal wires, twenty-five feet above its sur¬ 
face, with no upward points. The great mass of the 
fluid is miles above ; and the little explosions in the 
telegraph offices, no more affect the electricity of these 
leagues of charged matter, than mid-oeean by the dis¬ 
charge of a pop-gun. 
Agricultural Chemistry. —This has become so 
fashionable, (very useful indeed it is, in its place,) that 
the papers of the country are very largely sprinkled, 
if not literally filled, with the most absurd suggestions 
and conjectures, in constant attempts to explain every¬ 
thing scientifically. 
