him, wherever he goes, a glow of cheerfulness and welcome, and the production of happiness in others reacts in multiplying his own.

His home should be the center of this beneficent influence, and from thence it should spread to every portion of the society in which he is known, and which forms the sphere of his activities.

February 11, 1877.

TIME.

The immense importance of time in all human affairs and human experience can never be fully appreciated. One man, by order and diligence, may almost be said to command time and become its master. Another, by negligence and procrastination, becomes time's slave, and finds his affairs in confusion, his opportunities lost and his purposes unaccomplished. The former leads fortune by the hand, and partakes her choicest favors. The latter, with weary steps and flagging spirits, finds himself far in the rear of fortune, and the victim of discouragement or despair. This is one instance of the importance of time.

But it affects us in ten thousand ways, and often without any ability on our part to prevent it. It affects men's characters, talents and destinies. In studying closely the laws which govern observations in astronomy, and other professions which require an accurate note of phenomena, it has been discovered in the last half century that every man has what is called a personal equation, which defines his capacity for accurate observation. No man can

instantaneously perceive what passes before his senses, as, for example, the conjunction of two planets, or the first contact of two heavenly bodies. It would seem that this belongs to omniscience alone. And no two men have exactly the same capacity for immediate perception. The difference between them depends on their respective organization of brains, nerves and organs of sense. This equation has been found so important in observations requiring the greatest accuracy as to render it necessary to ascertain by experiment, and to record, the relative personal equations of the different employes of our Coast Survey.

The fraction of a second, which each requires for perception, is measured, and is always deducted from his recorded observations. Wonderful as this discovery is, it is not more wonderful than other things in human experience to which attention has not yet been directed. For example, a certain instant of time (almost infinitesimal, it is true), occurs between the conception of an idea, and for the word which stands for and represents it. The ease and fluency with which one man can express his ideas, and the difficulty, tardiness and hesitation which is experienced by another, depends respectively on the infinitesimal instant, in each case, required for calling up the words which represent their ideas; in other words, they depend upon the rapidity of association which the two men respectively possess. Other circumstances, of course, contribute largely to make up the difference between them. The different degrees of familiarity which they have with the forms of expression, dependent upon their relative culture, education and experience, have much to do with it. One man may have

cultivated the use of language all his life; and the other may have neglected it. But supposing them to be equal in this respect, there will still be all the difference in the world between them in their respective powers of expression and utterance. One will be brilliant, ready and interesting; the other tedious and drawling. The one will hold crowds hanging on his lips with bated breath; the other will disperse them with equal facility.

In all things, time is an essential element. Electricity requires time to execute its effects. Light requires time to traverse the regions of space. Thought requires time to grasp its objects, and time again to clothe them with expression. And he, who, in all things is most nearly the master of time is master of the world.

February 10, 1877.

THE TEACHING OF CHILDREN.

In teaching, regard must be had to the faculties possessed by the pupil. In childhood, memory; in youth, the understanding; in mature life, the reason, is the predominating faculty. If either of these is unduly exercised out of season, injury is sustained by the violence, and the powers in condition for exercise are unjustly repressed and never regain their proper tone. Modern school books and methods of teaching often disregard these fundamental principles of our nature. The attempt to teach spelling and etymology, and even natural philosophy at the same time, and in the same lessons, to a child of eight or ten years, is absurd, and

will fail in every direction. The rules of arithmetic, to be properly and usefully learned, must be learned by heart, without attempting to stuff the mind with their reasons. But memory may be aided by mechanical means. Spelling may be fixed in the mind by the chimes of sound, and the harmony of rhythm striking on the drum of the ear. By this means, long columns of words having the same number of syllables, the same accent and a succession of like vowel sounds, will become indelibly fixed on the sensorium so that the slightest deviation in letter or sound will send a repulsive thrill through the nervous system. Rational spelling-that is, spelling by reason and rules—can never compare in practical accuracy with this mechanical spelling printed upon the memory and the brain in childhood.

FIT EXPRESSIONS.

Solomon says, "An apple of gold in a cushion of silver, is a word spoken in season.” Prov. XXV, 2. The translation of this proverb has had many variations. The "Septuagint " says, "A golden apple in a setting of cornelian, is a sentence well spoken." The Latin Vulgate, "It is apples of gold on beds of silver, when one speaks a word in due season." "Coverdale," "A word spoken in due season, is like apples of gold in a silver dish." "Cranmer," "A word spoken in due season is like apples of gold in a graved work of silver." "The Geneva," "A word spoken in his place is like apples of gold with pictures of silver." "The Bishop," "A word spoken in due season is like apples

of gold in a graved work of silver." "The Authorized,' ""A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures (or baskets) of silver." In another passage, Solomon breaks forth in this wise: "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs, XV, 23. Here is an attempt to express an important truth-to wit, the masterly power and beauty of fit expression. The great truths of humanity only require proper enunciation to secure acceptance. No labored proof is necessary. When clothed in exact and appropriate expression, they address themselves to the intuitive consciousness and are recognized. Like a well fitting garment which reveals the graces of the person, and is itself unnoticed, so apt and proper expression carries truth home to the understanding and heart without diverting the fancy. But it must be clear, perfect and free from redundancy. It must also be striking; tame words are unheeded, and leave no impression. The strong, nervous forces of the language are requisite.

A truth sometimes lies on the mind for years before it can find fit utterance, but when at last fitly uttered, it tells. The word then spoken cannot be forgotten. It finds a lodgment in every heart.

This power of fit expression is a wonderful moral force. It moves senates; it moves nations; it moves the world. A mistake is often made by the young in neglecting its cultivation. They cannot duly appreciate its value. Only the experienced can fully do so. They are apt to suppose that the thought, facts, ideas, are the main thing to acquire, and that words will come of themselves. Facts and ideas are essential, but no more so than the power of correct and forcible expression. They are like unemployed capital; like