Home Department.

[The following essay was read at the close of the fall term of the Racine High School, December 24, 1857, by Miss Marion F. Clark, a member of the graduating class. Being very favorably impressed by it when it was read, we asked permission to publish it in the Journal, and have been furnished with a correct copy for that purpose.-ED.]

THE traveler stands upon the mountain hight as the white mists of early morning roll away, and treasures in his heart the beauty of a living picture that lies below. The spires of the neighboring village gleam in the sunlight-here rises a green wood, and far away extends a line of hills, tinged with the rosy hue of morning. From these he turns to a rill which starts into life from the rock beside him, and speeds to the valley below: there it winds away like a thread of silver, till it wears a channel deep and wide. Where it wanders the grass grows greener, and the willow bends her branches low to take a double blessing. But in vain the traveler looks for its destination-his horizon shuts out the deep broad ocean that lies beyond, and he is left to seek a more elevated stand point.

So with the mind; each new advance extends its field of vision. It may follow the windings of truth for awhile, as from the mountain stream it becomes the sweeping current, but beyond ever rolls the vast ocean, whose shores he can not trace, whose depth he can not fathom.

Were not, then, this promise of more beyond-did not hope return from the unseen shores of the future with a "leaf of olive," the heart would grow weary of the toils of to-day, and exertion find itself a captive of the spirit's unrest. But the promise has been given, and the soul claims her heritage

A consciousness of more beyond cheered the philosopher in his life of earnest effort; he felt that in the vast universe exists a force unseen, yet mighty, which holds the radiant suns and their attendant planets in majestic march. Heeding the voice of truth, 'twas his to enter the inner sanctuary of nature's temple, and discover the cords that bind the mighty fabric in concordant whole.

There was more beyond for the voyager as he left the Andulsian shore to cross an untried sea; he was to tread a soil hitherto unknown, and realize to the world a pictured Atlantis. There has been more beyond to those who thrilled by poesy the human heart, or woke therefrom an answering tone to some sweet strain of melody; more beyond to those who left on canvas, or in chiseled marble, the expression of a fine thought; for the beautiful, the true, can never lose power.

The world, looking to a more beyond, is gradually advancing to a state of freedom-freedom from the fetters of ignorance and superstition, which so long have held nations in servitude. In earlier ages physical power gained the victories, and truth seemed often "crushed to earth."

Even from enlightened Greece comes the voice of an imprisoned Miltiades, a poisoned Socrates, while to-day their country claims the one her patriot, the other her philosopher.

Later in time a cloud of mental and moral degradation settled over Europe, but its dissipation let in a clear sunlight of reform that woke the dormant energies of mind and heart, while it revealed to the world the principles of true liberty. Still later on another continent the tyrant's yoke is thrown off, and one nation stands out a fair exponent of advance toward the more beyond. And although truth's triumphs are not all achieved, though the ramparts of arbitrary power seem now impassable, the better day is dawning in which the right shall maintain supremacy over the wrong.

As individuals, every true enjoyment gives a consciousness of more beyond. The kindly word, the goodly deed, have not passed into oblivion, but have gone before as tributes to the future, into whose shadowy labyrinths all are looking.

To the youth life's opening vision
Brings a thrill of wild delight;

For its scenes are all Elysian,

And its shadows melt in light.

Fame's high temple gleams before him,
And he longs to enter in-

Longs to see the domes bend o'er him,
Under which the great have been.

Wisdom opes to him her treasures,
Brilliant in truth's glorious light-

All of life's best, purest pleasures
Open on his ravished sight.

To the unattained advancing,

Leaving doubt and dark despond-
All along his path are glancing
Rays of promise from beyond.

And when years have yielded sorrow,

When to life its shades are given,
Still the heart looks for a morrow,

And the more beyond is heaven.

Editorial Miscellany.

M. F. C.

THE present Number closes the Second Volume of this Journal, and we are gratified to be able to state that it is steadily increasing in circulation and influence, as our correspondence fully demonstrates. The number of contributors has also steadily increased, until our pages are nearly filled with original articles on various subjects, many of which equal the best productions found in any similar journal.

To those faithful assistant editors and teachers who have from time to time contributed articles for its pages, for ourself, and on behalf of our numerous readers, we return our hearty thanks, and beg them not to be weary in well doing, but continue to give the results of their experience for the benefit of our schools, on the prosperity of which depend, in a great measure, the intelligence, virtue, and welfare of our people.

Financially we have not so good a report to make, the hard times having affect. ed our subscription list and advertising patronage to such an extent, as to render the profits a minus quantity. Still, the Journal is not a beggar, it will pay its way, and with better times, and more matured business arrangements, we trust that Volume Three will be a decided success, both educationally and financially.

If one half of the teachers of Wisconsin should subscribe for the Journal, it would at once be placed on a substantial basis, and enable its conductors to make such improvements as would commend it to the patronage of many who feel no special interest in the direct object it has in view. It ought to be enlarged and embellished with illustrations in every Number, but this cannot be done unless it reaches a greater circulation than it has yet attained.

The commencement of a new volume is a favorable time to secure subscriptions,

and if those friends who pledged themselves at the meeting of the Association in August last, to furnish a certain number of paying subscribers, will now exert themselves a little, we believe that our list may be doubled before the time to issue the Second Number of Volume Three.

We shall send the July Number to our present subscribers, taking it for granted that they will renew their subscriptions. If, however, any should conclude to do without the Journal, they will please immediately return it, directed Journal of Education, Madison. Those who retain the Journal, will please remit the price of the subscription at once, as we shall not send Number Two without the cash.

Our terms this year are the same same as those advertised on the fourth page of the cover of the January Number, as follows: Single copy, $1,00; four copies, $3,60, seven copies, $5,60; ten copies, $7,50.

The following notice has been sent us for publication. It will be seen that the meeting of the Association commences on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. The executive committee thought best to change the time so as to finish earlier in the week. Arrangements are being made to secure lectures, essays, and reports by competent persons, and it is expected that interesting and important business will come before the Association.

STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Sixth Annual Meeting of the WISCONSIN STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, will be held at Portage City, on Tuesday, the 3d day of August next.

An order of exercises will be published in the next Number of the Journal of Education. By order of the executive committee,

JAS. W. STRONG, Secretary.

[This communication was intended for the May Number, but was received too late for insertion.-ED.]

A. J. CRAIG, Esq.,

WAUTOMA UNION SCHOOL.

Dear Sir:-This is an incorporated institution, you are well aware, under the auspices of our excellent public school system, that is one of the redeeming features of our young and rising State. Wautoma is the county seat of Waushara County, and is a thriving little inland village, on the Berlin route to Stevens Point. This school comprises the districts in the immediate vicinity of the village, including a portion of the town of Dakota. It numbers about 190 children that draw public money from the School Fund. Facilities are furnished for the instruction of young gentlemen and ladies in this region, who wish to qualify themselves for teaching, and the other avocations of life. Means are thus supplied for sustaining a flourishing school, and for the remuneration of competent instructors. A noble structure has been erected, containing three departments—besides a room for a library, a philosophical and chemical apparatus, and recitation room. There is one department for young ladies, another for young gentlemen, and a third for a primary department. 145 scholars have been in attendance during the winter term of five months, closing on the 23d inst.

For the past eighteen months the Wautoma Union School has been under the faithful supervision of J. M. FRY, Esq., who has also been the instructor in the young gentlemen's department. For the winter term, Miss JANE A. THOMPSON, a graduate of the New Haven Female Seminary, Conn., has had charge of the young ladies department. Mrs. C. M. AVERY, has presided over the primary department during the same term. On the last day of the term there was a public examination in the various departments that was very well sustained, exhibiting faithfulness in the teachers, and progress on the part of the pupils. In the evening of the same day the Court-House was densely crowded to witness and enjoy the exhibition in the reading of original compositions, and the speaking of orations and colloquies, original and select, as well as singing, to the great gratification of the intelligent audience.

I might have mentioned, also, that at the close of the public exhibition an affecting scene was witnessed, in the presentation, to each of the teachers in the higher departments, by their pupils, of elegant copies of the Holy Scriptures, and their parting interviews. The "great awakening" to the concerns of religion, all over our land, has reached this place, and teachers and pupils have participated in it here. The song of adieu, at the close, was sung amid such emotions on the part of teachers, pupils, and spectators, it was with difficulty, and with many tears' performed.

Mr. Fry, with many other excellences, has the happy faculty of winning the confidence and affection of his pupils, which is the great secret of success in a teacher. The Wautoma Union School is somewhat in arrears in these "hard times, and all the departments may not be opened for the summer term, and the term may be shortened. There is a good degree of harmony among the patrons of the school, and if the past is a presage of the future, this school will continue to be one of the great ornaments of this county, on the borders of the Indian land. Yours, A. C. LATHROP, WAUTOMA, 1858.

Pastor of Cong'l Church.

We learn from the Watertown Democrat, that the Board of Education of that city have adopted the following resolution:

"Resolved that the reading of the Bible, and all forms of prayer, be discontinued in the public schools of this city, and that a copy of this resolution be furnished to each of the teachers forth with."

Soon after the passage of said resolution, the teachers laid before the Board a plain and temperate statement of their position, which, in their view of the matter, rendered the action of the Board unnecessary and uncalled for, and closed with a request that the Board recede from their action.

From this statement we learn that the exercises ordered to be discontinued, were held before the regular opening of the schools in the morning, and that no children whose parents had objections to such exercise, were compelled to participate in them, or even be present during their performance.

With this view of the case we think the action of the Board hasty end ill-advised, and trust that wiser counsels will prevail. The Democrat, in a well-written leader, takes decided ground against the action of the Board, and sustains the teachers in disregarding the order