Kansas State Elocutionary Association.

The first annual meeting of this association was held at the State Normal School building, April 27 and 28. A very interesting program was presented well spiced with music by State Normal School musicians. Among the papers and addresses given were the address of welcome by Hon. John Madden and response by Hon. Frank Nelson, of Topeka; "First Steps in Public Speaking," by Dr. George W. Hoss, of the Southwestern School of Oratory, Wichita, and Rev. Frederic J. Sauber, of Emporia; "The Psychology of Expression," by Pres. A. R. Taylor, State Normal School; "How to Improve the Study of Reading in the Public Schools," by Alfred E. Leach, Baker University, Prin. W. H. Wasson, of the Rossville schools, and Supt. L. A. Lowther, of the Emporia public schools; "The Interpretation of Biblical Literature," by Rev. Frank Ward, of the First Congregational church, Emporia; "Methods of Voice Training," by Prof. Norma D. Crawford, of Bethany College, Lindsborg, and Prof. Harry T. Parsons, Washburn College; "How can Interest in Elocutionary Work be Fostered in Our Colleges and Universities?" by Prof. F. A. Metcalf, of the State Agricultural College, and Prof. R. E. Pattison Kline, of the Ottawa University.

A recital was given on Friday evening which was attended by a large and enthusiastic audience. The following recitations were given: "How We Elected Our Parson," by Prof. F. A. Metcalf; "Annie Laurie," by Winnifrede W. Metcalf, of the State Agricultural College; "The Long Chase,' by Prof. Alfred Leach, of Baker University; "Helene Thamre," by Prof. Cora Marsland, of the State Normal School; and "Jamie, or the Prodigal Son," by Norma D. Crawford, of Bethany College, Lindsborg.

The day programs were interspersed with recitations and Shakespearian readings by Prof. R. E. Pattison Kline, of Ottawa University, Mrs. Allen Brown, of Emporia, and the oratory classes of the State Normal School.

The enrollment of membership reached 46. The officers were re-elecred for the ensuing year. They are as follows: Frank Nelson, president, Lindsborg; Cora Marsland, vice president, Emporia; Alfred E. Leach, secretary, Baldwin; Harry T. Parsons, treasurer, Topeka. There were many valuable suggestions offered by visiting and local teachers that we hope some one will put in form for publication. Superintendent Lowther, of the Emporia city schools, aroused much interest in his brief summary of the result of his investigation in the city schools. He expressed great pleasure at the evident improvement over old methods in every room visited. Doctor Hoss, the veteran member of the association, president of the State Normal School from 1871 to 1873, was heard with great pleasure at each session. Our Professor Marsland deserves great credit for the program presented and for the evident relish with which everybody from abroad and at home enjoyed the meetings. We shall always be ready to throw open our halls for other annual meetings of the association.

Normal Wins Washburn Game.

The K. S. N. base ball team played the Washburn team, May 5, and won by a score of 12 to 11. The game was close and tested the mettle of the players. The first three innings things looked serious for our boys, the score standing 9 to 2 in favor of Washburn, but Culp's pitching changed the complexion of the game entirely and Washburn failed to score for five successive innings. Each man in the K. S. N. line-up has been mentioned as having done good work. The team has deserved success and the school is proud of its record. The Washburn boys had previously defeated K. U., Ottawa, Missouri University and Baker teams.

Kansas Wins at Peru, Nebraska.

The debate between the Alpha Senate of the Kansas State Normal School and the State Normal School of Nebraska, held at Peru, Nebraska, Friday evening, May 11, resulted in a unanimous decision in favor of the Kansas boys. Our representatives, J. G. Masters, F. W. Balcomb, and A. W. Milliken, presented argument on the affirmative of the question, "Resolved, That the United States government should construct, own and control an isthmian waterway." They were gratified by the reception given them and cannot say enough in praise of the Nebraskians. Nebraska is invited to send her debaters to us next year and to come along with them. All hail to the Alpha boys!

Senior Items.

The following seniors make up the twenty ranking highest on all subjects in the course pursued: Misses Laura Love, Ruth Benson, Maud Hoffer, Lois Coffey, Grace Enfield, Lillie Collins, Carrie Matson, Nettie Foster, Maud Soult, Metta Johannes, Lilly Nash, Evelyn Hobson, and Mrs. Addie Frankenberger; Messrs. E. S. Weatherby, W. E. Lyon, I. J. Bradford, J. E. Crawford, D). R. Read, W. L. Enfield, and O. M. Chilcott. The following twelve ranked highest in the last year subjects: Misses Laura Love, Maud Hoffer, Lois Coffey, Ruth Benson, Carrie Matson, Evelyn Hobson, Nettie Foster, and Mrs. Addie Frankenberger; Messrs. E. S. Weatherby, W. E. Lyon, I. J. Bradford and J. E. Crawford.

The highest general average was 93.625, the lowest in the twenty, 92.397.

The highest average in the last year subjects was 95.6, the low. est in the twelve, 91.357.

At the preliminary, the following persons were chosen to present orations on commencement day: Misses Ruth Benson, Maud Hoffer, and Evelyn Hobson, and Messrs. W. E. Lyon, Ira J. Bradford, and E. S. Weatherby. The class selected Mr. Lyon for valedictorian and Miss Hoffer for salutatorian.

Several members of the class have already secured good positions for the coming year.

May is the picnic month. Three crowds of Normalites held their woodland revels on Saturday afternoon, May 5.

Professor Stevenson and his rhetorical class went to George Bend, Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Ellis chaperoning Professor Stevenson. Everybody had a delightful time swinging and boating and fishing and gathering armfuls of sweet williams. At six, the daintiest, but most profoundly satisfying of lunches, was spread beneath the trees, and the happy picnickers ate to the rustle of the leaves. They came home before sunset, each bringing a store of fresh spring joy and harboring the opinion that George Bend is the finest place in the county for a picnic. Miss Stackhouse and her model school pupils went to Soden's Grove for their frolic. They had a glorious time at "dare base" and other games, but the most impressive thing was the quantity of refreshments sent along by the careful mothers-at least three times as much as they could refresh themselves with. Seventeen of the senior girls went to Columbia Ford, gathered wild flowers, waded in the shallows, kodaked all the scenery, and indulged in games and stories to their hearts' content.

McClure's Magazine for June will contain an article by Mr. O. Chanute, who has been studying the problem of human flight for over forty years, giving an account of his own inventions and adventures in the matter of flying-machines. The article will be illustrated with pictures of actual flights, from photographs taken by the author.

The Government of Porto Rico.

The following summary of the provisions of the law for the government of Porto Rico, should be filed for civil government reference:

It applies to the island of Porto Rico and to the adjacent islands lying east of the seventy-fourth meridian, which are designated Porto Rico.

From the date of the passage of the act the same custom duties are levied on all goods entering Porto Rico from foreign countries as are levied on the same goods entering the United States save that coffee, which has free entry into the United States, is to pay a duty of five cents per pound on entering Porto Rico. Scientific, literary and statistical works, and books and pamphlets printed in the English language may enter Porto Rico free of duty. The tariff section of the bill relating to duties between the United States and Porto Rico is as follows:

That on and after the passage of this act, all merchandise coming into the United States from Porto Rico, and coming into Porto Rico from the United States, shall be entered at the several ports of entry upon payment of fifteen per cent. of the duties which are required to be levied, collected and paid upon like articles of merchandise imported from foreign countries, and in addition thereupon articles of merchandise of Porto Rican manufacture coming into the United States and withdrawn for consumption or sale on payment of a tax equal to the internal revenue tax imposed in the United States upon the like articles of merchandise of domestic manufacture. Such a tax to be paid by internal revenue stamp or stamps to be purchased and provided by the commissioner of internal revenue and to be procured from the collector of internal revenue at or most convenient to the port of entry of said merchandise in the United States, and to be affixed under such regulations as the commissioner of internal revenue, with the approval of the secretary of the treasury, shall prescribe; and, on all articles of merchandise of United States manufacture, coming into Porto Rico, in addition to the duty above provided upon payment of a tax equal in rate and amount to the internal revenue tax imposed in Porto Rico upon the like articles of Porto Rican manufacture: Provided, that on and after the date when this act shall take effect, all merchandise and articles except coffee, not dutiable under the tariff laws of the United States, all merchandise and articles entered into Porto Rico free of duty under orders heretofore made by the secretary of war, shall be admitted into the several ports thereof, when imported from the United States free of duty, all laws or parts of laws to the contrary notwithstanding; and whenever the legislative assembly of Porto Rico shall have enacted and put into operation a system of local taxation to meet the necessities of the government of Porto Rico by this act established, and shall, by resolution duly passed, so notify the president, he shall make proclamation thereof, and thereupon all tariff duties on merchandise and articles going into Porto Rico from the United States, or coming into the United States from Porto Rico, and from and after such date, all such merchandise and articles shall be entered at the several ports of entry free of duty, and in no event shall any duties be collected after the first day of March, 1903, on merchandise and articles going into Porto Rico from the United States, or coming into the United States from Porto Rico. All moneys collected under the above section shall be placed at the disposal of the president to be used for the government and benefit of Porto Rico until the government of Porto Rico shall have been organized, when the moneys collected shall be turned into the local treasury of Porto Rico. Goods imported from Porto Rico and under bond, shall pay only the duty imposed by this act.

The governmental provisions of the bill are:

The capital shall be at San Juan. Persons who were Spanish subjects April 11, 1899, and who have not since elected to preserve their allegiance to Spain, are held to be citizens of Porto Rico and entitled to the protection of the United States. The designation of the body politic is under the name "The People of Porto Rico."

The laws and ordinances of Porto Rico now in force shall continue in full force and effect except as altered by this act or by military orders, and which are not inconsistent with the laws of the United States. The old law forbidding the marriage of priests and ministers is repealed.

The vessels of Porto Rico are to be nationalized and admitted to the benefits of the United States coasting laws. Quarantine stations are to be established. Porto Rico coin to be recoined, the peso being rated at sixty cents in the exchange. Three months after the act takes effect, Porto Rico coins are not to be legal tender. Property usually under control of the United States, will so continue, and other properties acquired from Spain will be administered by the Porto Rican government. The governor is to be appointed by the president and hold his office for four years, having the powers conferred on governors of territories of the United States, but is to make his reports through the secretary of state to the president.

An executive council appointed by the president and affirmed by the senate, consisting of a secretary, attorney general, treasurer, auditor, commissioners of interior and education and five other persons, to hold office for four years.

The council is the upper branch of the legislature, five of whom shall be natives of Porto Rico. The other branch shall be a house of delegates, to consist of thirty-five members elected bienially by the qualified electors. Porto Rico is divided into seven districts each with five delegates. The qualifications for voters are, "at such elections all citizens of Porto Rico shall be allowed to vote who have been bona fide residents for the year and who possess the other qualifications of voters under the laws and military orders in force on March 1, 1900, subject to such modifications and additional qualifications and such regulations and restrictions as to registration as may be prescribed by the executive council.

"No person shall be eligible to membership in the house of delegates who is not twenty-five years of age and able to read and write either the Spanish or the English language, or who is not possessed, in his own right, of taxable property, real or personal, situated in Porto Rico."

Provision is made for enacting legislation similar to that in other territories. The judicial power is vested in courts already established, the chief justice and associate justices and marshal to be appointed by the president; judges of the district courts and other officers, by the governor of Porto Rico. There is also a United States district court established similar to other territories. The salaries of all officers appointed by the president are: Governor, $8,000; secretary, attorney general, auditor, commissioner of the interior, $4,000 each; treasurer, $5,000; commissioner of education, $3,000; chief justice supreme court and United States district judge, $5,600; associate justices, $4,500; two marshals each $3,000; district attorney, $4,000.

No export duties are to be collected, but taxes and licenses may be levied.

On the regular election day in November and every two years thereafter, Porto Rico may choose a commissioner to represent the island at Washington, salary $5,000.

A commission of three members, one a native of Porto Rico, is to be named to revise and codify the laws of Porto Rico. The act for a civil government is to go into effect May 1, 1900.

[This series of eight articles will cover the work in the manual training in the grades and is designed to accompany the state text book in drawing. It is, so far as we know, the only complete course in manual training published and our readers will undoubtedly wish to preserve the whole series. It will be published in book form later. The first article appeared in the February number. Mr. Abbott will be pleased to correspond with teachers or others interested in the subject.]

Fourth Grade. The course is arranged for two twenty-minute periods per week; one in clay modeling and one in cardboard work.

The scales of color to be taught are: Scale of the Spectrum Hues; Scale of Tones for each color, containing five tones, two tints, one normal tone and two shades, and scale of Hues having three hues or colors for each spectrum color. The cardboard may be obtained of

2 (6) Draw and make a two-inch square.

for a calendar back and be decorated.

It may be used

The seniors held their social in "56" on Saturday evening, April 28. Each senior represented, in mystic symbols, his own particular "horror." To those who could read the meaning of the symbols, the ghostly secret of his soul stood revealed. Many of the interpretations were so surprisingly ludicrous that they kept up a constant ripple of merriment. Next, each senior demonstrated the fact that he had earned his grade in drawing by placing on the blackboard an illustration of a Mother Goose rhyme. Miss Collins called upon each artist in turn to explain his work and gave him a grade. At the close of the "demonstration" she read off the grades, giving kindly criticism and wise suggestions to the many whose grades ranged from 0 to 50 and bestowing merited praise on the few whose grades ranged from 50 to 75. The rest of the evening was given up to story-telling.

"The Geological Story of Kansas," is the title of a little book by our Prof. L. C. Wooster, just issued by Crane & Co., Topeka, in the Twentieth Century Classics series. Few men know the story so well as Professor Wooster. He has learned it over and over again by a careful study of the contour and the formations in nearly every part of the state. In a clear, attractive way, he discusses the forces which have conspired to build up the earth's crust and to fashion the Kansas plains. The historical part of the book treats specifically of Kansas and will everywhere be recognized as comprehensive and reliable. This story should be in every school library as well as on the table of every student and lover of this great state. Many parts of i will be fascinating for the general reader as well as for the student of geology. Price 10 cents.

PRESIDENT TAYLOR addressed the pedagogical club at Des Moines, Iowa, on the evening of April 13 and morning of April 14. The club has some three hundred members and is, perhaps, the most thoroughly organized and most progressive club in the state. Every member has been making a careful review of "The Study of the Child," this writer. Nearly three hundred fifty copies of the book have been sold in the city and county. The President spent a day visiting the city schools and was much pleased with what he saw.