KANSAS AND THE COUNTRY BEYOND.

books or memoranda, was required to rise and develop it in his own
language, and in proper consecutive order, with constant and copious
blackboard illustrations. Thus the topic assigned to a pupil might be
“The Andes.” He was required to sketch upon the board a complete
map of that system of mountains, with all their important ramifica-
tions — the valleys, plateaux, and lakes they enclose, and the rivers
flowing from them; to describe the height of all the different chains
and principal peaks; to give the local names, latitude and longitude,
altitude, climate and special characteristics of all the different points
of the map. When all this has been done, the topography of the
region in question is fixed in bold and indelible relief upon the mind
of the pupil. In like manner the pupils in Physical Geography were
required to illustrate and describe the ocean currents, the winds, vol-
eanic and tidal action. Those in history, to draw maps of important
historic regions and battle-fields. Those in Geology, to draw sections
of strata and sketches of fossils. In Grammar, Crosby’s novel method
of written analysis was used. Witnessing one recitation in arith-
metic would certainly excite in the most inveterate old fogy a supreme
disgust at the aimless and worthless “ciphering” of our District
Schools. In reading, the difference was, if possible, still more strik-
ing. In the elementary class the phonetic analysis of sounds was
taught, accompanied by remarkably neat and tasteful phonetic print-
ing of entire lessons upon the board. The result of this is, that nor-
mal graduates will understand the pronunciation of English words!
The utmost deliberation, distinctness and volume of utterance was
demanded. In the more advanced class the graces of elocution were
taught, with a somewhat extended study of distinguished authors.
In vocal music, all the pupils were required to thoroughly master the
rules of musical notation by a drill as rigid as any other study, and
the class singing was strong, harmonious, and spirited. A noteworthy
feature was found in the general teaching exercises. Under Prof.
Kellogg’s direction the entire school performed astonishingly with
rapid combinations of numbers; and Prof. Norton discussed and
elucidated the important political and scientific news of the day.”

A new, handsome, and commodious edifice has just been erected for
this school, and a boarding-house of stone, large enough to accommo-
date fifty boarders.

KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

This is the only institution of learning I visited while in the State.
As before stated, it is near Manhattan, and from its windows, and
more especially from its lofty cupola, the view all around for miles is
exceedingly beautiful and varied. The institution is in a flourishing
eondition. I witnessed the recitation of several classes; and if there
were fewer novelties in the mode than are described above, the
instruction was none the less thorough. I was both surprised and
pleased at the readiness with which the students appeared to grasp
the subject-matter of the lessons in hand.