Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-07

Ras L ne IeCelpIs anu expenditures OF
Miflin county, published in detail, exclude
our usual variety of reading matter to-day.
They are however interesting to taxpay-
ers.
FouND.-A Presbyterian Hymn Book
Bls found some weeks ago, which can be
procured by the owner at this office 1t
contains lock of hair, but no name
GROUND HOG DAY.-Saturday last, ac-
cording to the weatherwise, was the day
appointed for the sage ground hog to wake
up from his torpid state, come out of his
hole, and take survey ofthe weather. If
he saw his shadow, then he forthwith re-
turns to his bed and prepares to take six
weeks nap, indicating the winter will con-
tinue that long; if not, then the winter
was broken, and he rcfrainod from going
to sleep. On Saturday we believe he did
not see his shadow-and therefore, if the
ground hog is weather prophet wiser
than his biped brethren, we have seen the
worst part Of this winter So nlete it be.
Ha%We regret to learn that Joseph
Cunningham, eldest son of James A. Gun
ningham, late of this place, deceased, died
at Huntingdon on Monday last. Report
says that he got a bone in his throat, which
was extracted, but that Inflammation sal i.
causing his death. He was quite young,
probably not over Is years of age.
EXnIBITIoN-The pupils of the Lew
istown Academy gave an exhibition in the
Town Hall on Friday evening, but their
liberal invitations caused such n jam of
persons as has probably not been seen (we
might say felD there since its erection
Numbers, after being squeezed, jostled,
pushed, elbowed, &c, for half an hour, re-
turned to their homes, having been unable
to get within sight Of the door. On Sat
urday evening better arrangement was
made by excluding tickets and demanding
an admittance fee, which resulted in an
audience filling the house but not incom
moding any The speeches and dialogues,
which comprised number of original
pieces many of them Of a patriotic char
acter, were generally we'll delivered and
warmly applauded. 1t would perpaps lie
invidious to mention any of the pupils by
name, for, with hardly an exception, they
rccited well, though some spoke with
very low voice, rendering it impossible to
understand them at any distance ir0m the
stage The musical part came off with
much eclat, Miss Van Duser and Miss
Stray's piano performances and vocal mu-
sic, assisted by various pupils, having elicit
el commendations from all present. The
success of the exhibition was complete,
and we suppose may be justly attributable
to the energy of Mr.. NJ, j. Smith, Prin-
cipal of the Academy, aRd his accomplish
ed assistants, Misses Van DGser and Stray !
WATER CoMPANY-AessFs. VIM. Rus
SELL John W Shay, d. Candor, III, Zerbe,
J. A. Sterett and Ffa2GiS Mcclure were |
elected Directors of the LeWiStown Water |
Company on Monday last, and with S. |
Comfort, appointed by the Town Council,
constitute the Board !
Iext Books-a Request to Directors. !
The Convention of directors which met !
Aug 81, 1860, at Lewistown adopted series !
Of school text books for Mlfilin coun-
ty. The action of that convention vas quite |
imperfect, and has not proved wholly salts
factory, or efficient in producing the desired
result-a uniform series for the entire county.
Some districts were not represented; the COM
parative merits of the different series of books
were quite imperfectly known and, to rem
der the matter doubly perplexing. two series
Of Readers were adopted.
Considerable improvement bas been made
IN several Districts, but there is great need
Of some more decisive action. See the Ba
bel OF Arithmetics, there are now in use
Greenleafs, Davies, Parkes', Pixies, Smiley's,
Emerson's, Roses, Bennets, and one so old
that the authors name is lost. The list
Of Grammars is also quite ample Green,
Brown, Bullion, Smith, Pinneo, Clark Cow
ELL There is refreshing variety of Readers
Sanders, Csgood, Parker and Watson, and
McGuffey. In Geography there is. perhaps,
less confusion, Monteith, McNally, Smith,
Mitchell and Pelton.
To remedy this state of things, the follow
ing plan is proposed to directors. Let each
board appoint one of its number committee
to confer with the committees Of the other
boards; let these representatives of the differ
eut school boards meet, aad, after due delib
eraton adopt, complete series of books, with
this understanding: No district that has in
use recently adopted series. need make any
change until a change is deemed expedientj