As time passes, two things become more and more prominent as necessary to the future of the German Empire:

I. Our ability to compete in the world's markets.

II. The preservation of the German element in foreign countries, and the fostering of mutual ties with the mother country.

Upon these two conditions may be said to rest the commercial future of the German Empire. This is especially the case when we consider that the German colonies will never be capable of receiving, to any great extent, the thousands of Germans who emigrate every year. There are to-day some 13,000,000 German-speaking people in foreign countries, who for the most part have renounced allegiance to the land of their birth and enrolled themselves under other flags. To prevent a continuance of this state of affairs will be one of the primary duties of the national school. As a means to accomplish this, we announce the following programme for the young men placed in this school:

(1) A thorough course in economics.

(2) The infusion of German character and civilization, so that the same will remain uninfluenced by the habits and customs existing in other countries in which these young men may locate.

(3) A practical and theoretical course in agriculture, horticulture, and different trades.

(4) To establish boys between the ages of 9 and 15 years in good families for the purpose of better instruction and discipline, where they may at the same time attend the public schools.

(5) Three years' preparation for the national school, between the ages of 15 and 18, in commercial, technical, and agricultural subjects.

From the latest newspaper reports, this school has been established in Wertheim on the Main. It will be formally opened this fall.

EIBENSTOCK, GERMANY, July 19, 1902.

ERNEST L. HARRIS, Consular Agent.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT TOURCOING, FRANCE.

Under date of September 24, 1902, Consul W. P. Atwell, of Roubaix, France, writes as follows:

The industrial school at Tourcoing is under the patronage of the chamber of commerce. Its object is to give a degree of technical instruction to the sons of manufacturers and merchants that will enable them to aid in the management of the business and in time to assume the entire direction, and also to give theoretical and practical instruction to workmen which will fit them to be foremen, head mechanics, overseers of spinning and weaving mills, accountants, and correspondents. The course of instruction, which is given to both day and evening classes includes:

Theory and practical work of spinning; weaving and pattern drawing (sketching and putting on cards); study of threads (distinctive character of textiles) and practical work; applied mechanics (technical working of metals, machinery); industrial physics; electro-technics; geometrical drawing applied to machines; commercial and bank accounts; commercial and industrial law; commerce and merchandise; stenography and typewriting. The studies in each branch extend over one year, except in weaving and pattern drawing; in these classes a special course in decorative composition and creation of fabrics is given, occupying a second year. This course includes drawing from living plants, elements of water coloring, study of decoration in every century, character of styles, creation of designs applied to tissues, with preparation for examination as art workmen. The annual cost of the day course for French students is 300 francs ($57.90) for the spinning and commercial course, and 400 francs ($77.20) for weaving. Foreigners pay double, and a reduction of 100 francs ($19.30) is made for pupils taking a double course, and 200 francs ($38.60) for those taking three courses. The night classes are organized for pupils living or working in one of the Tourcoing districts. A registration tax of 2 francs (39 cents) is required for the first year, 5 francs (97 cents) for the second, with an additional payment of 3 francs (58 cents) for samples and sundries the first year in the theory class, 4 francs (77 cents) the second year, and 5 francs (97 cents) for the third. The registration tax for the course in electricity is 3 francs (58 cents) the first year and 5 francs (97

cents) the second. The course in conducting steam heaters is 2 francs (39 cents) registration tax and 1 franc (19.3 cents) for the course in machine drawing. The registration tax is required of pupils in the commerce classes independent of any other course they may take, which is 3 francs (58 cents) for stenography. Pupils not residing within the limits of Tourcoing pay a tax of 10 francs ($1.93) per month, in addition to the cost of samples and sundries, for the privilege of attending the night classes. Application for admission may be made to the director of the school, 66 rue de Casino, Tourcoing. Classes begin October 1.

In addition to the Tourcoing school, there are two superior technical schools in Roubaix and one in Lille.

CHANGES IN REGULATION REGARDING THE ADMISSION OF STUDENTS TO TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

The Official Messenger publishes a detailed circular, which has been sent to the curators of the educational districts, and contains a number of new regulations regarding the admission of students to technical schools. Among the changes effected by the new regulations is the abolition of reports on the personal character and habits of the matriculated students which the heads of the intermediate schools have hitherto been obliged to draw up and forward to the technical schools to which the students proceeded. Instead of this the entries in the "behavior list" of the last three years are to be sent in along with applications for admission to the technical schools.

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, September 20, 1902.

W. R. HOLLOWAY, Consul-General.

THE MEDICAL INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN AT ST. PETERSBURG. R. T. Greener, commercial agent, Vladivostock, Siberia, writes under date of September 20, 1902:

"The new medical college for women opened lately with 300 new students. Nearly all of them had finished the grammar-grade schools with the gold medal for excellence in the course. A few were received who had only silver medals, and a still smaller number who had completed the course, but if compelled to wait four or five years would have been debarred by age from entering upon the study of medicine. "The whole number of students now in attendance is 1,430. The curriculum is very thorough. The women are apt students."

GLAUCHAU WEAVING SCHOOL.

Having had a number of inquiries regarding the Glauchau technical school for weaving and designing of textiles, I wish to report the following:

There were formerly two technical schools here, both founded in 1858. The purposes were the same, although one was somewhat exclusive, giving instruction to the sons of manufacturers and merchants only. About 1868 both applied to the Government for financial assistance, which was granted on condition that they unite. This was soon brought about, and the Government appropriated the sum of 5,000 marks ($1,190), promising to give this amount each year if the city of Glauchau would appropriate 2,000 marks ($476), which was agreed to, and since that time the school has received 7,000 marks ($1,666) yearly. This amount, together with the small sum received for tuition, has enabled them to build a large and commodious building and maintain a corps of teachers. Instruction is given in both day and evening classes in the theory and practical work of weaving and pattern drawing,

the creation of designs as applied to textiles, the making and calculating of Jacquard cards, drawing and coloring from nature. The course takes usually about three years and costs natives of Saxony 40 pfennigs (9) cents) a week.

It has been erroneously stated that this school and a like institution at Meerane are closed to others than natives of Saxony. Foreigners from any country will be admitted upon the payment of a fee of 100 marks ($23.80) a year.

Owing to the industrial depression existing throughout this entire district for the last five years, the attendance has steadily fallen off, until now there are only 48 pupils, and the city authorities are considering the advisability of closing the school temporarily.

When it is remembered that the population of Glauchau is to-day about 5,000 less than it was six years ago, this situation can be readily understood.

GLAUCHAU, GERMANY, November 10, 1902.

E. A. CREEVEY, Consul.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN RUSSIA.

According to statistics of the Department of Finance during the last five years, 42 commercial schools, 30 trading schools, 26 trading classes, and 21 courses on commercial knowledge were established and operated by private means. The cost of maintaining these schools and courses was 2,500,000 rubles, or $1,250,000, and 20,264 pupils are educated in them.

Moscow, RUSSIA, November 17, 1902.

SAMUEL SMITH, Consul.

THE COMMERCIAL SCHOOL AT TIFLIS.

In compliance with a request from a former university president in the United States for information in regard to the commercial school at Tiflis, Russian transCaucasia, I put myself into communication with the director of the school, and with the German consul at Tiflis, who very kindly sent me the following letters. The German consul said:

The commercial school at Tiflis was founded by the merchants of this city and formally opened on the 17th of September, 1900. The school building cost $107,940. The expenses of the institution are paid by tuition and by an annual subsidy of $5,140 granted by the merchants of Tiflis. When absolutely necessary, the State also gives some support. The State pays the teachers' pensions, which are earned in Caucasia after twenty years' active service. Throughout the rest of the Russian Empire, such pensions are granted after twenty-five years' teaching.

The director of the Tiflis commercial school wrote:

Our commercial school stands immediately under the administration of the Russian Minister of Finance. There are three elementary classes and five general classes, as well as two classes for special study. Thus far, only the three elementary and three of the five general classes have been organized. A new class will be organized each year until all are complete. The first graduating class will go out in 1907. There are 694 students at present, composed of the following nationalities:

CONDITION OF ADMISSION.

Children between the ages of 7 and 9 years are admitted without examination. Children coming from the public schools are usually admitted to the first division of the general class.

In addition to this course some of the languages of Caucasia are taught. One should not lose sight of the fact that the 10,000,000 inhabitants of Caucasia are made up of the remnants of many ancient nomadic tribes. According to Russian statistics, only 2,500,000 are Russians, 1,000,000 are Armenians, 1,500,000 Tartars and Georgians, while the rest are principally Mohammedan tribes. It is claimed that there are 30 different languages and dialects spoken in Caucasia. Tiflis is an Asiatic city. It is connected by overland caravan routes with Persia, Turkestan, Afghanistan, India, and even China. Camel trains from Damascus, Bagdad, and Arabia reach the city from the south. It is the object of the Tiflis commercial school to draw its recruits from all these adjoining countries; to infuse into them Russian customs and business methods, at the same time giving them instruction in their own language, religion, and traditions. Such methods will have a powerful effect upon the destinies of southern Asia. It is the hope of those personally interested in the Tiflis commercial school that by the time it is completely established, the number of pupils will have increased to 1,200.

From a German gentleman of Mittweida, Saxony, who visited Tiflis in August, 1902, and from other sources, I have learned the following additional facts:

The teachers are regarded as being in the service of the State, enjoy certain rights as State officers, wear uniforms, and are appointed by the Minister of Finance. The school is divided into two sections, namely, a preparatory school and an advanced commercial school. In all Russian commercial schools the preparatory department is divided into four classes and the advanced school into seven classes. In Tiflis the preparatory school is complete, but in the advanced school only two of the seven classes have thus far been established. This is owing to the fact that the school was first opened in 1900. The remaining five classes in the advanced school will therefore be organized as soon as the demands for the same are urgent. One year is devoted to every class, making in all four years for the preparatory and seven years for the advanced courses.

Apprentices and others who wish to attend Russian commercial schools have the option of preparing themselves in whatever school they choose. For example, pupils may be admitted to the advanced section of the Tiflis commercial school without having attended the preparatory department of this or any other commercial school. Such preparation may be obtained in any of the public schools.

There are 48 teachers employed at present in the Tiflis commercial school. A large number of these, however, are also employed in other schools of the city. A definite salary is not paid these teachers; only the director and inspector receive fixed salaries. The former receives 4,200 rubles ($2,158.80) and the latter 3,200 rubles ($1,644.80) per annum. Each class teacher receives on an average 720 rubles ($370.08) and has the privilege of giving as many extra hours as the time at his disposal will permit. In the preparatory department each of these teachers receives 50 rubles ($25.70) for every extra course of two to three hours a week during a semester. Every class teacher is guaranteed a sufficient number of extra hours in

order to make good any deficiency in salary. It might be stated here that the school year is divided into two half years, or semesters. The average income of each teacher is thereby increased so that it amounts to about 2,000 rubles ($1,028) annually.

There is one subject taught in the above-mentioned curriculum which is especially worthy of note, namely, materials of commerce. In the Tiflis school this subject is divided into four parts and taught with special reference to the commercial conditions existing in Caucasia. These divisions are as follows: Agriculture, stock raising, mineralogy, and manufacture.

Transcaucasia grows almost every known grain in the world. The forests of the Caucasian Mountain Range produce saffron, madder, oak, walnut, and boxwood lumber, while apples, pears, and grapes grow wild in these forests to such an extent that they are exported in large quantities. The wine of Caucasia is also exported, and the cotton of the country is second only to that of Egypt. Stock raising is of more importance to the welfare of the inhabitants than agriculture. The animal products of the country are horses, cattle, sheep, camels, honey, and silk. The fishing industry is well developed and furnishes a livelihood to many thousand people. Caucasia is rich in silver, iron, copper, coal, salt, and especially manganese. The petroleum or naphtha wells of Baku produce 8,000,000 tons, or fully 50 per cent of the world's annual supply. The industries of Caucasia are in their infancy. The articles of manufacture thus far are firearms, woven goods, and carpets.

I have mentioned the resources of Caucasia simply to show what subjects are especially taught in connection with materials of commerce in the commercial school. Samples of plants and minerals have been collected which are used by the teachers as illustrations. No student leaves the school without acquiring a thorough knowledge of all the products of Caucasia and adjoining countries, a knowledge which will inevitably be of great service to him in after years, either as a merchant or manufacturer.

Those who graduate from the Tiflis commercial school may be admitted to any of the technical universities without further examination and (with the exception of the so-called "classical four-faculty universities") to any other institution of learning in the Empire. The student is also fitted to obtain Government employment and has the further advantage of having to serve only one year in the army. The student who is fortunate enough to win the gold-medal prize-only one being granted each semester-secures pecuniary benefits and receives a special title which raises him for life to a rank about halfway between that of citizen and noble. One of the advantages thus acquired is exemption from taxation.

In Caucasia the pensions of the teachers are the same as those all over the Russian Empire. In Tiflis the pensions are better on account of the higher cost of living. These pensions are regulated in the following manner: Each teacher, as well as the director and inspector, pays into the treasury every year 2 per cent of his salary. After twenty years of service, he receives a pension of 900 rubles ($162.60) annually. The director receives a pension of 1,600 rubles ($822.40) and the inspector 1,200 rubles ($616.80) annually. The Government makes a distinction in regard to pensions between those who have especially trained themselves for commercial school work and those who have not. Those teachers who are not graduates of high-class schools receive a pension of only 600 rubles ($308.40) annually.

The school tax in the first class of the preparatory department is 80 rubles ($41.12) for each student annually. In the other three classes of the preparatory department the tuition is 100 rubles ($51.40). In all the classes of the advanced department the tuition is 120 rubles ($61.68) annually.

Commercial schools in Russia are founded by the State wherever they are thought to be necessary. The initiative is always taken by commercial organizations that is, chambers of commerce and similar bodies-the members of which have previously appointed a committee which has thoroughly examined the question. After