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for such addition to your powers of thought, invention and reason as these studies give, you will have need all your lives, be your occupa tions what they may; and you will also find therefrom, a great addition to your usefulness and enjoyment.

While you gain all the information you can from others, you must learn to think for your selves—to use your own minds; so that when you meet with some difficulty, you must not go at once to a teacher, or a more advanced scholar, to get it solved, but use your own powers first: your effort may enable you to solve it, and even if it does not, it will at least the better prepare your minds for advantageously understanding the solution when given by another. By exercise in this way, the mental faculties are strengthened. If a person never lifted anything heavier than a pin, the muscles of his arm would never fully develope and become strong; so if the mind does not have some frequent engagement that will strongly task its powers, it will fail of that healthy, strengthening discipline which it so greatly needs.

I used frequently to tell my students that they might just as reasonably expect to become fat by having some other person to eat for them, as to become wise and learned by having another to think for them. The great fact should be continually borne in mind, that we must do for ourselves in life-must use our own powers, which are thereby healthfully developed and strengthened. You must, in fact, educate your selves, and let your books, dictionaries and teachers only come in as aids to your own exertions. Then you will become thoroughly educated in those departments of knowledge in which you engage.

And here let me give a little hint to teachers. The Educational Platform may be represented as elevated on four principal pillars,Truth, Experience, Observation and Reason.The successful teacher stands high on the platform; expatiates on the delights unfolded by the prospect he enjoys, and on the beauty, utility and desirableness of the treasures it yields; and with the sweetness and loveliness that adorn the true advocates of education, invites and encourages the young people to come up, see, and partake for themselves.

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mately get, if they continue to persevere, and richly are they rewarded for their labor.

The unsuccessful teacher, on the other hand, stands below, and tries to push and drive his pupils up on the platform with his hand, his switches, tasks, scoldings, black marks, privations from ordinary privileges, and all such old pedagogue inventions; and this frequently, too, while they are running and reaching after other objects in which they are much more interested; and slow, difficult, mutually oppressive and repulsive, imperfect, and almost useless work, is made of it.

But returning again to my young friends, in regard to hints for improving and disciplining the mind. When you do not know, and have not the means within your reach of informing yourselves, never be ashamed or hesitate to ask those who you think can give you the desired information. A few years past, I was going along a street in the lower part of your city and saw a sign: "Stencils made to order." Stencils, said I to myself, I do not know what they are; so I immediately stepped into the shop and found a very benevolent-faced man behind the counter, and said to him, "My good friend, I cannot tell whether I want any of thy ware or not, for I do not know what a stencil is." He smiled, not apparently at my ignorance, but good-naturedly and patronisingly, and showed me the article, and I found I had long known it, but not by that name, which however is its true name. On mentioning the circumstance to others since, I have been surprised to find how many were like myself, ignorant of the name of so familiar an instrument.

2d. Never give up a search, but keep a subject of inquiry before you, till you get your dif ficulty solved, if possible.

I was more than twenty years endeavoring to ascertain why, in the Roman numeral characters, L stood for 50 and D for 500, inquiring of every one who I thought could inform me, and examining every book which I believed likely to contain the desired information. It was easily seen why C stood for 100, as it is the commencement of the Latin word centum, which means 100; and M for 1000, as it is an abbreviation of mille, which is 1000 in Latin. Also, in the ancient method of keeping tally, one mark (1) stood for one, and in printing this mark it was represented by the letter I; two marks (1) stood for two, which were printed by two II's; three marks (111) stood for three, which were printed by three III's; four marks (1111) stood for four, which were printed by four IIII's, and these four marks with a cross, 1·1-1 1,* stood for five, which

Thus invited and stimulated, they are left to apply their own powers in their own way to gain the ascent. Some go resolutely at work in climbing up the main pilla-s; some succeed by getting a ladder or steps [books, &c] that others have constructed; some solicit aid from the teacher, which is always cheerfully given when applied for aud needed. One by one method, and another by another, according to their characteristic specialty; but all are at work, a line drawn across the 4 marks where the dots occur, with their own powers, to get up; and although to represent 5. Some of the other representations, for their progress may be different, up they all ulti-the same reason, are necessarily imperfect.--EDs.

*The difficulty of forming these characters in print was not taken into consideration when the article was sent to press. The reader will therefore imagine

to take their respective places, when they were "in care," as it was called, to keep order at the table of the "waiters," who ate after the other

was printed by the letter V, as the one most nearly representing it; and then tallying by a point over each mark for 6, 7, 8 and 9, and a back tally, thus 1:1-1: made the ten, and ulti-scholars were all done, which allowed my assomately the two tallies alone (X) stood for ten, which was printed by the letter X. When the tallies were made by cutting notches in a stick or piece of wood, the first ten units were denoted thus, 111.1 1.1-11, and the ten alone was printed as VV's, or X.

Furthermore, that a character which stood for a less number when placed before one that represented a greater number, took that much from it; whereas, when placed after the greater, it added to it. Thus I before V takes one from five, so that IV is four; while I after V adds one to five, and VI represents six. In like mander, as L stands for 50, XL is forty, while LX is 60; XC is 90, while CX is 110. All this was easy and comprehensible. But why did L stand for 50, and D for 500? That was the question which I was trying for more than twenty years to solve. I never doubted of ultimate success if I should live, and therefore still kept the subject before me; and one day, when engaged in an entirely different investigation, and searching an old quarto Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary, printed in London in 1783, I accidentally fell upon the information I had been so long in quest of, and very simple it was, as most things are when understood. The Roman C, which stands for centum, or 100, used to be made thus L, which is much as our printed C, only by rapidity in forming the characters when printed with a pen, the corners have become rounded. Cut this E in two, aud take the lower half, L, and the Roman letter with which it could be printed was L, so that L represented 50, the half of 100.

ciate teachers some additional half hour three times a day, the week they were "in care," to attend to their domestic concerns. By this arrangement I attended at the waiters' table three times every day the whole year; and having nothing to do but to preserve order by my presence, I kept a volume of Addison's Spectator on a shelf near where I sat in the dining-room, and read a paper in it, which was about four pages, while the scholars who had waited on the others during their meals, ate theirs, which made three papers or some twelve pages a day. When I closed my book at the end of one meal, I thought over the import of what I had just read; and before opening it, on picking it up at the next meal, I ran over this again in my mind, so as to retain the connection. In these small portions of time, which otherwise might have passed as wasted, I thus read, thoroughly, the whole twelve volumes of the Spectator in one year; and it was among the most profitable reading I ever did. So that while accommodating my fellow teachers, I did a kindness to myself, in gaining valuable information and intellectual improvement. Four pages, read three times a day, requiring from fifteen to twenty minutes each time, will, in a year, make twelve volumes of 365 pages each.

I can therefore confidently recommend to all my young friends to employ usefully and systematically all the small portions of time—also, never to put off to another time what you can as well do now; and then I give it as my experience, you will never want for leisure for the most pressing requirements of life. In nothing is the Scotch proverb more true than in regard to time, that "Monie inkles mak a mickle."

Again, M, which stands for mille, 1000, was formerly printed thus CD. Cut this in two, and we have the right hand half, P, which is print." Many littles make a great deal." Peter Pared by the Roman D, to represent 500, or half ley (S. G. Goodrich) gave a good maxim once of a thou a d-all easy and clear. in my hearing to some young persons whom he was addressing

An

3rd. Occupy small portions of spare time in some useful and systematic engagement. author, mentioned in the Spectator, I think, who had disciplined himself to punctuality and industry, wrote an interesting volume in the short intervals between the time he reached the table, upon the family being summoned to their meals, and when his wife came to sit down with him. He kept the writing materials for this service by the table ready from one meal to another, and was thus enabled to pass these little portions of otherwise waste time, patiently and pleasantly to himself, and to the benefit of others, by the result of his industry.

When I was teacher at West Town Boarding School, from 1821 to 1824, I was the only unmarried male teacher in the establishment, and my colleagues having families, I volunteered

Ne'er till to-morrow's dawn delay

What can as well be done TO-DAY."

From experience of its value, I can strongly recommend this rule for your adoption. The German poet, Goethe urges to present promptness in action in these lines, which are well worthy of being retained in mind

"Are you in earnest? Sieze this very minute.
What you can do, or think you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power magic in it."
(To be continued.)

COMMUNION WITH GOD.

Religion, or the devotional part of it, is nothing but communion of the soul with God; and therefore by its necessary condition is seclusive. There is no piety of a multitude.

The worship of a congregation is the worship of so many hearts, each rendered a degree more fervent than otherwise by the power of sym pathy. But if the clements of worship have not been brought together from the depths of individual spirits, they exist not at all. In all true worship, whether the scene be the place of public convocation or the closet, the soul brings its immortal substance, and its personal destiny, and its particular interests, its recollection, its hopes and its fears,-yes, itself, as if it were the only created existence, or in oblivion of all others, before the throne of God. How vivid soever may be the emotions that spring from the heart in its sympathy with others, they can never come into comparison with those that belong to its own ultimate welfare.-Isaac Taylor.

For Friends' Intelligencer.

MY STEPMOTHER.

dren and her own daughter, who is as dear to us as we are to each other; consequently there is no room for the monster jealousy to rear its unseemly head, to destroy or weaken the family compact.

Many years have elapsed since we left the paternal roof to settle elsewhere, but our affections yet cluster around the dear old homestead, where our beloved and honored mother, our only surviving parent, is still the presiding genius, being the centre of attraction to a large circle of relatives and friends, by whom she is much beloved. Truly her children and grandchildren have abundant cause to "rise up and call her blessed." A SUBSCRIBER.

THE FUSION OF RELIGIOUS IDEAS.

This seems to be the age of religious fusions. Sixty years ago Napoleon, when he got among the Turks, professed himself a good Mussulman, quoted the Koran, and proclaimed himself the Man of Destiny. But he never really gained anything by it, and historians like Alison, in the history of Europe, and many others, made a great handle of it, to prove his habitual

My feelings have many times been pained by hearing the obloquy which, without discrimi nation and with unsparing hand, is cast upon those who occupy the station of stepmother. The trials and difficulties with which their path is thickly strewed are in many eases quite overlooked, while their failures and short-insincerity on the most solemn subjects. But comings are quickly detected. Though I am not a stepmother, yet in vindication of the deeply injure class, I feel a strong desire to east my mite in the opposite scale.

the Sultan, in his recent speech delivered at Guildhall, London, has astonished the world by his liberality. He spoke with the utmost fluency in Arabic, and his speech was not only When seven years of age, I lost my mother. interpreted by a secretary, or dragoman, but She left four children, of whom I was the old-printed, and copies of it freely circulated, to est. When I was ten, our dear father left us the great admiration of the assembled crowd. to go to a distant city, to bring with him the He seemed to have left behind him all the peone whom he had selected to fill the important culiarities of the Moslem faith, and to have stations of wife and mother in his family. More brought out only some of those great principles than fifty years have passed away since the of universal religion that belongs to all king. time of their arrival at our home in a newly-doms and nations of the earth, as men. He settled country, yet the incidents of that eventful day are still fresh in my remembrance. Among other things, I recollect seeing our new mother step aside to weep, and perchance to lift her heart in prayer. I never heard her allude to her feelings on that trying occasion, but I have not the least doubt that a realizing sense of the weighty responsibility she had assumed, together with the novel and untoward surroundings of her new home, elicited the falling tear. How can we wonder? When she found herself surrounded by a group of dependent and wayward children, intrusted to her care. A formidable task indeed, enough at first thought to cause her heart to sink. But with selfsacrificing devotion, she applied with energy, perseverance and undeviating consistency to the work before her, which, on her part, has been accomplished with entire success.

desires not only "to see in other centres of civ ilization what still remains to be done in his own country, but to show his desire to establish, not only among his own subjects, but between his people and the other nations of Europe, that feeling of brotherhood which is the foundation of human progress and the glory of our age."

No doubt this speech was carefully prepared for him; but he clearly understood it, and adopted its sentiments. His great maxim,the brotherhood of nations, the foundation of human progress," is, indeed, a sentiment worthy the highest admiration. No wonder an English poet so far forgot the ancient antipathy of Christian and Mohammedan, as to pray God to protect this representative of the false prophet. Not only is religious persecution now being put an end to through the earth, but The tender and affectionate interest which there are certain great principles of religion she has uniformly manifested for our welfare is clearly becoming established among the pations above all praise. No difference could be dis of the earth worthy of special notice. Rev. covered in the treatment of her adopted chil-Henry Martin, when he went as missionary to,

But it is on our own continent that the relations of Roman Catholic and Protestant, Greek Church, Chinese, Persian and Indian, are creating a legal liberty and forbearance, with a Christian tone and temper, that must produce the very best fruits among mankind, and the establishment of those truths among the wisest and the best, that shall give to all a religion. which, under the names of various sects and parties, perhaps shall embrace principles broad as humanity itself, and living, earnest and charitable as Christianity in its earliest and purest days.-Ledger.

PHILADELPHIA, NINTH MONTH 7, 1867.

FAIRFAX QUARTERLY MEETING.-From a correspondent we have received an interesting report from Fairfax Quarterly Meeting, recently held at Goose Creek, Va.

and travelled through, Persia, astonished the Mohammedan doctors by conducting a public controversy, in which he quoted largely from the Koran. Since his time, not the Arabic alone, but the Sanscrit and Zend languages, have been carefully explored, the Vedas and Avestas translated for the East India Company, so that now, in India, the English judges administer the laws and protect the religious lib. erty and rights of the natives of all classes with a really wonderful precision and knowledge, far exceeding the judgment and justice of the natives, and with a knowledge of the history of their religious books and traditions which seems likely to have the most important and FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. beneficial effect on human rights. Individuals have a right to believe and profess what religious principles they please, but it seems now to be understood that the governments of all nations must act on the principles of universal religion. The brotherhood of nations, and of those holding different faiths, seems to be melting down the whole human race into a condition in which the moral principles and justice of The general sympathy felt for Friends within each will be preserved, and their reverence for all they esteem sacred respected, so that the this district, during the many and varied trials essentials of universal religion, stripped of all to which they were subjected by aggressions particular formalities, are being developed from both armies through the late national conwith a surprising rapidity. In Calcutta anflict, gives an additional interest to the informaEast Indian marriage lately took place, in which the bridegroom and bride were united, and publicly promised to be faithful to each other, in the presence of the great, the all-seeing God. Christianity, stripped of its technicalities, is The Quarterly Meeting held on the 19th of unquestionably the basis of all these movements Eighth month was large, and the attendance of It furnishes the idea and the principles, even where the name and the multiplication of sects, Friends from Hopewell and Woodlawn gave names and parties seem to contribute to the evidence of a zeal which was quite encouraging, necessity and power of this movement. It considering the difficulties of travelling resultwas in the border land between Judaism, Pa- ing from the late freshet. Hopewell is near ganism and Samaritanism that Christianity, Winchester, and is about thirty miles west of with its universal principles and charity, was first introduced, and throughout the Roman Goose Creek Meeting-house, where the QuarEmpire, with its diverse religions, that it first terly Mecting was held, and Woodlawn is nearly extended its conquests. It has often been fifty miles in the opposite direction. The dwarfed by a thousand narrow sects and par- Friends of those meetings have nearly 80 miles ties and forms; but its noblest triumphs have to travel to Quarterly Meeting, once in the year, been won by the comprehensive spirit of its own great "kingdom of Heaven." Probably and from 30 to 50 miles twice in the year, the real power of this system is nowhere so when the meeting is held at Goose Creek and thoroughly felt and understood as in our own Waterford. During the war, the Quarterly country, and under our own Constitution, where Meeting could not well be held at Alexandria, alone all religions are equally protected, but as it formerly was in the Eleventh month, and not exclusively established-where everything is free, and the universal dictates of morality form the basis of the laws. While the established Church in England may vary from Low to ligh, or the reverse, the extensive domains of the British empire are leading to a breadth held on Seventh day, and the Quarterly MeetThe Meeting of Ministers and Elders being

of view that enables her ablest statesmen to

tion which we are enabled to lay before our readers of their improved condition and their favorable prospects for the future.

that meeting having diminished, it is now to be transferred to Woodlawn, (near Mt. Vernon,) a branch of the same Monthly Meeting.

take into view ideas of universal religion of the ing for Discipline on Second-day, keeps many greatest practical breadth and application. of t

much attention, causing a large attendance of those not in membership with us.

This plan of holding Quarterly Meetings, and their being held in rotation in différent places, has the advantage which was thought to be derived from the circular annual meetings formerly held in this country and in Great Britain. The Meetings just passed were favored with the precious evidence of Divine Life, and the Gospel truths declared appeared to meet with acceptance in the hearts of the people.

Our correspondent also informs that, "in this section of Virginia, abundant crops of wheat have been gathered. The fruit trees are bear ing plentifully, and the corn fields look remarkably well. The barns burnt during the rebellion are being rebuilt, and the hand of industry is repairing the ravages of war. Surely this is cause of thankfulness to the Author of all good."

FIRST-DAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE.

A Conference, to promote an interest in First Day Schools, and to consider the best mode of conducting them, will be held in Friends' School-house, High St., West Chester, Pa., on Seventh-day, Ninth month 14th, at 2 o'clock.

All Friends interested in this movement, particularly such as are parents, are cordially invited to

attend.

THOS. H. HALL,
LUCIUS D. PRICE,

West Chester,

WM. M. HAYES,
ANN S. PASCHALL,

LYDIA H. HALL.

Goshen-THOMAS S. Cox.

Baltimore--ELI M. LAMB.
Germantown-WILLIAM DORSEY.
Philadelphia,

DILLWYN PARRISH,

The letter furnished by A. H. L., from B. H., will interest many who feel a warm interest in the poor Indians; and it will answer a concern expressed by some of our correspondents in relation to the action which Friends should take in regard to them, and will also show that the Society has not ceased its efforts in their behalf. EDS.

THE INDIANS.

SANDY SPRING, MD., 8th mo. 20th, 1867.

ALFRED H. LOVE

Bulletin ""

Esteemed Friend:-Thy kind letter of the 26th ult., enclosing an article from the "City while I was absent from home, and I have been on the Indian question, arrived here unable, till now, to acknowledge its reception.

I am pleased to observe the warm interest thou feels in this oppressed and greatly wronged people, over whose destiny so dark a cloud to be able to say, however, that my last visit to seems to be at present impending. I am glad the Indian Department, on the 8th of the present month, gave me ground for greater encouragement than I had received at any time since the great massacre in Minnesota,-some three years ago. The Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs informed me that there was a great reaction in public sentiment, and especially amongst members of Congress, and others in official position, in the Indians' favor. Their eyes are becoming opened by the enormity of the daily expenditures in the Indian country, and an inquiry awakened as to the cause that has produced the present condition of things, when it is found that injustice, outrage, and cruelty, on the part of the whites towards these helpless people, lie at the bottom of it all. And the Commissioners emphatically remarked that the Government is finding it cannot longer afford to be unjust to the Indians. He expressed the belief that the present Congressional Commission, consisting of Gers. Sherman, Harney and Terry, Commissioner Taylor, head of the Indian Bureau, Henderson, Sanborn, and Tappan, who are among the Western Indians, will carefully investigate the whole matter with a determination to do entire justice to the Indians, and report a practical plan for the amelioration of the present condition and the future protection of the Indians. He assured me that nothing further can at present be done for their interest or assistance, and, in all probability, no opporOwing to the first edition of this work having be-tunity for labor will occur till said Commission come exhausted, the Publisher was compelled to makes its report. defer forwarding the volumes to many subscribers. Another edition has been completed. Friends desiring to subscribe, or to have additional copies, would do well to take advantage of the present opportunity of addressing to that effect, The Publisher, T. ELLWOOD ZELL, Nos. 17 and 19 S. Sixth St.

HARRIET E. STOCKLY,

ABIGAIL WOOLMAN,
LUKENS WEBSTER,
JOSEPH M. TRUMAN, JR.

NOTICE.

According to announcement, a large number of persons assembled in Friends' Meeting-House, Abington, on the 25th of Eighth month, at 3 o'clock, P.M., on the occasion of the Meeting of the Pennsylvania Peace Society. Interesting remarks were of fered by several in attendance-Friends and others, and the meeting adjourned to meet at Friends' Meeting-House, Germantown, on the 22d of Ninth

month, at 3 o'clock, P.M.

NOTICE TO THE SUBSCRIBERS TO JANNEY'S
HISTORY OF FRIENDS.

I may state to thee that I am Secretary of the Committee on the Indian Concern, of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of Friends, and have been laboring arduously for many years, in an endeavor to protect and promote the interests of these greatly wronged people. A few years

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