UNIVERSITY COURIER.
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reasons whereof I conceive to be these: First, young scholars make this calling their refuge; yea, perchance, before they have taken any degree, commence schoolmasters in the country, as if nothing else was required to set up this profession but only a rod and a ferule. Secondly, others who are able, use it only as a passage to better preferment, to patch the rents in their present fortune, till they can provide a new one, and betake themselves to some more gainful calling. Thirdly, they are disheartened from doing their best with the miserable reward which they receive, being masters to the children and slaves to their parents.
But see how well our schoolmaster behaves himself. His genius inclines him with delight to his profession. He studieth his scholar's natures as carefully as they their looks; and ranks their dispositions into several forms. And though it may seem difficult for him in a great school to descend to all particulars, yet experienced schoolmasters may quickly make a grammar of boys' natures, and reduce them all (saving some few exceptions) to these general rules:
First, those that are ingenious and industrious. The conjunction of two such planets in a youth presage much good unto him. To such a lad a frown may be a whipping, and a whipping a death; yea, where the master whips them once, shame whips them all the week after. Such natures he useth with gentleness.
Second, those that are ingenious and idle. These think with the hare in the fable,that running with snails so they count the rest of their schoolfellows—they will come soon enough to the post, though sleeping a good while before their starting. O! a good rod would finely take them napping!
Third, those that are dull and diligent. Wines, the stronger they be, the more lees they have when they are new. Many boys are muddy headed until they be classified with age, and such afterwards prove the best. Bristol diamonds are both bright, and squared, and pointed by nature, and yet are soft and worthless, whereas Orient ones in India are rough and rugged naturally. Hard, rugged, and dull natures of youth acquit themselves afterwards the jewels of the country, and therefore their dullness at first is to be borne with, if they are diligent.
Fourth, those that are invincibly dull, and negligent also. Conviction may reform the latter, not amend the former. All the whetting in the world can never set a razor's edge on that which hath no steel in it. Such boys he consigneth over to other professions.
The good teacher is able, diligent, and methodical. He minces his precepts for children to swallow, hanging clogs on the nimbleness of his own soul, that his scholars may go along with him.
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
Addition to Cabinets since last report:
A very neatly executed stone implement about four inches long and two wide from a mound in Ohio, presented by Mr. Hargis, of Lawrence. The implement was probably used for scraping skins and cutting meat. It can be seen in Prof. Snow's Lecture Room.
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) from Trinidad, presented by Miss Dean, teacher in our city schools.
One pair of a very rare species of butterfly (Limenitus cros) from Florida. This species was not known to live in America until last year when it was found on the extreme southern coast of Florida.
A branch of a hedge tree was brought into the University Tuesday with a small snake wrapped around it. The snake was pierced through the head by one of the sharp thorns. This was evidently the work of the butcher bird (Lanius ludovicianus). This queer bird seems to take delight in fastening small animals, such as mice, frogs and lizards on the thorns of trees. They are frequently seen on the Honey Locust.
While hunting last fall we saw a sharp shinned hawk (Accipiter fuscus) dart down from a tree and capture a quail while the bird was on the wing, both tumbling to the ground. The hawk did not catch the quail in the chase, but seemed to dart down so as to meet the bird as it was flying past. The hawk is mounted and in the Kansas State University cabinets. Prof. Robinson reports having seen a hawk swoop down and take a duck (teel) off from the surface of the water and carry it away with comparative ease.
The French Minister of Agriculture has lately placed at the disposal of M. Pasteur a new sum of 50,000 francs, ($10,000), in order to continue his admirable investigations upon the contagious diseases of animals.-Sc. Am.
MISCELLANEOUS.
We called at the chemical laboratory for a note and found Prof. Patrick busy analyzing a briny water struck by Mr. Jarmain near the brewery at a depth of one hundred and seventeen feet. The liquid contains between seven and eight hundred grains of pure salt to the gallon, besides enough calcium and magnesium chlorides to give the salt a delightful taste. The Professor says that he has analyzed scores of waters from different parts of the State and finds that as a general rule water found at a depth of from fifty to five hundred feet has a briny or bitter taste. The Professor is also engaged in the analysis of a number of samples of water which have been sent to him from Topeka.
The golden eagle is found throughout the continent of North America, but is chiefly confined to the mountainous regions. The species is not abundant anywhere and is much less numerous than the White-headed Eagle. These birds usually build their nests on rocky cliffs, choosing for the most part inaccessible places. The nests are sometimes found in the tops of high trees. Mr. Salvin, speaking of their habitations, says, "Whatever rock a pair may choose for their eyrie, there they reign alone in dignified solitude, nor do they allow a single vulture, kite, or indeed any other species of rapacious bird, to occupy with their nest a single spot in the rock, however eligible for the purpose; nor are there other species ever seen in the haunts of their exclusive majesties." The nests are usually built of coarse sticks and lined with finer materials. The eggs vary from one to four in number. Audubon describes them as measuring 3.50 inches in length by 2.50 in breadth, dull white with dusty patches of brown. The food of the bird consists of reptiles, fishes, birds and mammals. The strength of the eagle enables it to carry off quite large mammals, which it easily kills with its sharp talons. It rarely eats any food, (unless in confinement) not captured by itself.