Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-09-24
From DeBoso'S Commercial Review.
Southern SchoOl-ROOks.

This pithy opinion may be applied to other
sections of the South besides New-Oreans. Wri-
ters and speakers are prone to dilate Oh the theme
that knowledge is power" but the practical
man and close observer soon becomes satisfied
that III the South, very generally, cotton, sugar
cane. and negroes, are po,cer and that ntellec-
tual and scientific attainmcntS, unless they are
rapidly creating wealth for their poSSessor, are
not REGARDED as of much value in themselves.
This is very well shown by the facts stated in the
short notice of the labors OF Professors Smith
and Chiffon, whence we have taken our motto,
and is yet more strongly displayed in the dispot-
sition to place instructors of youth, and purely
scientific men, much lower in the social scale
than they rank in Europe, and in some other
parts of the Union than this. Learning and
science are regarded as tools, by which to ope-
rate upon the pockets; and not as involving prin-
ciples, truths, and methods, by which one can
act upon the world as we'll as with it. lnstruc-
tors therefore rank, in the estimation OF many,
as first class overseers! One improves his pupils
intellects SO as to be worth so much per head in
the professional and practical market; the other
raises so many bales per hand, or t" the acre ::
both keep their gangs" or " force" IN good or
bad order, as the case may be; and both are
paid in like proportion-thei immortal soul in one
scale, balanced by cotton and sugar in the other J.
"The dignity of intellect, as displayed in the
teachers misslor," is "sham," unless it be,
where the clergyman and instructor are combined
in one and thus it comes to pass, that the South
and Southwest are dotted over with sectarian
establishments, and wrangling divinity schools
the control of education having in great mca-
sure passed into the hands of the clergy, SIMPLY
because it requires the selt,denial of preacher
to meet the annoyances 'of teacher, and his
pulpit influence to keep up his standing.
1t is not however the object of this article to
grade of its votaries, and we therefore pass to
the consideration of the school-books of the
South-their origin, their character and intiu-
ences, their defects and the remedy.
The publication of schoolbooks Is the most
profitable branch of booksellers business. r.
wing and Prescott, Bryant and Willis, Bancroft
and Hiliard,- the seductions of poetry, the in
veutions of fiction, the delvngs and analyzings
of science, even Typee Melville, and Bachelor
I" Ike Marvel" "pale their Intellectual fires" be-
fore 'Websters and Comly's Spelling-book, First
Readers, Productive Gramthars" and School
Biographies The supply Of the innumcrabe
hordes of little tow-headed urchins, whence are
to come the great men of the future, is the one
thing wished for by the men :" Of the trade"
Looking to the practical there is scarce firm in
business that would not prefer the copyright OF
Noah Websters Spelling-book to Daniel Web
ster's Speeches.
The first thought that enters the mind of the
inquirer is, that the school-books OF the South
originate in the North and until recently, when
Cincinnati and Louisville entered the market, eX-
clusively in the North, and far North. We do
not remember single textbook Of the schools
printed or rpublished south Of Mason and DlXon,s
line, unless it be Peter Parley's ct Louisville If
there are such they have but slight circulation.
The southern booksellers are literally i'll state
of peonage" to the "barons of Clitfstreet" and
Others of that ilk The books are prepared by
northern men, often without practical knowledge
of teaching, untravecd in the United States;
and they are prepared, too, in series" or sets,
with references so made, from one to the other,
that any one volume of the "sct" finding Its
way into a school-room, or college, and obtaining
some approval and use, may act as wedge to
let in the balance, and shove out antagonist cdi-
tons Each large northern city has It's peculiar
style of books and the very first thing book
seller or publisher beginning business i'll such cl-
ty desires and aims at IS to obtain name OF
some literary celebrity with which to chrlsten
series of copyrighted, stereotyped school books
if the classics, too often flched bodily from the
Germans or the Prussians, overlad with notes
in English if in English, often paste and scissor
connections Of old grammars and biographies;
if in French, often unblushing plagiarisms from
old Partisan school-books or lectures. Any one
who can see the trade-lsts, or will compare the
circulars of the northern houses, will confess we
are right. The competition among all these II
val houses for market is constant and incessant.
Agents, colporteurs and pedlars are brought into
requisition and so gainful is successful school
book, that it is fact, that agents anxious to in
troduce new work, and root out an established
one, have offered to take all of the old books
from teachers. and replace them with new publ
cations without charge! This being done as one
mode of bringing them into use.
The origin, the authorship, the publication,
and the control Of the quantity sold, and the
price, are all of them, then far distant from the
South.
We pass next to the character and influences
of these books; and here we desire to assert 4
principle that may cause some doubt in the rea-
der's mind, and of which we regret our present
limits prevent full discussion. Webelieve that
southern life, habits thoughts and aims, arc so
.:II,- 1;Rarent from those of the North that