. school of to-day is as much in advance of that of years ago as is the sulky plow in advance of the old-fashioned bull plow; and as the farmer of today, with his improved machinery, can perform from two to ten times more work so with the materials, conveniences and methods of the common school. The old-fashioned school-house, with its puncheon seats and greased paper windows, where ruled ye pedagogue at a salary of twelve and a half dollars per month, did good service. Many now occupying honorable positions and managing successful business, can point to those rude cabins as the place where they received the first inspirations of knowledge and where was kindled a noble ambition to do something and be something. But while this is true, it is also true that by means of modern educational appliances the boy of to-day knows more than the man of twenty years ago, and for a person to claim that the old log school-house, with its incompetent master and miserable methods, was superior to the present educational system, is as unreasonable as it, would be for the peddler, who conveys his goods on his back, to claim that this was the most approved mode of transportation, while a railroad train goes rushing past and shakes the abominable fallacy from his fogy mouth. But in addition to the common school of to-day which is infiinitely better than that of twenty years ago, every city which has ambition to keep in the front ranks of progress has a high school where are afforded facilities for higher education, almost equaling the average college, and far surpassing the average academy. To show what these facilities are we give the following course of study in the Boone high school. It is possible that the fact that such a course of study is prescribed and pursued will be news to many a one whose money for years has gone to maintain it. The people of any inland town, who have in their midst such a school, may well feel proud of it, and instead of producing last year's tax receipt as an argument against the high school, should produce it on examination day, and exclaim with triumph: "I gave so much to support that institution." HIGH SCHOOL COURSE. FIRST YEAR. First Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis; Higher Arithmetic; Book-keeping; Penmanship and Drawing. Second Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis Reviewed; Composition, Swinton's; Higher Arithmetic; Book-keeping, double entry; Penmanship and Drawing. Third Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis Reviewed; Composition; Higher Arithmetic; United States History and Map Drawing; Penmanship and Drawing. SECOND YEAR. First Term Cathcart's Literary Reader; Grammar; Higher Arithmetic, finished; United States History and Map Drawing... Second Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Grammar; Algebra; Civil Government; Penmanship and Drawing. Third Term-English Analysis; Physiology; Algebra; Penmanship and Drawing. JUNIOR YEAR. First Term-Algebra; Natural Philosophy; Rhetoric; English History; Latin, optional. Second Term-Algebra; Chemistry; English History; Latin, optional. Third Term-Geometry; Botany; English History; Latin, optional. SENIOR YEAR. First Term-Conic Sections; Zoology; English Literature; Cæsar-1 book, optional. Second Term-Trigonometry; Descriptive Astronomy; English Literature; Virgil-2 books, optional. Third Term-Surveying; Geology; English Literature; Virgil—4 books, optional. Rhetorical exercises through the entire course, at least once in each month, by every pupil. Certificate of graduation will be awarded to those students who complete the above course of studies. CHURCHES. The M. E. Church of Boone was organized in 1866. Some of the first members of this organization and most active in establishing the Church were R. D. Coldren and wife, Albert Ingersoll and wife, George Russell and wife, Darius Hawley and wife, Thomas Main and wife. In 1869 a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $5,000, which was dedicated early in the year 1870 by Elder Jones. Rev. J. W. Snodgrass, Adam Kern, T. M. Williams, J. G. Eckles, H. H. O'Neal, C. W. Martin, B. F. W. Cozier, W. F. Chambers, A. T. Hull and J. C. Eckles have been pastors since the church was organized. The membership of the church at present numbers one hundred. The Sunday-school in connection with the church is in a very flourishing condition. J. C. Eckles is the superintendent. The average attendance is one hundred and thirty. The First Presbyterian Church was organized March 12, 1866. The original members were C. C. Lambert, Louisa Lambert, Mrs. Wheat, Henry Burns, Lydia Burns, David Lutz, Helen Lutz, Newton Whitehead and Mrs. Day. In 1868 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated March 1, 1868, by Rev. J. M. Phillips, assisted by Rev. Wm. Cambrel. This building becoming unsuitable for the accommodation of the congregation, a new building was erected in 1879. This is an elegant brick building with basement. The audience room is fitted up in a most elaborate manner. The basement, which is to be fitted up for lecture room and Sunday-school rooms, has not yet been completed. The cost of the building thus far has been $7,800. It was dedicated December 28, 1879, by Rev. E. R. Davis, assisted by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Donahey. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Á. M. Heizer from 1868 to 1870; W. S. Mesmer from 1870 to 1872; Rev. Joshua Cooke from 1872 to 1878; Rev. J. A. Donahey from 1878 till present time, and still pastor. The present membership is one hundred and ten. The officers of the church are as follows: Elders-A. A. Deering, H. D. Ensign, R. M. Wier, Leroy Burdick, J. K. Giles; trustees-R. M. Wier, S. K. Huntsinger, C. J. A. Erickson, Wm. Wells, G. R. James; Rev. J. Á. Don ahey is moderator and A. A. Deering clerk of the session; R. M. Weir is president, S. K. Huntsinger, secretary, and C. J. A. Ericson, treasurer, of the board of trustees. The Sunday-school is in a very flourishing_condition, with an average attendance of two hundred. The pastor, Mr. Donahey is energetic, industrious and popular. It was mainly through his exertions that the work of erecting a new church building was entered upon about one year ago. The building as it now stands almost completed represents an amount of zeal, industry and self-denial truly creditable to those who assumed the responsibility of its erection. The last annual report of the trustees shows the financial condition of the church, and at the same time affords a good history of the organization for some years past. It is accordingly herewith given in full: "We, your trustees, beg leave to submit for your consideration these, their annual reports. One year ago we worshiped in the little frame church building; congregation getting larger, and the building seemingly getting smaller. The then board of trustees had begun talking up the prospects of enlarging our borders. Finding that the sympathy of the con.munity was favorable to the undertaking, the result of several meetings of the congregation was the appointing of what is known as the 'building committee,' consisting of the following: Rev. J. A. Donahey, chairman, Messrs. Wells, Clark, Champlin, Owen, Knight, Buxton, Wier, Potter, Hamling and Huntsinger, with instructions to act for the congregation in the matter of building a new house of worship. "At the annual congregational meeting, held April 7, 1879, in view of the fact that some of the members of the board of trustees who had faithfully stood the brunt of the battle for years were desirous, and had often expressed the wish, to be retired from further duty in this capacity, a new board of trustees were elected, consisting of Messrs. Ericson, Wells, Wier, James and Huntsinger. At the same time your present board was instructed to contract with Rev. J. A. Donahey for his service as pastor for the year commencing April 1, 1879. "The new board of trustees organized with the following officers: R. M. Wier, chairman; C. J. A. Ericson, treasurer; S. K. Huntsinger, secretary. "We then proceeded to carry out your instructions. A salary of one thousand dollars was tendered to Rev. Donahey for one year's services, and accepted by him. The reports of the retiring treasurer were also referred to your board for auditing. We carefully examined the accounts and found the following receipts and disbursements for the year from April 30, 1878, to April 23, 1879, to be as follows: Total receipts, $983.93. Disbursements, $969.44; cash on hand, $14.49; total, $983.93. Indebtedness of church to Rev. Donahey, $52.57; to D. B. Knight, note and interest, about $113.30; total, $165.87. Amount due upon subscriptions, about $100. "The building committee appointed by you appointed within themselves a soliciting committee to procure plans for a new building. Six thousand dollars were to be subscribed before the subscriptions were to be binding. The committees entered upon their several duties instantly, carefully, manfully and boldly. The result was that six thousand dollars of approved subscriptions were taken, plans were got, contract let, and on the 4th of July, 1879, the stakes were set for the new building. The work progressed until we have the building as it now stands. We have not been alone in the raising of this structure, for it is by the willing hearts and hands of the women of the church and society that our beautiful house of worship is provided with beautiful chandeliers, nice carpet, matting, etc., etc. "Finding the amount subscribed to be insufficient to complete our new house of worship, an application was made to the parent society, the board of church erection, for five hundred dollars, which was readily granted, notwithstanding the fact that in erecting the frame building they had already helped us to six hundred dollars. In order to secure the five hundred dollars from the board it was necessary for us to raise about seven hundred dollars in addition to the amount already subscribed. "On the day of dedication an appeal was made to the congregation, and not made in vain, for the necessary amount was subscribed, and with joy. ful hearts filled with thankfulness unto Him who heedeth the cry of His children,' this house was dedicated unto His service. "To all those who have so liberally and abundantly helped us in erecting our house of worship, we, the trustees and members of the church, return to you, and each of you, our sincere and heartfelt thanks, for without your kind assistance we could not have succeeded in our undertaking. As you have given unto the Lord, may He restore unto you fourfold. "Having no more use for our old house of worship, we had an offer from the Baptist society for it which we accepted, and the old church building passed into the hands of that society. We have purchased an apparatus for heating our new building which has added considerable to the expenses. After the completion and dedication of our new house, then in order to keep it open a considerable amount was still to be raised, sufficient to meet pastor's salary and incidental expenses of the church. Just how to raise the amount seemed to be the query. Applications to rent seats began to come in on every hand-and this seemed to be the prevailing sentiment-so, after a careful and thorough investigation, it was decided to rent the seats. The appraisement was made according to the best judgment, and seats were rented to the greatest satisfaction of all concerned. "The financial condition of the church is beyond our most sanguine expectations, upon which we congratulate the church and society, looking forward to brighter prospects in the future. Total subscription to church building, $7,014.40. Realized from sale of old building, $425. Received from church erection board, $500. Amount collected on subscription, $6,659.25. Amount due on subscription, $355.15. Liabilities, about $400. We need every cent due on subscription to meet our liabilities, and trust that what remains unpaid will be handed in at an early date. “S. K. HUNTSINGER, Sec'y. Board of Trustees." The following is the annual report of the treasurer of the First Presby terian Church, Boone, Iowa, for the year ending March 31st, 1880: The receipts on account of the church erection fund are as follows: From subscriptions.. From sale of old church building. From church erection board.......... Total receipts..... $ 6,659 25 425 00 500 00 $ 7,584 25 Balance on hand..... Receipts for pastor's salary, etc., are as follows: From subscriptions and pew-rent. .... From temporary loan.... DISBURSEMENTS. $ 1,052 57 93 51 75 00 155 00 123 50 $1,499 58 Total receipts.... The Universalist Church was organized May 9, 1871. The original members were as follows: L. J. Orr, A. B. Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. George Wilmot, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Head, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Minier, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Kenedy, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Fogg, J. P. Tilson, C. Schoonover, H. H. Sprague, Mr. and Mrs. A. Nellis, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Farr, J. P. Crary, J. M. Smith, E. Smith, E. Schoonover, H. Godard, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. B. Harmon., A frame church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of $4,185.78. It was dedicated June 4, 1871, by Rev. A. C. Berry, assisted by Rev. C. P. Nash. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. S. A. Holt, A. H. Sweetzer, H. B. Smith and W. P. Paine. The church has no regular pastor at present. The membership numbers now about twenty-five. Prior to the erection of the church edifice, and before an organization was formed, various persons of this faith met for public worship during the year 1869 in Metropolitan Hall, and in 1870 in Ive's Hall. The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church was organized in |