During the past two years I have interviewed personally about fifty of these young men, most of whom were students of this college last year and the year before. Twenty-five of the worst cases are tabulated above. With very few exceptions these twenty-five have quit college. The records will show that these boys remain with us but a few terms as a rule. There is, of course, occasionally a notable exception. The data were secured by means of their own frank statements.

Only comparatively few of these youthful smokers are ever able to quit after the habit has been thoroughly acquired, but they are usually able to change from cigarettes to a pipe, which is somewhat less hurtful. The tendency just now at this college is to resort to the pipe and to discontinue the use of cigarettes. Some of our eighteen-year-old youths are now carrying pipes that are strong enough to make their grandfathers dizzy. There are many reasons why the smoking habit is very difficult for boys and youths to overcome. (1) The first and most direct effect of the practice is that of soothing the body and exhilarating the mind. For the time being the youthful smoker feels better and his mental problems tend to clear up. The whole world of affairs that relate to him assumes a much more pleasing and more satisfactory aspect. (2) Those who would have him discontinue the practice urge that such discontinuance will make him in all respects a better and worthier person, but he feels best and worthiest while he is smoking, and meanest and least worthy after he has quit for a day or two. (3) One of the most pleasant experiences of life is that of a feeling of fondness for the company of others. This feeling is at its height during or just after the indulgence of the smoking habit. The youth, then, likes everybody, and shows happy dispositions toward those with whom he is associated. But after a few hours' abstinence from the habit the converse is true. The victim is "blue" and "glum" and "groggy," to use his own expressions.

A certain efficient superintendent of a boys' industrial school (for incorrigibles) has much evidence to prove that an excellent method of removing the desire for cigarettes, is to build up, by means of proper nourishment, the depleted state of health

that always accompanies the habit. He gives these two typical

cases:

1. Oscar, a nervous wreck when received. Would take tobacco quids out of cuspidor and chew them. In two years we built him up physically and sent him home.

2. Roy came to see us, weighing 100 pounds, and health shattered from cigarette smoking. In one year of abstinence he became a strong, healthy lad, apparently cured, and weighing 142 pounds.

Several have reported effective cures brought about by means of getting the boy deeply interested in performing some helpful service for some respected person. It is a well-known fact that the typical cigarette boy has what is called short wind, and that he therefore cannot endure violent exercise. Five different school principals have reported that they have taken advantage of this fact and have induced the boys to break off the habit in the interest of excelling in athletics.

For reasons given above, and others that could be given, I have come to the conclusion, after many years' study of the matter, that an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. And so it is urged here that parents do all they can to safeguard their boys against beginning this insidious habit, especially while the latter are between the ages of seven and sixteen. Gain their confidence and talk over their private experiences with them. Do not absolutely forbid them to smoke, and threaten them with punishment if they do, but rather appeal to their manhood and make them believe that such a practice is unworthy of them. Many have found it very practicable to offer the boy a reward of so much money, or of some other prized object, provided he will not smoke or drink intoxicants before he is of age or until he has finished his education. It is well to promise him that he may then have full consent to do as he pleases about such matters. It is very probable, of course, that he will not take up these practices after that age has been reached. It must be remembered that it requires but a small incentive and little effort on the boy's part to keep from beginning these habits. He needs merely to desire not to begin. But once these habits are fully acquired, the combined efforts

of himself and his parents and teachers may prove ineffective in breaking up the practice.

During the college year 1905-06 I secured, through disinterested persons, two lists of names of students, (1) fifty young men who were habitual cigarette or pipe smokers, and (2) fifty young men of the same class rank who were non-smokers. Those who selected the names knew nothing about the use to be made of them. I then obtained from the college records of the preceding term, the final grades and other data given below.

TABLE II.-FINAL GRADE AVERAGE, NUMBER STUDIES DROPPED AND NUMBER FAILURES OF 100 YOUNG MEN-50 SMOKERS AND 50 NON-SMOKERS.

It will be seen from the table that the smokers made an average of 17.53 per cent lower than the non-smokers, and the former dropped 84 per cent of the subjects discontinued during the term by both classes, and that they made 74 per cent of all the failures. Nine smokers and twenty-five non-smokers have clear records. I feel confident that an investigation would result in showing that these boys who became heavy smokers so young will eventually be forced into the inferior and subordinate positions for their life work.

A Song of the Pine

G. P. GUERRIER

Countries are distinguished by their trees.-Georgies II.

O! a pledge to the pine

In its own native wine,

Of hill-top, of plain, or of hollow;

Be it bleak, be it bland, where the pine is at hand,

There is ever a solace to follow;

For it bears in its chalice brave Nature's pure zest,

While it sings of the Queen sitting throned in the West.

O! the sweet-smelling pine

Hath no peer in its line;

No growth in the world is its fellow;

Be it bleak, be it bland, 'tis the stay of the land,—

It is green when its neighbor is yellow;

For it bears in its chalice brave Nature's prime zest,

While it sings of the Queen sitting throned in the West.

O! a spray of the pine,

Be a bond and a sign

To hearts holding on through all weather;

Be it bleak, be it bland, with the one trust at hand,

Stout hearts holding on close together;

For the pine breathes a burden aye true to the test,

While it sings of the Queen sitting throned in the West.

CAROLINE SHELDON, DEAN OF WOMEN, IOWA COLLEGE, GRINNELL, IOWA

S

OME time ago in the pages of EDUCATION We discussed briefly "The Pedagogy of the New Testament," confining the discussion to the pedagogical value of the Gospels, and especially to the pedagogical principles of importance illustrated by the methods of the Great Teacher. The present purpose is to consider with equal brevity, if possible, the principles of psychology laid down by St. Paul in his speeches and letters, and illustrated in his

own acts.

Paul had been trained by Gamaliel, greatest of the Rabbis of his time, and worthy to rank among the great teachers of all time. The Apostle's methods of argument show, therefore, strong traces of the methods of the Jewish schools of his day; on the other hand, his thought and deed show a clear understanding of the nature of the human mind, characteristic of all who have ever been in any sense leaders of men. Technical terms and minor details may vary from age to age; but certain fundamental principles endure through all mutations of time and custom.

One of the principles which Paul understood thoroughly was "the expulsive power of a new emotion." This is clearly illustrated in the account given us in the twenty-third chapter of Acts, of his tactics in dealing with the Jews who accused him before the Roman governor. They were unanimous in clamoring for his death; Paul observed that some among them were Sadducees and some were Pharisees; so he quietly remarked: "Brethren, as touching the resurrection of the dead am I called in question."

And lo, the Pharisees immediately began to defend him.

It is interesting to notice, also, when he is brought to trial before various courts, both civil and ecclesiastical, how he adapts his speech to the character and position of his judge, without ever compromising his own dignity; for Paul is never