The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-08-25

ct OF nrel III tne Wise reader regrets
30 much space being occupied by such
story, let him pass it on to the children,
foolish as myself, who will be glad to
read it.-Peeps at the Far East.
From the Philadelphia Ledger
The SchO0lmaster Abroad.
Prussia and Switzerland stand pre-.
eminent among the nations of the old
world for the means they provide to
insure the education Of all their people.
Schools of every grade, from the most
elementary to those of the highest
grades, are open to all, and Of sufficient
capacity to accommodate dU, and the
laws make it compulsory upon parents
and other guardians to send their chill
dren of both sexes to the elementary
schools at least for term of years. And
in Prussia and several of the other Ger
manic States all who are in good bodily
and mental health are sent to school for
the legal term. Many, however, at
tend school for longer periods than
those prescribed by the laws, according
to the condition in life of their families.
To go to the "Lyceum or "Gymna- (
sum-" which is equivalent to our "Col.
lege," it costs the student but two dol
lars and half for his tuition for three
months, or ten dollars year.
The majority of the people, however,
have to work for their living, and thus
many thousands cannot afford the time
and the expense, which is the reason
why these higher schools are not uni
versaly attended. Education in Ger
many begins as soon as the child is able
to learn his alphabet, and continues un-
til he is eighteen or nineteen. Hispub
lie education commences when he is
seven years old. He is then placed at
the primary school, where he is kept
until he has made sufficient progress to
be received into the lyceum or gymna-
sium. AT this time he is well grounded
in the grammar of his own language,
spelling, writing, arithmetic and geog-
raphy. This preliminary foundation
being well laid, those who can be spar.
ed from work enter on the higher
course. This is thorough one, and as
eight or nine years are devoted to it-Or
ought to be-the youth who has passed
through it with credit ought to be an
accomplished man. The Latin, Greek,
French and English languages are
taught, along with mathematics, histo-
, ry, the elements of the sciences, philos.
, ophy (mental, moral and politicaD,
: drawing and music. Singing is one of
, the favorite studies, and the art of part
singing is sedulously encouraged. This
has always been popular in Germany,
and, being scientifically taught, it has
, doubtless contributed very powerfully
; to the development of the national gen.
/ ius for music, which has given to the
: Germans the highest rank in the mu-
) sical world. Indeed, no nation ap-
proaches them as regards composers,
Q although some Italians have surpassed
them in vocalization, and the French
t equal them as instrumental executants.
s This part-singing, or choral perform
f ance, might be cultivated here with adj
0 vantage; there is no accomplishment
e not even instrumental playing-which
: affords so delightful, and at the same
g time so innocent, model of passing
d, the evening sociably as this does; but
0 with us it forms no necessary branch OF
: education, as it did with the Hebrews
g and the ancient Greeks, and as it now
}, does with the Germans. How many
y an evening would be passed in the do
= mestic or social circle, (were this accom-
J. plishment universaD which is now
spent in "politics," the bar-room, bill
8, liard,room, or at the card-table or il
e more exceptionable places But to re
ir turn to the lyceum. The youth VIII,
G. has devoted his eight or nine years t,
Ie its course of study, leaves it well pre-
v! pared for the technicalities and discl
ID pline necessary to enable him to mas
J. ter high occupations and professions
ie He can go either directly to the factC
s. ry, the workshop, the bank, or tn
in counting house, the Office of the eng
- neer, or the studio of the architect, {
the Universe to fit himself for the SC
entific or learned professions. An
with this liberal basis of acquiremen
Id it is not surprising that the German
1g are taking such rapid strides in trad
a commerce, art, science, learning, an
ds power.
ed If he prefers going to a Universit.
TX. the expense of so doing is not such as
ce, deter him. He can live well, and ha'
he full enjoyment of all the privileges
of the University for about five hundr
MS. dollars year. At Heidelberg hisroo
for costs him from dollar to dollar a
vas a half. His dinner at the usual 81
nd dents clearinghouse costs twenty fl
ipe cents, and he can dine at the best hot
Tor- for eight dollars month. His oil
eg- two meals together will not amount
ov- more than the price of his dinner. G
ed, man students generally pass four or
,et, years at University they have n,
rk. of that feverish impatience, so comm
ng, with Americans, TO "finish" Il
mt, school education, as it is termed. l
in versity honors are accessible to all, W
p OF after payment of the hOnOrariun
was Heidelberg-it is a hundred dolla
he'd can pass the required examination.
on, fee on matriculation there is eight
not lars, for each course of lectures of
his months, from five to eight dollars,
,ing for instruction in the laboratory,
ting teen. But there is one defect in
ID, a German University system whic
tisf- daily coming into greater prominC
with and, and will, perhaps, occasion 4
at trouble, viz: the compulsory att
I, he ance of the students on the theolo
liant lectures. There seems to an Anne
us to mind not only to be no sufficient r,
taste for this, but many objections I
!, by There is so much latitude of op
med among German divines, that sea
tain any two professors teach the same
with trines and IL Is well known thS