and musicians. A larger number to be drilled at one time would require a larger room than can generally be obtained.

"As to the desirableness of such an organization, it depends upon circumstances. With the direction all right, and an opportunity to drill, if not more than an hour at a time, generally as often as once in each school week, and when sufficiently practiced in manual and evolutions, an occasional public appearance or parade of some kind, I should say that the most gratifying results, in every point of view, might be safely relied upon. That the tendency is to some extent better physical development, a more erect and steady carriage, a habit of subordination and respect for authority, a love of order, with a proper self-respect and self-reliance, I have no doubt whatever. These things being so, better scholars and easier government in school would seem to follow as a necessary consequence."

The by-laws of this company are in our possession, but we have no room for them in this number.

Mr. Almon Samson, Superintendent of Schools in Zanesville, writes:

"Our Public School Cadets have been in existence as a company about one year. The first object of Capt. Tyler, who is our writing teacher and first formed the plan of organizing such a company, was to give the boys in our school a kind of exercise which should have a tendency to counteract the bad effects usually arising from improper positions in studying at school. This end has I think been accomplished to some extent, although the limited amount of time spent in the exercise renders it less serviceable than it might otherwise be. The company have maintained a reading room during the winter, and Capt. T. has delivered to them a course of lectures. The effect of this has been to draw many of them from places where they would be under much worse influences. By this military drilling, a disposition has been cultivated to some extent to yield a ready compliance to other requirements, as well as to their orders there. It has proved in some cases an incentive to scholars to maintain a good standing in school, as dismissal from school would at once be succeeded by dismissal from the Cadets. As far as most of these influences are concerned, it depends almost entirely upon the way it is managed. We consider the effect as good upon our scholars in these several respects, but it is due to the efforts of Capt. T. and his endeavors to throw around them the right kind of influence.

"The common objection that it creates and fosters a warlike spirit, has I think, shown itself to be entirely unfounded in this case. I have watched with considerable care for any development of this kind, but have been unable to detect. I should be unwilling to have such a company connected with our schools if not under the right management, but under the care of a teacher who feels the responsibility of his influence there as well as in the school room, I think amusement, physical development, and moral protection may be combined.

A young lady recently from New England, but now residing in Columbus, desires a situation in some school or seminary, as teacher of Drawing, Painting, and French. She has thoroughly qualified herself for giving instructions in those branches, and would prefer to confine herself to them; but would not object to joining with them any of the higher branches of learning. Address the Editor of the Ohio Journal of Education, Columbus, O.

LETTERS TO THE CHILDREN OF OHIO.

NUMBER II.

DEAR CHILDREN:

How do you do, this pleasant May morning? I trust that you are all very well and very happy. Do you not think that May is a charming month? I think it the pleasantest part of the year. The new grass is fresh and green; the trees are putting on their leafy summer-dress; some of them are beautiful with sweet blossoms; many flowers, lovely and fragrant, are making their appearance; gardens and fields are telling us that summer is near; and the dear little birds are every day giving concerts of the sweetest music, and so generous are they that they do not charge one cent for all their singing. Do you not think. children, that May is a lovely month?

But I must not wait to tell you any more of what you already know just as well as I do. I will write this letter upon a subject about which I suppose you never yet have heard much. It is a sad subject, and I think that you will feel very sorry for the poor people of whom I shall write.

In my former letter to you, I said that there is a Lunatic Asylum in Columbus, to which insane people are sent from all parts of the State. For thousands of years there have been lunatics, or insane persons, but until about sixty years ago there were no institutions for their benefit. It was thought that they could not be cured, and so the poor creatures were kept in chains and dungeons, with no comforts, with nothing to hope for, till death terminated their existence upon earth. A good man in Paris, Dr. Pinel, was the first to put in practice correct views respecting their treatment. The first man on whom he tried the experiment, was a furious maniac, who had been kept chained for forty years, and who had killed one keeper by a blow with his manacles. Such was Pinel's success with him, that throughout the civilized world a revolution took place in the treatment of the insane. The Retreat at Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, was, I think, the first institution of the kind established in America.

The Ohio Lunatic Asylum was commenced about twenty years ago. It is beautifully situated upon the high ground in the eastern part of the city, about one mile from the State House. The building is very large, furnishing accommodations for 350 inmates. Very few public

buildings present so fine an appearance. It stands within an enclosure of more than fifty acres of ground, a great part of which is covered with forest trees. The building and lands have cost the State about $200,000, and every year the cost of carrying on the Asylum is more than $40.000.

To take care of the 300 insane persons who are in the Asylum, requires the services of three physicians, a steward, a matron, attendants, servants, etc., to the number of nearly sixty.

There are a great many things that I would like to tell you about the building and its very fine arrangement; but I should make my letter too long. I will now tell you about a visit which, a few weeks ago, I made to the Asylum. It was a pleasant afternoon in March. I never had been in such an institution before, and I felt, as children sometimes say, "a little streaked" about going among so many crazy folks. But one of the physicians, Dr. Gundry, went all about the wards and rooms with me, and I found nothing to be afraid of. We first went through the wards appropriated to the females. One poor woman had to be tied up, as she had been very violent, and had tried to injure herself. Some of them sat in chairs, with their faces hid, as though they were afraid to look at us. Some were wringing their hands, and groaning. Some talked and laughed with us, and seemed to be entirely rational. Some told the Dr. that they were well, and that they wished to leave the Asylum, and go home. Some of them were greatly excited, and raved and used dreadful language. One woman spends her time in making a variety of very pretty articles, such as lamp-mats, bags, pin-cushions and the like. I was introduced to many of them, and they seemed glad to see me. Some of them had a great many questions to ask. One woman, however, who had a very wild and insane look, put herself on her dignity, and said, "Dr. Gundry, I would have you know that you are not to introduce gentlemen to me till you first have obtained my permission." She gave the Dr. a sharp lecture on the rules of etiquette, made and provided for such cases.

We then went through the wards appropriated to the men. There we found one wretched man whose sad appearance I can never forget. Poor man! They have to keep his arms fastened, or he would soon kill himself. They also keep him tied down in his seat; and even then he contrives to beat his head against the walls, or something else, and in that way he has worn all the hair off from the front part of his head. It would make you, my dear children, feel very bad to see that

wretched man. God grant that none of you may ever become like

him.

Some of the men seemed quite happy. One fellow had an old squeaking violin, with which he made a noise which he called music; and another, a young Irishman, was dancing to match. He would give a clumsy kick with one foot, and then hop with the other, and that he called "tripping the light fantastic toe." I am no very great judge of dancing, but I thought it sufficiently "fantastic."

Of one man Dr. Gundry inquired how another one was that day; "Oh! he died last night," was the reply; "he dies every night, but he is always up in season for breakfast the next morning."

One man told me that the night before he had a terrible battle with an army which came against him. Said he, "they shot and fired and blazed and banged away at me, and some of them killed me; but I killed more of them, than they did of me."

One man had been a very excellent clergyman, but from too great effort of mind and body, and from deep anxiety for the good of his people, he had lost his mental balance. He was writing a "Banking House Almanac," which would make banks honest and responsible, and prevent the circulation of bad money. I certainly hope that he will succeed, for such an almanac is greatly wanted.

Another man told me that he was going to "start a Female Seminary at Urbana, which would astonish the Know-Nothings." I asked him on what principle he intended to get it up. He answered, "on all sorts of principles."

But I have time to tell you no more about my visit to the Asylum. When you come to Columbus, I will go with you there, and then you can see for yourselves.

Of those who are now in the Asylum, 25 became insane before they had reached the age of twenty years. A great many soon recover, their reason, and return to their homes. But many will doubtless continue insane as long as they live.

The causes which have produced their insanity are, in part, domestic affliction, disappointed affection, religious excitement, business perplexi-, ties, fright, jealousy, intemperance, injury to the head, excessive men. tal exertion, and others. Of all the 2,776 who have been admitted to the Asylum since it was opened, 44 were Teachers! Do you wender that Teachers become crazy? If all their pupils were good and obedient, I do not think that they would be very likely to lose their reason. But a naughty scholar is enough to make a Teacher go insane.

And were it not that most Teachers have strong and well balanced minds, and are governed by high moral principles, I guess we should need an Insane Asylum in about every county.

I hope that you, my good children, will never lose your reason. I hope that your minds will be so well cultivated that you may be very useful while you live, and that you may so live that you will be forever happy.

Good bye, till June.

EDITOR.

NEWS AND MISCELLANY FOR APRIL.

THE SCHOOL LAW.-During the recent session of our Legislature, many fears were expressed that radical changes in our school system would be enacted. But the only modification that was made, is the suspension of the Library tax for a single year. All things else remain unchanged.

Many will regret the action in respect to Libraries; while as many others will cordially approve the same. Whether right or wrong, it can not be disputed that there is, in many parts of the State, a strong sentiment of hostility to this feature of our school law. It will be of no great use to distribute books throughout the land, if they are to be kept boxed up in the offices of our county Auditors. Still, many townships were making a very profitable use of their Libraries, and they will, with us, regret the action of our Legislature.

We most heartily approve of the main features of our school law; but we are not of those who think it absolutely perfect. We, upon reflection, are persuaded that the law would be improved by placing restrictions upon the authority of Township Boards, such as were recommended by the committee in the Legislature, to whom the subject was referred.

We think that our school system will long remain without any great modifica tion. We do not believe that we shall soon have a Legislature which will lay violent hands on this system. The law has already outlived the sharpest opposition that it was destined to experience.

Of the two noble objects for which our State Teachers' Association petitioned, one-the Normal Schools-failed; the other-the establishment of a Reform School-succeeded.

COLUMBUS SCHOOLS.-The Public Schools opened for the summer term on the 7th ult. During the first week the numbers enrolled were as follows: In the Central Building (on State street,) 524; in the North, 351; in the South, 318; in the Middle, 220, and in the German English Schools 210; total 1,623. Of these 102 are in the High School, 251 in the Grammar Schools, 380 in the Secondary, and 680 in the Primary Schools. In the High School, 4 teachers are employed; in the Grammar School 7, (three males and four females ;) in the Secondaries 8; in the Primaries 11; and in the German Schools 3, one male and two females.