Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-17
lProm tho Providence Journal.

II "LErrERs TO School CHILDREN."-This
| lis the title Of Work now in the Press, and
which will bo published in a few days by
Marsh, Capen & Lyon, of Boston. It is writ
ten by r. c. Wines, the author of tho well
known and very popular book, called "I'"o
Years and Half in The .'ary," "and of the two
excellent works styled "Hints on a System Of
Pop,lar Education" and "how shall Gov
e,n my School"
1 This we class among the best Works OF
the kind that have ever been presented to
the public, and we rank their Author among
! the clearest headed and most sound thinkers,
! teachers and writer's of the day. Those who
are acquainted with the individual, in his pri-
vatc capacity, or in his public one Of an In
structor, will need no voucher for the char
acter of the forthcoming Work, and those
WHO know him only through his productions
may rest assured, that no will add to his own
reputation by this new effort, and CONNIE nd
himself still farther to their good opinion by
the lively interest he manifests for the VOL
fare of the rising generation.
II We have been permitted to examine somo
of the proofs as they passed through the
press, and are much pleased both with the
matter and manner. The object being to
inculcate in the minds Of youth sound prin.
ciples of action in reference TO The al i'm
portant subject of Education, and to explain
and enjoin the duties of the young TO their
Teachers and to one another, the good sense
Of the Author has prompted him to avoid
sacrificing, as is too often done, the profes-
sed purpose, by tho use Of unintelligible
language, and the profuse employment of
mere oratorical flourish, and swords Of learn
ed length and laundering sound"
II The child is addressed; and consequently
that lucid, plain, porspicuous style, which 10
adopted to the capacity Of the young is caro-
: fully selected, and steadily employed thro'-
= out the Letters, thereby rendering them Pc
culiarly attractive and interesting to those in
n whose tender minds il is desirable to have
e good seed sown.
The reason of the Authors preparing the
j Work is thus told by him in his beautifully
3 simple and touching Dedication to his Chi.
dren.
DEDICATION TO MY OWN CHILDREN,
My Beloved Children!
II Though none Of you are able to read,
dedicate this volume TO you. There 10 pro-
priety in doing so, which J will EXPLAIN
Many Of these letters were FIRST written to
} you nearly two years ago. ! did not then
intend to have them printed in book, but
, meant TO leave them in manuscript, 50 tbat,H
| should die before You grew Up, you ght
U still have some advice from your father, when
= you became old enough to read and under
Y stand it. felt then, as feel now very anx-
y ions that, while you are young, you should
70 make the best use Of your time, and prepare
=, for the many important duties you will have
>, to perform when you become men. Know
~ ing how liable was to die, and thus be for
oi ever from giving you those lessons which ev-
q. cry father desires to give to his children, ]
is began the writing Of these Letters, as have
;. Uniformed you. | was, however, not able 10
, go on with my work at that time.
n Since then have thought that whnt would
be useful TO you, would be useful to others |;
II have therefore carried out my intention of
: writing the Letters but, instead of address,
. ing them to you, | have addressed them to
ali the school children Of the United States.
They are now printed in volume, and I
hope that many children will read them, md
= be profted by the reading. Should God
J.. spare me, your education will form one ofthe
l. principal occupations Of my future years
c should lie see ft to take me away from you
by death, now bequeath to you the instruc-
T. ,lons and counsels contained in these Lot
tiers, as an inheritance Of greater worth than
| gold, or lands, or houses. The best return
/ you can make for the labor have bestowed
= upon them, will be to receive and follow the
q advice have given in them.
Accept this dedication in testimony Of tho
'' deep and unalerable affection Of
YouR FArnER.
I'll We civo two extracts; the one setting
"a forth the Authors intentions, the other show
" ing the manner in which he handles his sub
ject.
=. The iirst constitutes the conclusion Of Let.
ct ter third and is rs follows:
IT. "You have a great work to do, and you
II ought 10 be about il in earnest, and win oil'.
rence. know you are yet children; and
have no desire 10 soc you suddenly cohVeIeo
ct into men and women. What delights me IN
.. chdrcn is the simplicity OF childhood. do
o, not wish YOU to lay inside your childish plays
ed and cnnbols. On tho contrary, like TO see
l1lfvou engage heartily in them, and like TO
= ;oin in them myself But then you shouId
" ~ remember that you are not always to remain
VI children ihut your sports most, by and by
ry be laid aside for the serious business Of life
and that even now, your chief occupations
ic should be very different from mere play.
,u 10 help you in preparing yourselves fol
the great duties Of life, to aid You IN YOU
r. efforts 10 become imbued with that know
!, ledge and those virtues which will 1T you
!" be useful men aud citizens, is the object
u, have in view, in tho Letters ] now sddres
o' you. shall speak to you Of your relstio
g. 10 your teachers and fellow pupils Of yot
We duties as school children; Of the necessity I
government in schools Of the dangers
N. which You are exposed Of the means Of Sc
., Improvement in moral excellence OF ~
: nature, objects, means, and advantages
education and OF The yalne VI tino. wi