Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - September 3, 1904 COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS County Superintendent of public schools J. Horace LANDIS (picture) has just completed his first six months of the 18 months of the unexpired term of the late R.F. HOFFECKER, and has prepared an elaborate report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in which he seeks to have the work of examining pupils by the county superintendent eliminated from the duties of the office. On this topic, he says: "The class examinations take up half my time; my candid opinion is that this duty belongs properly to the supervising principals, or where there are none, that its performance devolves upon the teachers or a committee of teachers of the district. At my suggestion several of the boroughs adopted this plan, and thus far are well satisfied with the result. The plan will permit the superintendent's time to be utilized to greater advantage and profit in superintending, and the examining and retaining papers in the district will afford excellent opportunity for the teachers to ascertain wherein the pupils are weak or strong, and also wherein the teachers themselves may have failed to impart the subject correctly and successfully." Montgomery and Bucks are among the few counties in this State which continue the old practice. The extent of this work may be judged from the fact that within three months County Superintendent LANDIS visited forty-five schools for examinations and examined 522 pupils, of which number 52 failed. He also made 335 visits to schools and examined sixteen applicants for teachers' certificates. Concerning teachers and schools, Prof. LANDIS says: "My impression of the work of the schools of the county was in the main very good. The teachers are doing excellent work and are thoroughly interested in the welfare of the pupils under their charge. The buildings are good, most of them modern in structure and style, and well equipped for effective work." As to local institutes, he says: "The large attendance at each session of these meetings proves that the people are interested in the work, and that such gatherings stimulate and broaden the teachers, and create a favorable educational sentiment in the community. I have arrangements to hold three local institutes in the upper end of the county, and propose having them as early in the year as practical, probably during the months of November and December, so that these districts may receive the benefit early in the term. These institutes are, without doubt, a great educational factor in the community. As to the county institute, the report reads: "A new feature will be introduced at our next institute. This innovation will be to have our institute divided into sections - High school, grammar school and primary school sections. These divisions are to be only for the morning sessions of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This change was effected in response to a long-felt need, and at the request of many of the members of the institute. They derive more specific instruction, and this is due to the fact that a large percentage of the teachers are grade teachers." The report closes with a tribute to the worth of Prof. HOFFECKER as an educator. HAS A LARGE ELEPHANT PLANT Mrs. T.W. MOYER, of Topton, Berks county, has an enormous elephant plant, two stalks of which are 66 and 74 inches long and the leaves measure 46 by 32 inches and 45 by 31 inches, respectively. CIGARMAKERS WILL PICNIC ON MONDAY The annual picnic of the cigarmakers of the Otto EISENLOHR & Bros. cigar factory of East Greenville, will be held on Monday, (Labor Day), in the Joel SCHULTZ grove, near East Greenville. TURNED UP A NEST OF TORTOISE EGGS WITH PLOW Edwin SCHLICHER, of Upper Hanover township, this week, turned up a nest of tortoise eggs while plowing on the Queen of the Valley farm. There were twenty-six eggs in the nest and each contained a little turtle. WILL START THE STONE CRUSHING BUSINESS Henry F. SWEISFORD, of near Perkiomenville, will start the stone crushing business. He purchased a stone crusher and aportable gasoline engine with which he expects to begin work. FOUND BLACKSNAKE IN KITCHEN A blacksnake over five feet in length was discovered in the kitchen of John WILSON at Elverson, and it was finally killed by Aaron LIEBER and Joseph SIMMERS. CAUGHT A LARGE BLACK BASS Horace H. RAHN, of Perkiomenville, this week, caught a nineteen inch black bass in the Perkiomen creek near that town. LOST A FINGER IN PECULIAR MANNER Breaking her finger while loosening a rope around a calf's neck to save it from strangling to death, Mrs. William H. RETTEW, of West Vincent, Chester County, had the finger amputated, and it was almost well when lockjaw developed, causing her death. BLACK DIPHTHERIA KILLING HORSES Allen TRUCKENMILLER, a farmer residing at Limerick Square lost six fine horses within a week, all dying of black diphtheria. Thirteen horses belonging to neighboring farmers have died of the disease within the last few days. CONSISTORIES GRANT PASTOR A VACATION The consistories of the Pennsburg Reformed charge on Monday evening met in the Niantic Church and decided to grant a vacation to their pastor Rev. G.W. LUTZ until October 2. SECURED MARRIAGE LICENSES Harry G. DYER, of Royersford, was granted a license to wed Miss Anna H. SAYLOR, of Schwenksville. Howard Jordan SACKS and Miss Martha KULP, both, of Rudy. INJURED BY FALLING DOWN AN ELEVATOR SHAFT Joseph LOVERIDGE and James FRETH were seriously injured falling down an elevator shaft in Norristown.