Difficulty in awarding the prize.-Judges disagree.-A fact.

ors with the precocity of a few of his most active scholars, is recreant to his responsible trust.

IV. There is much difficulty in awarding the prize so as to do strict justice to all. So many things are to be taken into the account in order to determine the excellence of a performance compared with others, that some particulars are very likely to be overlooked. Those who are called to judge of the results often disagree among themselves. The following anecdote will illustrate this. Three literary gentlemen were appointed to select the best from several compositions, presented by a class, who had written them in competition for a gold medal. Each of the gentlemen carefully read the whole number in private, and conscientiously selected the best according to his judgment. When they came together to compare results, it was found that each man had selected the best, but that no two had selected the same! They carefully read and compared the three, and still each insisted that his original choice was the best. After much debate and considerable delay, one of the parties being obliged to go to his business, relieved himself from a painful detention, and his friends from a perplexing doubt, by saying he believed the composition he had selected was the best but, as he could not stop to claim its rights, he would yield them in favor of the second best in the hands of one of his associates. This ended the dispute, and the action in favor of the successful one, was declared to be unanimous !

This only proves how difficult it is to decide; and

The parties dissatisfied.-Various external aids: exemplified.

in the case just cited, it might well be asked, why should one of these competitors be held up to the multitude to be applauded and admired, and the others sent back to their classes covered with the shame of a failure? What principle of justice sanctioned this decision? Nor is this a solitary instance. It rarely happens that the case is perfectly clear. There is usually much perplexity about it; and hence one reason why the decision seldom satisfies the friends of the parties either in the school or at home. But other considerations besides the intrinsic merits of the per formance are to be taken into account in awarding a prize; as,

1. A difference in the external facilities which the competitors enjoy for getting the lessons. One pupil may be the son of poverty, and be compelled to labor during all the hours out of school; another may be in easy circumstances, and have nothing to prevent giving undivided attention to study during the whole day. One may be the child of parents who have no power to render assistance by way of explaining a difficult point; while the other may have all his doubts removed at once by parental aid. One may never even be encouraged by a kind word at home; another is constantly urged to effort, and perhaps not allowed to be idle One may have access to no books but his school manuals; the other may have at his command a large ibrary. This difference in circumstances should be taken into the account; but it never can be ful y un derstood by those who are called to decide.

Improper means used.-An "authoress !"

2. The improper means which may have been em ployed to secure the prize. Ambition when aroused is not always scrupulous of its means. One competitor may be highminded; may enter the arena determined to succeed by an honorable strife; may resolve to succeed by his own exertions, or to fail rather, than bring in any thing which is not the fruit of his own study. Another, regardless of honor or principle, resolves only to succeed, whatever it may cost; hesitates not to copy from others if possible, or to apply to a brother in college or some friend in the High School to furnish the difficult solution, prepared to order. One young lady spends days and nights in arranging the glowing thoughts for her composition, determined if industry, study, good taste, and a careful application of the rules of rhetoric can effect any thing, that her production shall be worthy of a prize. prize. Another, in no way distinguished for scholarship, industry, or honor, writes a careless letter to a married sister in a distant city, invoking her aid. In due time the mail brings an elegant essay. It is copied with sufficient accuracy to be read, and at the examination takes the prize! The fair'authoress' stands forth and is flattered before the multitude, is perhaps made to believe that she is worthy of praise; she grasps the golden bauble, and, covered with the blushes of modesty, receives the congratulations and caresses of friends, and is afterwards reputed a good scholar. Her competitors meantime become convinced that effort cannot rival genius; they are mortified to think they have presumed to enter the

Abuses.-System unsafe.-Success overrated.

arena with native talent, and become disheartened as to any future attempt.

Now where is the justice in all this proceeding? Yet this is not fiction; it is history! If such abuses— abuses that might well make an angel weep, revealing, as they do, that woman's heart can be thus sold to deception are the accompaniments of a prize system, may we not well doubt the utility of that system?

Yet who can know either the different facilities enjoyed by the competitors, or the want of principle in some of them? Who can enter the secret chambers of the mind or the heart, and estimate with any accuracy the just amount of merit in any action? This is God's prerogative; while "man looketh only on the outward appearance." My inference then is: A system can hardly be safe which is so uncertain.

V. The prize rewards success, not EFFORT; TALENT, not WORTH. Every one knows that in estimating the value and virtue of an action, the motive which prompted it, and the effort it necessarily cost, should be taken into the account. Every one knows, too, that success in study is by no means a criterion by which to judge of the merits of the scholar. Some learn their lessons with great facility and with but little effort; others study long and patiently without any brilliant results. One competitor for a prize may bring results which have cost him midnight toil and the most unremitting perseverance; another with brighter parts, and with but little labor, is able to surpass him, and takes the medal. Now the former deserves in a far higher

But God rewards.-How ?-Studying for a prize only.

degree the encouragement of the reward; yet it is given to him who has the talent but who lacks the industry. The rule of Scripture which announces that "to whom much is given, of him shall much be required," is violated, and he is rewarded for producing but little more than the one to whom little is given.

It is often urged by those who advocate a system of prizes and rewards, that God rewards; and therefore it is at least justifiable that we should imitate his example. I admit that God, in his government, does reward; but he rewards effort rather than success; he "looketh upon the heart" as man cannot do, and rewards worth, not talent. We might, indeed, imitate his example, if we had less frailty, and were not so liable to be imposed upon by the outward appearance. God indeed rewards men; but he estimates the secret intention, seeing the inward springs of thought before they find expression in words or actions. He regards the motive, and holds out for the encouragement of the humblest child of earth, who does the best he can, as rich a crown of glory, as he does for those whose outward circumstances, in the eyes of mortals, are more auspicious. When man can as wisely and as righteously bestow his prizes and rewards, there will be far less objection to their use.

VI. The pupil who studies for a prize as his chief motive, will seldom continue to study when the prize is withdrawn. This is so obvious as scarcely to need illustration. If it be necessary to add any thing to the mere statement of the fact, an appeal to almost univer