During the war of the rebellion a military school in Virginia turned out into active service on the Confederate side. They actually met and fought grown men, and stood their ground bravely. Discipline made men of them, and a pride in their organization put years on their shoulders. Of course it is not expected that our boy companies will be called upon to fight nowadays, but as the strength of a nation often depends on the striplings in the ranks, it can work no possible harm to begin early. We trust that in the next year there will be many new encampments, many new companies formed, and that the various State governments will give all encouragement to the boy soldiers who in a few years may serve them well in the National Guard in case of riot or of trouble. SOME CLEVER CHILDREN. The children of the town of Clitheroe, in England, are not afraid to ask for what they want. According to an item in the Lancashire _Daily Post_ a meeting of the children of Clitheroe was recently held in the market-place to petition the Town Council to provide them with play-grounds. There was a fair number present. A boy named John Yates presided. It was decided to send the Mayor and Corporation the following memorial: "We, the children of Clitheroe, in public meeting assembled, beg to lay before you our needs in the matter of play-grounds. We have none; if we play at all, we are forced to play in the streets. Then, by your instructions, we are liable to be pounced upon by the police and prosecuted. Such a state of things, we venture to suggest, is very unfair to us, and seeing that you are elected to your positions by our fathers and mothers, and as we are sure they would not object to pay a little extra in taxes for our benefit--we are perfectly aware that to provide play-grounds would incur expense--we beg of you to take this matter into your serious consideration, and do honor to yourselves by recognizing our needs and providing us with play-grounds." It would seem as if it ought to prove very difficult to the authorities to refuse to yield to so reasonable and respectfully framed a request as this. Certainly the future of the town of Clitheroe should be an interesting one, seeing what style of citizens it is likely to have when these brave little boys and girls grow up and "run things" to suit themselves. A FAIR EXPLANATION. There are some men who are never at a loss to give an explanation of any thing they are asked about, and often they do not go so far wrong even when they have no actual knowledge in the matter. Among these, according to a story lately encountered, is a boatswain of one of the large transatlantic steamers. A little time ago, as the story has it, one of the crew of this steamer (while the passengers were at dinner) picked up a menu, and seeing on the top "Table d'hote," inquired of one of his mates the meaning of it. "What does this 'ere mean, Joe?"