AMUSING BUT NOT TYPICAL.

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On the same paper there was a question, "Give reasons for avoiding extreme neatness and extreme slovenliness in dress." After a few very sensible remarks she wound up by saying, "It is a great sin to waste much time or money upon dress. Our first parents were naked and were not ashamed." She was doubtless quite unconscious of the logical consequence of her answer.

Another girl in giving a recipe for the making of Scottish broth got on beautifully up to a certain point in respect of quantity, quality, and time required by the several ingredients. She then finished by writing, "A few leeches may now be added if onions can't be had," evidently suspecting a vulgarity of savour about leeks which change of spelling might remove.

In dealing with answers to examination papers the examiner is much more apt to note absurdities for their piquancy, than to record the unobtrusive merit of sound attainment. A good full-blooded blunder has a distinct conversational value in being usually short and quotable, and always amusing. The produce of a healthy brain and hard work has none of these qualities, and is passed over unrecorded. While I have mentioned the foregoing, and still have others worth recording, it would be grossly unfair to represent them

as typical of the education given in Training Colleges, or as a measure of the mental calibre of the students generally. The university lists afford clear proofs of their industry and ability, and the professors in the Arts Faculty give hearty testimony as to their being a valuable element in the various classes, by their steady and successful application, and by the distinctions they have gained.

The following amusing blunders in French are selections from papers written by Training College students and pupils in higher class schools:

"Je reçus à son adresse un coup d'épée dans la poitrine."

One writes, "I received in his house a letter in poetry."

Another, "I received his address on the back of his photograph."

"Montrez moi le chemin qui conduit à la ville." "Show me the chemise that was made in the city."

"C'est lui qui mangeait mes confitures." "It was he who managed my comforts."

"J'ai beau me défendre."

"I have a gentleman to protect me."

"C'est égal. Des qu'ils furent loin, je sortis de ma cachette."

"All the same, as furious as a lion I sorted my hatchet."

"A nos chagrins réels c'est une utile trêve." "To our giddy reels this is a useful respite."

"Oublier les glaces de son âge."

(1) "Obliged to wear glasses by age." (2) "Skating on the ice of his time."

When the fleet of Cortes arrived at Mexico a crowd came to see it "attiré par les spectacles," which was translated "dressed in their spectacles."

Four different versions were given of "I shall blow my nose." (1) "Je wiperai mon nez." (2) "Je blouerai mon nez." (3) "Je venterai mon nez." (4) "Je sifflerai mon nez."

To the question, "What is the difference in meaning between seul before, and after, a substantive?" the answer was, "Seul before, alone; after, drunk." Obviously a mistake for soûl.

One boy says, "Racine was "Racine was the greatest tragedy-writer of the nineteenth century." Parchemin is derived from "par bye, and chemin = road, a side-road."

N

=

The following are German mistakes:— Comparison of voll: "positive, voll; comparative, über; no superlative. Example, das Glas ist voll; das Glas ist über."

"Im Glanze der Abendsonne," "In the shadow of the moon."

In describing a religious man the sentence "denn er fürchtete den Hernn," was translated "for he frightened the gentleman."

Another translated "Sein Weib und seine Kinder sind in Armuth gerathen," by "His wife and his children are residing in Yarmouth."

Goethe is described as "A great German. He died last century, and wrote 'Faust up to date,' and some other little things."

DIVINITY STUDENT TEACHERS.

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CHAPTER XVII.

BEFORE 1872 MANY PARISH SCHOOLMASTERS IN THE NORTH WERE DIVINITY STUDENTS—AN OCCASIONAL HITCH - ONE TROUBLESOME PRAYED FOR FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAYRELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION HOMELY ESTIMATE OF MARY AND MARTHA-MINISTER AND TEACHER GENERALLY GOOD FRIENDS-ONE EXCEPTION-RELATION OF SCHOOL BOARD TO TEACHER OF MORE BUSINESS BUT LESS SYMPATHETIC TYPE THAN BEFORE-APPARENTLY LESS INTEREST ON THE PART OF PARENTS-AN AMATEUR SUTHERLAND EXAMINER.

BEFORE the passing of the Act of 1872 it was very common, especially in Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray, and even farther north, to find in charge of parish schools certificated teachers who were divinity students. These, in order to attend the short divinity session, appointed substitutes to take charge of their schools in their absence. Up to this time the minister of the parish was almost invariably the correspondent for the school. When the inspection fell within the currency of the session, the correspondent on receiving intimation of my visit wrote at once to the