The student of history has much food for thought in the present condition of affairs in China, and even the prophetic eye must glimmer before the rapid succession of events. Russia's proposition to withdraw the troops from Pekin is in full consonance with her recent peace proposal, but others of the Powers seem to look askance at any proposition emanating from Russia. So much may be regarded as settled, that in diplomacy in its fullest significance Russia yields to no other nation. It is evident that Russia regards Manchuria as practically belonging to her even now, and this assumption on her part naturally causes other European nations to hesitate to consent to a withdrawal of troops from the Imperial City. If the partition of China is prevented and a great international war is averted in the present critical condition of affairs it will conclusively prove that civilization is making progress. The future historian will, no doubt, have occa

sion to remark upon the far-sighted statesmanship of Russia in constructing the great Siberian railway, and in getting possession of sea-ports at strategetic points in the Orient and elsewhere, as the preliminary movements in a gigantic scheme of expansion. Even now it is just possible that Russia is laughing in her sleeve at the bewildered looks of her neighbors as she outwits them in schemes for aggrandizement.

*

The separation of Norway and Sweden, it would seem, is but a question of time. The personal popularity of King Oscar is now about the only bond of union remaining. Each country has a separate constitution and a separate legislature, and the recent elections in Norway indicate that the schism which began in 1885 will be rapidly widened. At that time Sweden made a pronounced gain of power in that she compassed the appointment of Swedes to most of the consular and diplomatic posts. So bitterly did Norway resent this that in 1892 the Storthing passed a resolution for a separate consular Service for Norway. This resolution was vetoed by King Oscar.

In the past three years Norway has spent vast sums on military equipment, and similar warlike preparations are being made by Sweden. The crisis may not come so long as Oscar is on the throne, but his son Crown Prince Gustavus

Professor F. Foureau recently returned to Paris from a trip across the desert of Sahara from Algeria to Lake Chad-a distance of about 1600 miles. The time consumed was almost two years, and 1200 camels were required for the expedition. Ostensibly the trip was made in the interests of Science but the opinion obtains that France. is considering the feasibility of constructing a railway across desert with a view of developing the fertile district about Lake Chad.

*

the

The Italian Prince, the Duke d'Abruzzi, announces that in his recent polar expedition he reached latitude 86° 33' north, while Nansen's record is 86° 14'. This young explorer who is a cousin of the present king of Italy, Victor Emanuel III, has surpassed the record of .Nansen by about nineteen miles, and has demonstrated that sunny Italy can upon occasions vie with rugged Norway in deeds of daring. Dr. Nansen has expressed himself as being greatly pleased at the success of the expedition, especially as it resulted in ascertaining that only sea exists beyond Franz Josef's Land-a matter that has long been under discussion.

COUNTY EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.

[Each month examination questions from some county in the state will be published for the benefit of teachers who desire to know something of the character of the questions asked in the different counties or who desire to make use of such questions in their own study or teaching.]

Franklin County.-Examiners, L. I. Pegg, Columbus; C. L. Dickey, Clintonville; J. A. Wilcox, Colum

bus.

HISTORY. — CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

I. Describe the career of General Gates in the Revolutionary War.

2. Describe the military career of Benedict Arnold.

3. Name two famous Englishmen opposed to the Stamp Act.

4. What were some of the perwhich plexing questions with Washington had to deal at the beginning of his career as president?

5. What decided the location of the National capital?

6. Name some of the results of Whitney's great invention.

7. Describe in detail the election of a U. S. Senator.

8. How do you reconcile Jefferson's interpretation of the constitution with the purchase of Louisiana?

9. Describe the judicial system of the U. S.

IO. Who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives? President of the Senate?

I. What are isothermal lines, glaciers, and artesian wells?

2. How is dew formed?

3. Describe the principal mountain ranges of the United States, and tell what effect they have upon the surrounding country and people.

4. Give a brief description of: (1) The Philippine Islands; (2) Of the Transvaal; (3) Of China.

5. Draw a map of China showing its boundaries, principal cities, rivers, and upon what waters it touches.

6. Name five of the foremost nations of the world and give some of the national characteristics of each.

GRAMMAR.

I. (a) What is a word? (b) a thought? (c) a sentence?

2. (a) What is etymology? (b) syntax?

3. What does the passive voice indicate and how is it formed?

4. Parse the infinitives in the following sentences: (1) God is able to make all grace abound toward you. (2) It is better to go to the

house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.

5. Diagram the following and parse italicized words:

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly.

But in these cases

We still have judgment here; that we but teach

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return

To plague the inventor.

READING.

I. Give four good reasons why we should learn to read. 2. By what should one be guided in choosing literature for children?

3. Should one always read to children only such literature as they fully understand? Why?

4. In what order should form and sound be taught?

5. Explain: (1) The sentence method; (2) The word method.

ARITHMETIC.

I. When a train is moving at the rate of 24 miles an hour, how long will it take to pass 24 telegraph poles, the distance between the poles being 66 yards?

2. The salaries of three men are to each other as,, and, and together they receive $3,900. Find the salary of each.

3. At what rate must 6 per cent bonds be bought to yield 5 per cent on the investment?

4. How may the indorser of a note free himself from responsibility for its payment?

What is a Stock Exchange? Explain the terms "bears" and "bulls."

6. If of the selling price of an article is gain, what is the per cent of gain?

7. A pipe 2 in. in diameter will empty a cistern in three hours. What must be the diameter of the pipe that will empty it in 14 hours?

8. Sold cattle at 8 per cent advance; invested $240 more than the proceeds in hogs which I sold at 16 per cent loss. Sustaining $50 total loss; get cost of cattle.

PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE.

1. Name some of the elements composing the body.

2. What are some of the more important proteids found in the human body?

3. Name some important characteristics of the living body. 4. What is protoplasm?

5. Name the supporting tissues of the body.

6. Define: lacteal, corpuscle, lymph, dialysis, plasma.

7. Name the bones of the cranium.

8. What are the properties of muscular tissue?

9. Describe the alimentary canal, its subdivisions and appendages.

10. What are narcotics? Name the most important. Is alcohol ever a food? Do you believe in the scientific temperance laws? Why? What does Prof. Atwater claim to have proven?,

ORTHOGRAPHY.

1. Use in sentences to show meaning five words containing "fect" or "fact."

2. Is "e" before terminal "1" usually sounded or silent? Give five words as illustrations.

3. In what words is "t" generally silent? Give five examples.

4. Indicate pronunciation: orchestra, pylorus, quotient, quarantine, pique.

5. Spell: anilizing, difficult, dyagrammes, hipotenoose, memmorize, imagd, Hawaian, assasinashun, ceseded, bankrupsy.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, $1.50. In clubs of four or more, $1.25 each. Single Number, except August, 15 cents. August Number, 25 cents. All club subscriptions not paid within three months, $1.50.

MONEY should be sent by express, draft, money order or registered letter. Make all remittances payable to O. T. CORSON.

THE MONTHLY is mailed the first week of each month. Any subscriber failing to receive a copy by the tenth should give notice promptiy, and another will be sent. Any person wishing his address changed must send notice not later than the twenty-fifth of the month, and must give both the old and the new address. Notice will be given to each subscriber of the time his subscription expires.

Boston, Mass. ..Syracuse, N. Y. Minneapolis, Minn. New York, N. Y.

School and Home Education.. Bloomington, Ill. School News and Practical Educator..

TEACHERS of all grades, city, village, country, primary, or high school, ought to be interested in the whole work of education including the college. No one who has ever given any thought to education in its broader sense can fail to appreciate the value of the Small College in Ohio. We trust every one will read President Thompson's excellent address which he delivered at Charleston and which we publish in full in this issue. While Dr. Thompson is at the head of our great State Univer

sity, he is not unmindful of the fact