Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-29
Teachers Instirnte.
rrrrH DAY.

nv Professor Russell, on elocut,on, who occu-
nied half an hour. 1t was intimated by Mr..
Scars on Thursday, that Professor Mason
would not lecture on Friday, but by subse-
ouent arrangement, Mr. Mason remained dur
ING Friday. He followed Mr.. Russell, Occu-
pying also half an hour
Professor Green lectured from 10 to II
o'clock. upon Grammar. He showed that all
language was subject to certain laws. That
any language was capable of arrangement I'M
der those laws, according to the extent of its
development The meagre, unwritten dia-
lects of the Indian tribes were susceptible of
Grammatical arrangement, as well as the rich
and copious languages of the most civilized
nations. The Professorreferredt tie the origin and
development Of language, and showed how
few original classes of words there are, while
the number of languages and words are SO
immense. In order to teach grammar proper
ly, it is necessary that the teacher should I'M
derstand the principles of grammar, which is
the architecture of language.
Professor Agassiz leetured upon the charac-
teristics of insects. He said that the study Of
insects was not only important as a branch of
Natural History, but in this country it was of
the highest Importance as an auxiliary to the
successful prosecution Of agriculture it was ne
cessarv too. that the American student of tbs in
sect world, should go to nature for hisinstruc-
ton aud information, because the history OF
the habits and characteristics of European in
sects, which can be found in books, would aft
ford no correct information concerning Amer
lean insects, whose characteristics and habits
differ very much from those in the Eastern
continent. The study of books would only
partially prepare the student for entering on
that more interesting and profitable study, the
study Of Nature. Professor Agassiz said that
almost the only American work published on
this subject was that of DR.. Harris on the in
scots injurious to the crops of Massachusetts.
1t was work not only full of useful informa-
ton. but captivating in style. Every teacher
should study it, and it should be in every
school-roomin the Commonwealth.
Professor Agassiz recommended to the mem
bers Of the Institute to collect insects, or 9th
er objects of Natural History, and keep them
in their school rooms. He promised, if they
would send their collections to Cambridge, to
send them back labelled properly, SO that their
correct classification would be ascertained. Do
not fear, said the Professor, that will shrink
from the labor of doing this. I know too well,
from experience, that very few will give me
the opportunity to oblge them in this way.
No insects arc born in the form which they
finally acquire. They generally issue from
the egg, in the form of worm, having at
least thirteen articulations. The next stage
of development, is the chrysalis, and from
the chrysalis issues the perfect insect. 1t is
popularity believed that the catterpiller is
worm, but it is not so; it is only butterfly in
the early stages of developement. Worms
never change into insects.
In order to pursue the study of insects, it
was necessary to accustom the eye, to distin-
guish the different parts of those creatures.
Begin with large objects and go down to the
smallest. There are not many insects thatthe
trained eye cannot examine. The prominent
peculiarities Of insects are to be found in their
wings, in their eyes, and in their eating or
gans. There are three families of winged in
sects, which chew their food with horizontal
nippers; there are three families that suck
their food, one family, comprising the bee,
wasp, &C., which both chew and suck, and
one family, which is distinguished as wingless
insects. Each family is named from the APP
pearanee peculiar to it. When the student
has mastered these disting uishing characteris-
tics Of those creatures, he can then intelli-
gently pursue his investigations into the king
dom of nature.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Professor Green, resumed his lecture on
grammar, and illustrated, by the system Of
induction, the principle upon which sentences
are constructed.
Professor Russell delivered his last lecture
upon elocution, and gave some beautiful cx-
amples Of style in reading.
Professor Mason closed the afternoon ses-