grene set in, her guilt was decided; but if no ill effect followed, she was adjudged innocent. Perhaps the most widely celebrated of the ordeal poisons is the Erythrophlæum guineense of Sierra Leone and Guinea. The plant is upwards of one hundred feet high, and is called by the natives Gregre-tree. The red juice of this plant is the ordeal poison, and is taken in large draughts by the suspected person. If he is sufficiently strong to withstand the poison he is acquitted; but if not, he is convicted. In the Zambesi country, on the east coast, a similar ordeal is used. The faith of the natives in the efficacy of mauve, as they term the poison, is unbounded; even the chiefs are not exempt from it, and accused persons frequently drink it voluntarily to demonstrate their innocence. Dr. Livingstone* conceives that the physician who prepares the mauve can save those whom he deems innocent. No accurate information respecting the nature of this poison can be obtained, as the people refuse to answer any questions concerning it.

Capt. Harrist states that in Abyssinia a narcotic poison is employed for the detection of thieves. The process, which is rather indirect, is thus described: "A ring having been formed in the crowded market-place by the spectators, the diviner introduced his accomplice, a stolid-looking lad, who seated himself upon a bullock's hide with an air of deep resignation. An intoxicating drug was, under many incantations, extracted from a mysterious leathern scrip, and thrown into a horn filled with new milk; and this potation, aided by several hurried inhalations of a narcotic, had the instantaneous effect of rendering the recipient stupidly frantic. At length, secured by a cord, he dragged his master round and round from street to street, snuffling through the nose like a bear, in the dark recesses of every house. After scraping for a considerable time with his nails under the foundation of a hut, wherein he suspected the delinquent to lurk, the imp entered, sprang upon the back of the proprietor, and became totally insensible. The man was forthwith arraigned before a tribunal of justice ; and although no evidence could be adduced, and he swore repeatedly to his innocence by the life of the king, he was sentenced by the just judges to pay forty pieces of salt, which was exactly double the amount alleged to have been stolen."

SELF-EDUCATION.-Costly apparatus and splendid cabinets have no magical power to make scholars. In all circumstances, as a man is, under God, the master of his own fortune, so is he the maker of his own mind. The Creator has constituted the human intellect that it can grow only by its own action. Every man must, therefore, in an important sense, educate himself. His books and teachers are but helps; the work is his.

Op. Cit., p. 181.

† “Highlands of Ethiopia,” p. 115. New York.

THAT

THE TEACHER'S PROFESSION.

HAT there are evils and disadvantages attending the teacher's profession, few will deny. There is, pervading the atmosphere of society, a settled contempt for him and his vocation-a feeling which, though unexpressed, is none the less felt and acknowledged. Whence this arises, it is needless to speculate; whether it dates its origin far back in the middle ages, when learning was considered a degradation, and is the modern scion of the spirit that led Douglass to exult that neither he nor any of his kinsmen "could pen a line," we know not, but certain it is, it exists; nor is it always concealed from the frequently too sensitive nature of the teacher. His reception in the fashionable drawing-room is marked with cold indifference, and he is fortunate if he escapes without having his ears tingled by some rude remark about his person or his calling. On such occasions, how much is expressed by "He is only a country schoolmaster !" Nor in the less imposing parlor of the patron of his school, is he always cordially welcomed. The same affected superiority is often manifested here even by his pupils.

But the social circle is not the only place in which the teacher is met with contumely. By the public, generally, he is neglected; his merits undiscussed, his labors and trials ignored. He who, most of all, holds the destinies of a people in his hands, whose influence for good or evil must be stamped upon the rising generation, is neither encouraged nor sustained by the public, but treated with indifference or talked of with sneers.

Nor is the teacher better used as regards the pecuniary reward of his labors. The man of medicine and the votary of law often make fortunes; but who ever heard of a teacher getting rich? A few hundred dollars is all he can hope to receive for his toil in the school-room, for all his solicitude and cares. How different is the fate of the physician! For every bolus administered, or recipe written in doggerel Latin, he charges more, often, than the teacher makes in a week of incessant vexation. And his bill is paid. To the first is rendered honor, deference, and wealth; the second is socially disparaged, and, to crown all, is scantily paid.

It becomes us to inquire into the cause of this unwarrantable distinction. Why is the teacher badly paid; why is he treated with indifference; why is his importance overlooked? There are several causes, among which is the world's depreciative estimate of the cultivation of the mental faculties. Not that it does not admire and esteem intellect, for when some master spirit rears itself and speaks,

"The applause of list'ning senates to command,"

"nations hear entranced," and are startled with wonder and admiration of mind before them. But does the world consider how this great temple of

mind was built? Does it reflect that, perhaps, the corner-stone was laid in the humble school-room by a faithful teacher? Does it think with what care and solicitude the foundation was laid, the walls raised; how cautiously, how assiduously the builder wrought? No; the world is a poor thinker. It does not remember that the giant of intellect was once a school-boy; or if it is so reflecting, it does not credit the one who produced the change—who molded the crude materials into such a monument of greatness.

But the want of general esteem for education is not the only cause of the indifference and disrespect manifested toward the teacher, and for the poor remuneration of his services; some share of the blame must be laid at his own door. An old proverb says, "Every man is the maker of his own fortune;" equally true is it, that the members of a profession are responsible for the public estimation of that profession. Perhaps, no calling has suffered so much from the incompetence and unfitness of many who have taken upon themselves its important duties, as teachers. Many a young man enters upon these duties not only with no well-defined idea of the responsibility assumed, but often with no mental or moral attainments fitting him for the position. He may be well-meaning, but with such qualifications how can the youthful soul prosper in his care? Can he give his pupils what he does not himself possess?

There is a teacher of another class-the man who deliberately "takes up" the profession as the stepping-stone to something else; who wishes to study law, medicine, or divinity, and teaches merely for a support, thus trampling one noble calling in the dust to prepare himself for another. He is a teacher, not because he esteems teaching a duty and a pleasure, but rather because it serves his immediate purposes; to be thrown aside when he has no further need of it. With such opinions, such motives, is it likely he will be a true teacher? True, though some of this class take up teaching with no intention of adopting it as a life vocation, they often, ultimately, make it such. So much the worse for the profession. Their motives were faulty in entering; and, surely, six months of unfaithful teaching, though bad enough, is preferable to years of the same. Besides, their remaining in a profession which was not their choice arises not unfrequently from a lack of energy and steadiness of purpose, which is fatal to a faithful discharge of the teacher's duties.

Must not the profession suffer in the hands of such men? And yet the picture is not over-drawn. There is even a darker side.. Is the ignorant, the bigoted, the intemperate, the dishonest teacher uncommon? Is it astonishing, then, that the profession is held in poor repute? But, say some, why are not the other professions held responsible for the offenses of individuals? Why is not medicine decried for the fatal blunders of tyros and quacks? law for the chicanery, the dishonesty, and meanness of pettifoggers? We must answer, the world is unjust. Part of this dis

crimination, however, is due to the fact that incompetent teachers are more numerous than unworthy physicians and attorneys. Another ground for it is, that mankind estimates every thing by the cost, and esteems the teacher's profession entitled to less respect because its attainment is attended with less expense. Another cause rests with the teachers themselves. How can they entertain the hope that others will respect their profession, when they themselves do not? It is urged that if the teacher were more justly compensated, inferior men must give place to better. This is most assuredly true. Money is all-powerful. What, indeed, keeps talent and learning out of the teacher's profession, if it be not that better remuneration is offered by nearly every other. That there have been and still are many who overlook even this natural and important consideration, we would not deny. But the dollar is almighty. Make the profession lucrative, and in time not only will genius and learning become its votaries, but respect and renown be laid at its feet.

But how is the desideratum-increase of salaries-to be effected? Will the world, of its own accord, suddenly see its error, and now, after denying it for ages, render the teacher his merited reward? It is hardly to be expected. Were teachers all to become educated, dignified men, each exemplifying in himself the model instructor, men would say, "We have treated these men with injustice; henceforth, we will make them amends." But this reformation is no more probable than the other. This, then, is the issue it is desirable, on the one hand, that the teacher be better rewarded both pecuniarily and in the respect due him professionally; on the other hand, that he should elevate himself in moral and intellectual worth. Either of these two objects being effected, must eventually produce the other. But the world refuses the first, because it thinks the teacher unworthy of it; and the teacher, wanting in wisdom, foresight, and desire for improvement, does not stir in the second. And this passive antagonism, between illiberality on one side and apathy on the other, is the great stumbling-block that has checked the advance of sound and general education.

THE fossil remains of a gigantic bird, estimated to have stood 25 feet high, have been discovered in some beds of limestone at Nelson in New Zealand. The remains consist of a head, minus the lower jaw, the dimensions of which are three feet four inches by one foot ten inches, and a body, minus the neck. The thorax is highly developed, but rather flat: the tail long, and body bulky. The wings, which are well defined, are large and close to the body, and are separated by a saddle or cradle, very graceful in form; the feathers covering the body are of large size, and lying close.

MRS. WEAZLE'S VISIT TO THE OPERA.

"WELL, yer see, Sary, I never wastes much time a-talkin', but

I raly must tell yer about my visit ter the uproar last evenin'. Yer needn't stare so, Sary. I'm a-tellin' yer 'the truth as it is,' as our minister used ter say-very good minister he was, too. Yes, I had the extremest melicity of going ter a rale live uproar, as my Hezekiar ses, and it was an uproar shore enuf. Well, as I was a-tellin' yer, my Hezekiar cums hum last evenin', and ses he, 'Mother, was yer ever ter an uproar?' 'Why! lawful sakes, Hezekiar,' ses I, 'what's that?' 'Oh!' ses he, 'it's a place whar they have music, singin', and dancin', and if you'll go I'll take yer.' Well, Sary, I goes and wears my harnsum, black silk gown. Yer mind it, don't yer?"

"Oh! yes, mem, it's likely I do."

'Well, Sary, we walks on tell we cum ter a great big place, what looked like ter a hotel, but Hezekiar sed it warn't. 'Is this the place where they keeps the uproar?' says I. 'It won't break loose and hurt any person, I hope! We was agoin' up the steps then, and Hezekiar didn't seem ter heer me, but I know'd I'd sed somethin' smart, for all the folks looked at me, greerish-like, and larfed.

'Well, Sary, if you had been thare you'd a-fainted rite away, bein' as you're not accustomed tu sich grand sites like I am. But what frustrated me most was, I couldn't see the uproar nowhere. I axed Hezekiar ef he thot she was sick. He sed: 'No; it wud commence arter awile.'

"Well, then, a little bell tingled, and Hezekiar sed they was agoin to riz the curtin. Well, shore enuf, they did riz it, and a young woman cum out to dance. Well, persons seemed tu like that dancin' amazin❜ly, and a young feller next ter me sed it was 'de-vine and in-ee-me-table.' Ses I to him Young man, did yer swaller the dick-tion-nary afore ye cum'd heer? Well, Sary, I know'd I'd sed somethin' smart, fur all the folks looked at me agen, and busted out a larfin; but Hezekiar didn't seem to like it, for he looked hard at me, and ses, 'Hush, mother.'

"Well, the next thing, a man and woman cums out on the stage, and commences to sing in some outlandish furin tung that nobody couldn't understand, but the people seemed ter like it, and the young feller next ter me yells out, 'De-lite-fool! hex-squeeze-it!' Well, yer see, I nudged the young man, and ses I: 'Say, won't yer have a strawberry and a roasted chesnut to wash them are big words down? Well, the young feller looked cheapish, and the folks commenced fur ter larf, but jest then Hezekiar rized up, and lookin' rale angry like, ses he, 'Mother, since yer keep the folks a larfin at yer all the time, I guess we'd better go hum.' 'Why, lawful sakes, Hezekiar,' ses I, 'it's pleasin ter me fur to heer folks larf so,' but Hezekiar wouldn't stay no longer, so I had ter cum away