have been frightened away from the fields by killing a few and by the use of

scarecrows.

The history of the scarecrow will furnish good material for language lessons. In these lessons there will be a freedom of speech and all of the other requirements for an interesting lesson.

ROOSTS.

The crow roosts have always been interesting, because of the large number of crows that will come for hundreds of miles to them. The clannishness of the birds is shown in these roosts. Even at the nesting time, when they are less neighborly, they build a dozen or more nests within calling distance of each other. In this country there are many famous crow roosts. One of note was reported in the United States Bulletin No. 6 as being near Irvington, Ind. It has been used for years, and covers several acres. The number of crows roosting here is yery large.

The form used in the arrival and departure from the chosen spot is uniform everywhere, and shows that there is an understanding among themselves. About an hour before sunset stragglers begin to appear, to see if the coast is clear. They return and report their observations to the main body, then from all directions they begin to arrive in the field near the roost.

There seems to be a definite object in the preliminary gathering, if we can judge by the clamor of conversation. Their is evident here, for not a purpose crow dares to leave the assembly for the roost until a distinct signal is given. The impulse comes to all at the same moment and in a few minutes all are settled for the night. The morning departure is governed by the same rules. Again there is the loud conversation, again a few go out for observation. After their report the vast number rises, and before the sun is well up not a crow is in sight.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION OF CLOCK
PROBLEMS.

Pupils readily see that the minute hand of a clock moves 12 times as fast as the hour hand, and that if both start together the amount of gain by the minute hand is 11 times the distance traveled by the hour hand. The most convenient starting point is 12 o'clock, as we ordinarily count forward from that hour, and the hands are then together over a division mark.

In every clock problem it is comparatively easy to determine the amount of gain of the minute hand over the hour hand, counting forward from 12 o'clock. Dividing the gain by 11, we have the distance of the hour hand past 12 on the face of the dial. From the relative position of the minute hand with respect to the hour hand the exact time may be determined. Or, since the minute hand has moved 12 times the distance of the hour hand, multiply the latter by 12 and subtract

For the best essay on "Moral Training in Public Schools" a prize of $500 is offered, and for the second best, $300. Conditions: 1. Length of essay to be not less than 6,000 nor more than 12,000 words.

2. Each essay must be submitted typewritten.

3. All essays must be in the hands of the committee not later than June 1, 1906.

These prizes are offered by a citizen of California who desires his name withheld. He has appointed Rev. Chas. R. Brown, of Oakland, Cal.; President David Starr Jordan, of Stanford University, and Prof. F. B. Dresslar, of the University of California, Berkeley, "trustees of the fund and sole judges of the merits of the essays submitted."

The two prize essays shall become the property of the trustees, to be by them "published and circulated as widely as possible" from the fund at their disposal, "within the limits of the United States." The prizes will be paid immediately upon the award of the committee.

Any essay not awarded a prize will be returned to the writer upon request, accompanied by postage.

ANSWERS TO QUERIES.

1. A clock has three hands, marking hours, minutes and seconds. When are these three hands together?

SOLUTION.

The three hands will, of course, be together at 12 o'clock. Now, starting from 12 o'clock, we will find at what times the hour and minute hand will be together.

They will evidently not be together between 12 and 1 o'clock, so we will find first at what time after 1 o'clock they are together.

x = 51.

seconds.

seconds.

seconds.

seconds. seconds.

2 hours, 10 minutes, 54 3 hours, 16 minutes, 21 4 hours, 21 minutes, 49 5 hours, 27 minutes, 16 6 hours, 32 minutes, 43 7 hours, 38 minutes, 10 8 hours, 43 minutes, 38 9 hours, 49 minutes, 5 10 hours, 54 minutes, 32 10 hours; 0 minutes, 0 seconds. And the second hand will be at only one of these places at the time the others are, i. e.. at 12 o'clock. T. E. Mason, Borden, Ind.

seconds.

seconds.

seconds.

seconds.

Now, when z=1, y=95, and x = = 4z :4; when z=2, y = 90, x 8, etc. Nineteen such solutions are possible, the last being z 19, y=5, x=76.

Anna Propps, Kouts High School. Solved also by T. E. Mason. Borden; Lloyd Drollinge, Laporte; Charles Deich, Danville.

4. Given a right triangle ABC, the hypotenuse, BC, being 45 feet. On AB,-12 feet from A, a line is drawn perpendicular to AB. On AC, 18 feet from A, a line is drawn perpendicular to AC, meeting the perpendicular which was drawn to AB, on the hypotenuse. Required the lengths of AB and AC.

QUERIES.

5. A man is in a boat on a river 3 miles from shore. He wishes to get to a city 5 miles up stream in the least possible time. While on the water he can go at the rate of 4 miles per hour, and on land at the rate of 5 miles per hour. The stream flows at the rate of 3 miles per hour. Where must he land?

6. Given the quadrilateral ABCD. AB = 150 ft.; B C 140 ft.; C D = 140 ft.; A D 120 ft. The angle B A D is a right angle. Find the area.

No satisfactory solution has been received to No. 3, in the November Educator-Journal. The problem is worth the careful study of every one. May we not have some good solutions for it? Solutions should reach the editor not later than January 14th.

Are you planning to attend a Summer School? Most teachers are, most teachers must. The world is running away from them. The late comers are better equipped, the newest diplomas are cheating experience out of its hard earned dues. You cannot afford to be left behind. If you are sure of your position with the odds against you, then with the odds in your favor, you ought to be sure of a better one. It costs money to keep one's education up to date, it costs more money not to. In some states vacation study is required by law, in all states it is required by logic of events. But you are tired and in dread of the summer in the class room. You need rest and your professional advancement requires intellectual improvement.

The solution is the summer school in Europe for it is change of scene, it is a stimulus to body

and mind, it is rest and exhilaration. This fellowship with the leaders of education with whom you would otherwise spend the summer in the class room solves the problem from both points of view.

Such travel we afford, such intellectual leadership we have engaged, and credit will be given you in the best Universities and Colleges for the summer's experience.

We offer,

A School as genuine as any in the land.

A Faculty of the ablest leaders the country affords.

A Curriculum as tempting as any you know.
A Trip as delightful as any you could plan.
Write us for further information.
BUREAU OF UNIVERSITY TRAVEL
201 Clarendon St., Boston

bearing the title, "The Making of a Teacher." All teachers will find the book helpful, and Sunday-schools whose teachers study it will be revolutionized.

.The reports of hazing from colleges and secondary schools indicate that education does not always civilize. In several cases it has resulted fatally. The authorities, both civil and school, should take heroic measures and stamp out this relic of barbarism.

The trustees of the permanent funds of the N. E. A. have published a complete statement showing the investment of all funds. The total permanent fund. is now $147,000. This is all well invested except about $4,000, which is in Kansas school district securities. It is thought that in time these may be realized upon. The trustees are Lane, Butler, Schaeffer and Greenwood.

One of the most hopeful signs for better wages is found in the attitude assumed by many leading newspapers. Within a few months a number of strong editorials have appeared, and in some cases they have been widely copied. The Indianapolis News says:

"The competition of other and more. remunerative employments will expose us to the certain loss of the best teachers. Those seeking positions in the schools will devote less time and work to their preparation, and will pay less for their own education, and here, as always, we shall find that we shall get just what we pay for. In this case it will be inefficient and inadequate teachers. The plea is not for extravagance, but for justice. If we in Indiana can not now afford to do justice, we should endeavor so to order affairs that we may do so in a few years. It is the teachers that make the schools. They are more important than fine school buildings, or elaborate equipment. The situation may soon become serious. Indeed, it has many serious features already."

Department of Superintendence.

The time of meeting is February 27, 28, and March 1. The place is Louisville, Ky. The president of the department is Superintendent John W. Carr, of Dayton, O. T. A. Mott, of Richmond, and Miss Baylor, of Wabash, are the Indiana people on the program.

The meeting is so close to the borders of our State that we ought to be unusually well represented. There should be at least two hundred Indiana teachers enrolled. The program is a notable one. A number of the most prominent educators in the country are down for addresses. The great Simon Newcomb will speak on "The Study of Arithmetic in American Schools." Martin G. Brumbaugh, of the University of Pennsylvania, will discuss "Eliminations and ModificaBen B. tions in the Course of Study." Lindsey, the greatest juvenile judge in America, will speak upon some phase of the boy problem. County Superintendent O. J. Kern, of Winnebago County, Illinois, will discuss "Manual Training for the Country Child." Other prominent speakers are President W. O. Thompson, of Ohio State University; Superintendent W. J. Shearer, Elizabeth, N. J.; Principal R. P. Halleck, Louisville; Frank McMurry, Columbia University; Lewis H. Jones, Michigan State Normal, and Superintendent J. H. Van Sickle, Baltimore. Let us go in force to Louisville and make Carr's meeting the greatest in the history of the department.

Reading.

No man, however great or wise, can long retain his prestige without reading. On this subject nothing better has ever been written than the following from Spurgeon: "Paul had a few books, which were left perhaps wrapped up in the cloak, and Timothy was to be careful to bring them. Even an apostle must read. Some of our ultra Calvinistic brethren have thought a minister who reads books and studies his sermons must be a very deplorable specimen of a preacher. A man who goes up into the pulpit, pro