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2 the right direction when teachers are taught how to tell a story well and effectively. This subject includes fairy and folk tales, the use of story telling in expression, composition, grammar and history; its deeper significance in aesthetic and spiritual life; origin and history of story telling; psychological basis; how to tell a story. To take teachers back to these delightful sources of inspiration, and to show them how to tell a story, is the object of this special course, says the management of this institution. Improving Public Schools. Yet another practical conference held at the Summer School of the South was that of “The Interstate League for the Betterment of Public School.” Round table discussions were had with practical suggestions from teachers as to the va rious methods used and needed, gave to this general subject a most particular interest and weight. Leaving the general consideration of school work there was held at Knoxville a special conference between the principals and teachers of high schools, as it is believed that “the most important devel opment in public education in the South to-day is to be found in the high schools.” This conference was productive of much interest, and must result in great benefit to the schools which were fortunate enough to have had representation at Knoxville. We have considered the rather unusual work of the Knoxville Summer School, before touching on the regular curriculum, for it must be understood that while it is possible to secure special instruc tion along any desired line, there is also a prescrib ed course of study for which students are given regular degrees, credits and other university meth ods of recognition. Courses of Study. While it is impossible to more than mention the various branches covered at Knoxville, still the fol lowing list will give some idea of the scope of the work it is possible to cover at this institution. In addition to the special branches covered by the conferences already mentioned, there are courses in primary work, in literature, penmanship, music, drawing and art, manual training, domestic science, expression, physical training, agriculture, horticul ture, school gardens, nature study and biology, bird life, physiology and hygiene; geology, geography, chemistry, physics; old English, literature of the Bible, Latin, Greek language and literature, Ger man, French, history, mathematics, bookkeeping, economics, philosophy, psychology and education. The Study of Education. The latter course is of special moment to this body of students, all of whom are or have been teachers, and under the general head of “Education,” is found: 1. The history of education, including a course of ten lectures on historic types of education from the earliest times to the present. This course covered a period of two weeks, and was conducted by Dr. Hailmann. 2. Principles of Education, covering the aim and utility of education, as well as the various uses to which education is put. 3. History of modern education, including the emancipation of the profession; the unity of head, heart and hand, etc. 4. The kindergarten and the primary school, and all the vast subject covered by the history of “learning by doing.” 5. Froebel’s system of education, or the practical application of tlie Flroebel principles to public school education. In connection with this subject there is a special course devoted to the consideration and earnest study of Froebel’s Philosophy of Education—a phil osophy which has revolutionized the educational systems of the world. It is almost impossible to estimate the value to * teachers of this exhaustive study of practical edu cational methods, and the interchange of personal experiences, the discussions of plans, the suggestions and theories offered from one distinguished edu cator to another, transcend all possible computa tion wh.n considering the gain of a summer spent ftt Knoxville, ___ The Golden Age for Angust 23, Social Features. The social element, too, must be given a due place in a record of life at the Knoxville Summer School. Each evening there is an entertainment of some sort—either a reading, a lecture, a concert, musical or dramatic recital. Varied are the enter tainment features, and vast are the audiences. The people of Knoxville patronize the Summer School as a summer evening’s diversion, and only a slight entrance fee is charged to these entertainments. It is not uncommon for a famous lectiirer to be heard at the Summer School for the sum of twenty five cents, who could not be listened to during the winter season for many times that amount. State Colonies. In a student body numbering, as has been said, more than 2,500 members, it is but natural that those coming from the same state should affiliate, hence small “colonies” are formed each year con sisting of teachers from the various states. A Georgia colony, remembered with cordial good feel ing, is that which was, for several sessions, con ducted by Dr. P. D. Pollock, the late lamented presi dent of Mercer University. The very summer be fore his death Dr. Pollock, himself a foremost edu cator, conducted a party of Georgia teachers to Knoxville, and this party formed a bright feature in the social life of the Summer School. Many date as one of their most cherished memories the privi lege thus afforded them of knowing Dr. Pollock— a privilege so soon to become among the “things that are no more.” General Advantages. It is impossible to cover even all of the special features of this great institution of learning which each year convenes at Knoxville, and which has gained power and reputation as the Summer School of the South. Next year, however, there is to be no session, as the Exposition at Jamestown is thought to be a Southern Educational feature which will attract many educators. It is pertinent, therefore, to dwell on the session at Knoxville which has just closed, for even to the most unthinking mind it must appeal as both a practical and a profitable way of utilizing a summer vacation. On the theory that “a change of occupation is rest,” it might be helpful for the teacher to turn pupil for a few brief weeks, even under the most adverse circumstances, but when there is added every possible advantage which environment, con tact and advanced intellectual and social culture can offer, then we feel that almost ideal conditions are reached and a technical education is acquired under the happiest possible combination of circum stances. Tomorrow. By EFFIE SMITH. I saw the masons going home Today at set of sun, Leaving the masSive arch unbuilt, The lofty walls half-done. Although their task was incomplete, Cheerful they went away, Knowing that they should woik again Upon another day. When on our lives’ half-builded towers Too soon the sun shall set, I would we, too, might leave our work In faith and not regret. Is there a task so vast and high It may not finished he Upon the endless morrow morn We call Eternity? Then amply let us plan our lives, And lay foundations deep; We shall have time to finish all, After the grave’s short sleep. Os all European cities, Rome has most frequently been in the hands of enemies. It has been entered or sacked more than forty times since 390 B. C. News of General Interest. Preparations are being made to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the University of Leipsic in 1909. The tea gardens of Northern India extend over 500,000 acres, and they produce 190,000,000 pounds of tea per annum at a profit of about SIOO an acre.- The International Association of Auctioneers, at its convention in Chicago, adopted a resolution al lowing women to become members of the associa tion. A tri-weekly “train de luxe” is to be placed in service over the new Simplon route for passengers between England and Italy, via Calais, Paris, Lau sanne and Milan. The Republics of Salvador and Guatemala de clared war against each other only a short time ago, but as the United States and Mexico offered to settle the differences by arbitration the offer was accepted and an armistice was declared. The vindication of Capt. Dreyfus by the French Government and the reinstatement of that officer into all the honors of which his unjust sentence and imprisonment deprived him is a subject of deep interest and one which would have been deemed almost a miracle a few years ago. New York City consumes nearly 1,000 million units of electricity per annum, while London, with nearly double the population, consumes not more than one-fourth of that amount. The consumption jper head of population in New York is stated to be 282 units, against only 42 per head in London. It has often been erroneously claimed that Jews never adapted themselves to agricultural pursuits, and an evidence of the falsity of this statement is the recent movement by the wealthy Jews of Phila delphia to purchase farm lots in Pennsylvania and to form a suburban colony of Jews taken from the thickly settled parts of the large cities. A Memphis, Mo., man has discovered a new way to get rid of mosquitoes. He says to rub alum on your face and hands. When the mos quito takes a bite it puckers his buzzer so it can’t sting. It sits down in a damp place, tries to dig the pucker loose, catches its death of cold, and dies of pneumonia. Yet another child holding an unusual position is Miss Jessie Johnson, of Kokomo, Indiana, who, although only fourteen, is an accredited notary pub lic. When her application was made it was care fully considered and as the laws of the state fixed no age limit for its notaries, the appointment was given to Miss Johnson, who filled the other requi sites of “good character and educational ability.” For the first time in six centuries Norway has now a monarch of its own in King Haakon VII, who was crowned on June 22. The attitude of the Norwegian people might be construed into favoring a republican rather than a monarchial form of gov ernment as they are quoted as saying that “the King comes to make his home in a Norwegian cap ital, elected by a free people, to occupy conjointly with free men the first place in the land.” The youngest railroad magnate of which we have accurate knowledge is Gordon Thomson, of Glas gow, Mo., who, although only six years old, owns 100 shares of stock in the Missouri Valley Central Electric railroad. The stock was given to the child by his grandfather and the little fellow takes great interest in the affairs of the road, of which he de sires to be an officer as soon as he reaches the requi site age.