Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-10-02
NfAcfAZINIs IITERATURE.
,I'be other Clav we happened upon several vol

The other day we happened upon several vol
vines OF a series called 'Children's Family Libra
~ which was compilations, or indeed, more
than compilations full details of the carly histo-
nv of the world. The idea manifested By the
author was, by merely changing the style of
auch authors as RoIlin, Gillie, and other writer's
Of carly history, to present in simple and read
able form for children, something which would
give them knowledge of how this world has
travelled on since its creation. The conception
of such an idea was creditable to the author, and
the plan IL admirable and inst the thing for our
times 1t Is well known to US all that super
Aciality is a characteristic even among eminent
men, 70 called, in cur country. 1t has come to
pass that our great schools of intelligence for the
people are. as it were, outside of the school
houses. Our people qualify Themselves for the
business ofliEe BY ''reading, writing and aritE-
rnetsu u start with and top out With such intei-
liysncs Is they can CLEAN from the magazines,
newspapers and the current sources of literature.
We also have lectures for three or four months
in the year. Now all those named are excel
lent, Much of the minutiae not within the sup
posed province Of history is served up TO the
people, and generally in more palatable form
than the records of history. But the great
trouble Is. and as we think the great evil, that
the people have no basis in their education up
on which to found this saperstructure.-
They are without the facts, the great sources
from which, the matters they read are but often
times inconsiderabIe deriyations. The reason
Of this is obvious. History for children has
always Keen regarded as something outside the
~ md b1Nsi
mems children must depsnd in the main upon
their younger years for the book part of their
education Many of them, naturally Of an in
tellectual turn of mind. Of themselves read
whatever chances in their way. Eovels-mag-
azine and newspaper stories, as matter of
course, take precedence in their choice. The
writer's Of these novels and noYclets sre often
times themselves very flimsy-superfcial wri-
tiers, who mistake and misinterPrct the facts of
history to suit tho purposes of their tales
Hence it comes that We see that persons have
conceptions the most erroneous concerning what
has really transpired in modern times. Our
first impressions are generally lasting, and VIC
are liberal or iIliberal-candid or higoted, just
rs we have been taught. This is the general
rule. Nov We believe that this simplifying Of
the general style of history, at the same time
giving all that history teaches, is destderutum
second to none in the training and developing
Alright the young mind. The magazine ltera-
ture should be let alone until the su6stantials
are acquired-until tho Judgment is enlightened
aud matured enough to know what to and what
not to read. In such general system of edu-
cation introduced into the family circles and
r
low backed literature that now floods the coun-
try would disappear; and where they are now
bought, these "Childrcn's Family Libraries"
would be read and our politely educated people
would not, as We heard of one of them doing,
go about the country confoundng in their stump
speeches the PtoIemies with the Caesars.
We further recollect of hearing very distin-
guished politician in Pennsylvania, in speaking
to the people upon the Importance Of one vote,
instancing this case-"One vote sent Oliver
Cromwell to Parliament and cost George the
Third his head Yet in large audience we
saw no symptom of cognizance of the error,
but it went down as matter of fact. This, it
was apparent came from superficial reading
II there is any truth in the aphorism that histo-
ry is philosophy teaching by experience, people
must read it and get that experience They
must not depend upon garbled extracts or theo-
retical and fancy sketches of somebody else's
opinion. Let US have historical readings in the
family circle, in tho exercises of the country
schools. and'ws will have better and moro intel
lisent citizens. There will be less use of stump
speeches, nov, nothing more than cunningly
devised extracts and tortured quotations, with
which it is sought to cIap.trap the people into
partisan purposes, if We put into the hands of
the young, history, instead of magazine. pirate
stories, newspaper love tales, that commence
with Once upon time" and arc carried
through and wind up in the same vague and
fictitious manner as to time, place and substance