usage has the best influence on them; and one boy was pointed out as quite docile and manageable, whose parents had given him up as incorrigible before he entered the school.  As it was, there was something almost pathetic in his good behavior, as being possible to him, but utterly alien to his instincts.  The boys of these schools seldom play truant, and they are never severely beaten in school; when quite intractable, notice is given to their parents, and they usually return in a more docile state.  It sometimes happens that the boys are taken away by their parents, from one motive or another; but they find their way back again, and are received as if nothing had happened.

The teacher in the first room here is a handsome young Calabrian, with the gentlest face and manner,—­one of the most efficient teachers under Mr. Buscarlet.  The boys had out their Bibles when we entered, and one after another read passages to us.  There were children of seven, eight, and nine years, who had been in the school only three months, and who read any part of their Bibles with facility and correctness; of course, before coming to school they had not known one letter from another.  The most accomplished scholar was a youngster, named Saggiomo, who had received eighteen months’ schooling.  He was consequently very quick indeed, and wanted to answer all the hard questions put to the other boys.  In fact, all of them were ready enough, and there was a great deal of writhing and snapping of fingers among those who longed to answer some hesitator’s question—­just as you see in schools at home.  They were examined in geography, and then in Bible history—­particularly Joseph’s story.  They responded in chorus to all demands on this part of study, and could hardly be quieted sufficiently to give Saggiomo’s little brother, aged five, a chance to tell why Joseph’s brethren sold him.  As soon as he could be heard he piped out:  “Perche Giuseppe aveva dei sogni!” (Because Joseph had dreams.) It was not exactly the right answer, but nobody laughed at the little fellow, though they all roared out in correction when permitted.

In the next room, boys somewhat older were examined in Italian history, and responded correctly and promptly.  They were given a sum which they performed in a miraculously short time; and their copy-books, when shown, were equally creditable to them.  Their teacher was a Bolognese,—­a naturalized Swiss,—­who had been a soldier, and who maintained strict discipline among his irregulars, without, however, any perceptible terrorism.

The amount of work these teachers accomplish in a day is incredible:  the boys’ school opens at eight in the morning and closes at four, with intermission of an hour at noon.  Then in the evening the same men teach a school for adults, and on Sunday have their classes in the Sunday-schools.  And this the whole year round.  Their pay is not great, being about twenty dollars a month, and they are evidently not