The American Missionary | Page 4

the people as well as to pupils and fellow teachers, who sincerely mourn her departure.
* * * * *
A friend who reads the magazine and studies it minutely, sends us a postal containing these encouraging words:
"A stimulating fact appeared in the MISSIONARY for April just received. The summary of receipts October 1st, to February 28th, shows nearly $14,000 received for tuition in that time--more than one-sixth of the donations."
Our friends who are denying themselves, oftentimes, to aid in sustaining our work, will be cheered to know that the funds they contribute are not thrown into a slough and lost, but are touching mind and heart and industry, and thus stimulating the people whom we benefit to help themselves.
* * * * *
In making up the catalogue of Fisk University for this year, the following facts are culled out:
Total number of students, 505, which is a gain of thirty over last year, and last year the attendance was the largest the University had ever had. Number of students in the Department of Music, 110; a gain of twenty over last year. Special students in Theology, 9; a gain of six over the previous year. There has been a gain of eight in the College Department, two in the Normal, and four in the College Preparatory.
* * * * *
Mr. Coffin graduated from Fisk University in 1885, and has held important positions as a teacher ever since graduating. He has also bought about $250 worth of books on one of the special courses of study established by the Illinois Wesleyan University, and so successfully complied with the requirements of the course that the result mentioned in the letter below has been reached.
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Bloomington, Ill.
_Dear Sir._--Mr. A.O. Coffin has just been here for his final examination for his Ph.D., and desires me to report to you his performance.
This last work closes a series of about six examinations upon some thirty papers, requiring from three to five hours' writing on each. The examination held here was oral, before a committee of three of our faculty, and lasted nearly three hours. Mr. Coffin was probed on all sides with everything that had a bearing on his course (Biology), both as to technical and general matters, and slipped but twice in the whole ordeal. Our professors report to me that his previous written work was of the same high character. Of the forty or fifty men who have taken this degree here, within the past fifteen years (all on examination), Mr. Coffin easily stands among the half dozen who have most distinguished themselves. We were much pleased with the gentlemanliness and strength of character he displayed, and no doubt have Fisk University to thank in large measure therefor. Very Truly Yours,
CHARLES M. MOSS.
* * * * *
SCHOOL ECHOES.
Spelling by different authorities: Edgeucation, fraze, teadgeous, roughf, icecikles, natcheural, quallyfide, muskeline, femeline and nutur gender.
Definitions: "A word is a sound that consists from the loungs." "A participle is a form of a verb partaking of the nature of an adjective or a noun and expressing action or human being as flying and sleep."
A sentence reported in class of small boys: "By the time your brother get home, you'll be done et." (Translation, You'll be through eating.)
An example of a sentence containing an infinitive used as subject: "To be in the way is bad habits."
At a meeting held at Hampton last "Indian Emancipation Day," one of the Indian boys in his speech said:
"Whenever we do anything white man don't like, he call us 'Injun,' whenever we do anything Injun don't like, he call us 'white man.'" He also expressed his conviction that "Injun boy great deal smarter than white boy, 'cause folks expect that Injun will learn as much in three years as white boy does in nine or ten years."
An Indian boy writes from the country, "I have been confusion at the United States language."
* * * * *
BOOK NOTICE.
_The Great Value and Success of Foreign Missions._ Proved by distinguished witnesses. By Rev. John Liggins, with an introduction by Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D. Published by The Baker and Taylor Co., 740 and 742 Broadway, New York.
This book contains not only leading facts and statistics regarding missionary work which are very valuable to all who are studying this subject, but also the testimony of diplomatic ministers, consuls, naval officers, scientific and other travelers who have witnessed the results of missionary labor in heathen and Mohammedan countries. This testimony from hundreds of representative men and women, among which we find the names of Lew Wallace, James Russell Lowell, R.H. Dana, Charles Darwin, James B. Angell, with English viceroys, governors and military officers, as well as prominent American and English ministers of the gospel, cannot but commend the book to all Christian people, and make it interesting at