he grows more conscious of the richness and fulness of life's happiness. Just as fast as self-government becomes established other governments become unnecessary, and the highest and best happiness of which we are capable must come, not through the merry, careless, easy life which depends on others and feels no responsibility, but through the serious and dignified acceptance of the duties and obligations which only the most perfect freedom imposes.-Public Ledger.

RED RIDING HOOD.

BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.

On the wide lawn, the snow lay deep,
Ridged o'er with many a drifted heap;
The wind that through the pine trees sung
The naked elm boughs tossed and swung;
While, through the window frosty-starred,
Against the sunset purple barred,
We saw the sombre crow flap by,
The hawk's gray fleck along the sky,
The crested blue-jay flitting swift,
The squirrel poising on the drift,
Erect, alert, his thick gray tail
Set to the north wind like a sail.

It came to pass, our little lass,
With flattened face against the glass,
And eyes in which the tender dew
Of pity shone, stood gazing through
The narrow space her rosy lips

Had melted from the frost's eclipse;

Oh, see," she cried, "the poor blue-jays! What is it that the black crow says?

The squirrel lifts his little legs,
Because he has no hands, and begs;
He's asking for my nuts, I know;
May I not feed them on the snow?"
Half lost within her boots, her head
Warm sheltered in her hood of red,
Her plaid skirts close about her drawn,
She floundered down the wintry lawn;
Now struggling through the misty vail
Blown round her by the shrieking gale;
Now sinking in a drift so low

Her scarlet hood could scarcely show
Its dash of color on the snow.
She dropped for bird and beast forlorn
Her little store of nuts and corn,
And thus her timid guests bespoke :
“Come, squirrel, from your hollow oak-
Come, black old crow; come, poor blue-jay,
Before your supper's blown away!
Don't be afraid; we all are good;
And I'm mamma's Red Riding Hood!''
O Thou, whose care is over all,
Who heedest e'en the sparrows fall,
Keep in the little maiden's breast
The pity which is now its guest!
Let not her cultured years make less
The childhood charm of tenderness;
But let her feel as well as know,
Nor harder with her polish grow!
Unmoved by sentiments of grief
That wail along some printed leaf,
But prompt with kindly word and deed
To own the claims of all who need,
Let the grown woman's self make good
"The promise of Red Riding Hood!

-St. Nicholas.

THE DISCERNING TEACHER.

A teacher having charge of a school in a country town found among her scholars a boy about fourteen years old, who cared very little about study, and showed no interest apparently in anything connected with the school. Day after day he failed in his lesson, and detentions after school hours and notes to his widowed mother had no effect. One day the teacher had sent him to his seat after a vain effort to get from him a correct answer to questions in grammar; and feeling somewhat nettled she watched his conduct. Having taken his seat, he pushed the book impatiently aside, and espying a fly, caught it with a dexterous sweep of the hand, and then betook himself to a close inspection of the insect. For fifteen minutes or more the boy was thus occupied, heedless of surroundings, and the expression of his face told the teacher that it was more than idle curiosity that possessed his mind. A thought struck her, which she put into practice at the first opportunity that day. "Boys," said she, "what can you tell me about flies?" And calling several of the brightest by name, she asked them if they could tell her something of a fly's constitution and habits. They had very little to say about the insect. They often caught one, but only for sport, and did not think it worth while to study so common an insect. Finally she asked the dunce, who had serenely, but with kindling eyes, listened to what his schoolmates hesitatingly said. He burst out with a description of the head, eyes, wings, and feet of the little creature, so full and enthusiastic that the teacher was astonished and the whole school struck with wonder. He told how it walked and how it ate, and many things which were entirely new to

a

HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN EUROPE. At the commencement exercises in 1882, at the University of Liège, Monsieur Trasenter, the Rector, presented a few facts concerning the higher education of women abroad, which may be of interest to our readers.

In Belgium the question of admitting women to the universities was first brought up in 1875 by a despatch from M. Delcour, Minister of the Interior, to the different universities of that country, in which he demanded the opinion of the various faculties as to the admission of women. Liège and Ghent saw no special reasons for excluding them, but the latter was inclined to await the result of the trial in other countries. In 1881 the University at Brussels admitted women to its courses, and three women followed the course in natural sciences; in 1882 there were five in the same branches. One obtained the degree of Ph.D.; the others, with one exception, are soon to receive the same. At the University of Liège a lady followed the course of pharmacy, and her success led others to ask for admission in 1883.

In France several women attend the lectures at the College of France, at Paris, and six Englishwomen are in attendance at the School of Medicine. Their intelligence and application are said to be quite noticeable, and they have not only met all examinations, but are admitted to practice in their chosen profession. [M. Trasenter does not refer to

the opening of many secondary schools for girls throughout France, nor to the present attitude of the French Government towards the higher education of women.]

In Switzerland, at the University of Zurich, several Russian ladies have followed the medical course. Eight years ago there were over a hundred lady students; now there are only twelve or fifteen, because of the interference of the Russian Government, and because knowledge of three languages was required. There are now three lady physicians practising in Zurich. The University of Berne had thirty students of that sex in 1881; of these twenty-seven in medicine and three in philosophy. The majority of them came from Russia. At Geneva fifty-threewomen were reported in 1881.

In Italy the higher education of women dates from years back. The University of Padua is proud of the names of Cornaro Piscopia and Novella d'Andréa, the latter's beauty being so marvelous that she had to have a curtain in front of her when she spoke, so lost in admiration were her hearers. The University of Bologna had Clotilde Tambroni as professor of Greek literature up to 1817. This same university, in 1878, awarded the diploma of doctor of medicine and surgery to a lady; in 1881, after four years' study, that of doctor of laws to another. The lady in question received the highest number of marks as decided by the examining board. In Turin three young girls have entered the Lycée Cavour as students of rhetoric and philosophy.

Germany holds out no hopes to women desiring a higher course of instruction. Medical courses are not opened to them, and in Bavaria, since 1880, they are actually forbidden to take a course of medical study. At the University of Gottingen and at some other institutions degrees are conferred upon women, but without admitting them to university privileges.

In Russia, at St. Petersburg, a medical faculty for women was created in 1872, and the first year's course was attended by onehundred and six women; the second year by ninety-nine; after five years sixty-nine women received diplomas Political reasons caused the cessation of the course, although it was successful in every way. Students were allowed to finish their studies, but no more. were to be admitted.

Sweden has taken an exactly opposite position. A royal decree of 1870 (June 3d) opened a medical career to women, and the Carolinian Institute in Stockholm has a special course in anatomy. At Upsala various courses are followed by women.

Coming to Great Britain, M. Trasenter

refers to the University of London as giving degrees in literature, art and science, since August 27th, 1867; in fact, women are admitted to all the courses except medicine. At the University of Cambridge, unless the professors object, they are to be admitted to all courses. [M. le Recteur does not refer to Girton College, as well he might.] At the University of Edinburgh, since 1869, no lady students are admitted to the medical faculty. The result of this enactment caused the establishment-by many women well known in social circles-of a medical school open to women. This school opened in 1874, had twenty-three students that year. The Royal University of Ireland admits women to scholarships and prizes, to all degrees and honors. In 1881-82 a woman obtained the gold medal for anatomic studies at the University of London.-Woman's Journal.

NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES.

Winter Aconite. This hardy little plant is found in bloom among the very earliest of the spring flowers. While the snow and sleet of the last days of Third mo. were yet upon the ground its golden sepals shone out, giving no indication of injury. Such a specimen was handed me, and not having seen the flower before, I was curious to know something of a plant that could stand so much cold. Gray and Eaton were consulted, but nothing that in any particular described it was found in either, and it is to give to others who may have the same difficulty, the benefit of my research that this description is offered.

The plant forms the genus Eranthis; there are but two species, the Hiemalis and the Siberica. The one under consideration is the Hiemalis. It is a native of Southern and Central Europe, is found in moist, shady places, and is called winter aconite, because its foliage resembles the Aconites and it appears so early in the spring. It belongs to the order Ranunculaceæ.

Our little plant sends up a flower stalk about four inches long, terminated by a single flower, with a calyx an inch or more in diameter, formed of six or eight bright yellow sepals, surrounded by an involucre of green divided leaves.

The petals are very small and scale-like, of the same golden yellow, and scarcely distinguishable, the anthers are many and large, the whole infloresence resembling the crowfoot.

After the flower has perfected, its two leaves make their appearance, rising from the flower stalk.

The Eranthis Siberica is a native of Eastern Siberia, of precisely similar habits, but having only five sepals.

Eranthis Hiemalis was introduced into this locality by Bartram the botanist, and is found growing in the neighborhood of Eastwick Park.

It is also found in West Chester, probably introduced there by Joshua Hoopes, the specimen under examination was found growing in the grounds formerly owned by him.

It is well worth cultivating along with our snow-drops and crocuses, and would make a showy addition to the early spring flower beds. Fourth mo., 3rd. L. J. R.

History of Anthracite Coal.-To the sagacity and perseverance of Josiah White we are indebted for the planting of the seed that has grown to such gigantic proportions in the Anthracite coal trade of Pennsylvania. Josiah White and Erskine Hazard, his partner in the manufacture of wire at the Falls of Schuylkill, early learned that they needed a liberal supply of fuel, such as would alone be found in mineral coal. Having obtained a small quantity from the Lehigh in 1812, the earliest brought to market, one of the first experiments in having it for manufacturing purposes was made at their works. "Incredible as it may seem at this day, great difficulty was found in causing it to ignite, mainly from want of patience and from the deficient draft of the furnace in which the effort was made to burn it. An entire night was spent in the vain attempt, when in despair the workmen shut the furnace door and retired and left the coal to its fate. Fortunately one of them had left his jacket in the mill, and on returning for it in half an hour later noticed that the door was red hot, and upon opening the furnace was surprised to find the mass at a glowing heat. The other workmen were summoned and four separate pieces of iron were heated by the same fire and rolled before it required to be renewed." The secret of kindling Anthracite had been discovered. In 1814 a few ark loads were brought down the Delaware, but the public was very unwilling to purchase, for, said many, "the black stones will not burn." White and Hazard procured a new supply from the head-waters of the Schuylkill, paying $40 a ton, delivered in wagons, at their works. Believing they could supply the needs at a cheaper rate by making the Schuylkill navigable, they applied to the Legislature for the privilege. But through the ignorant misrepresentations of the member from Schuylkill County, who assured the Legislature that "the black stone would not burn," they were unsuccessful. They were not the men to be thus thwarted, and we find them soon active in organizing an association for the improvement of the Schuylkill, which