Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1883 — A Japanese School-House. [ARTICLE]

A Japanese School-House.

Beside the clear, crystal waters of a running stream, and surrounded With lilies, we noticed on our way up Tu'jiYama, the Japanese sand mountain, what we thought to be a school-house, and our curiosity prompted us to ask admittance. There were some fifteen children in the room, which was furnished with long, plain tables. There appeared to be no check upon the children, who were moving about and conversing with each other. The master was teaching the smaller ones the char* acters of the written language by writing them on a black-board and requiring them to repeat the sounds indicated by them. Some were engaged in writing upon th'eir slates, others in arithmetical calculations and others in reading or committing to memory from text-books. There seemed to be an entire freedom from restraint, and we were surprised at the happy and contented manner in whioh they pursued their studies. Bright and intelligent little fellows they looked; and, from what we have seen of the youth of Japan, we are convinced there is much to be expected from them.— Cor. San Francisco Chronicle. In the German Empire there are 7,719,382 women who have been married. Of these 1,909,382 are widows.