Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-12

THR SCHOOL COMMITS AND KERL's GRAM.
NAR.-Edttor Star am Informed that the school
committee have ordered this grammar 10 be in
public has some claim to know upon what ground
this change Is made. Every one who hiss TO pay
the constantly increasing /" book bill" will unite
| In saying that nothing less than an absolute de-
mand can warrant a-change OF text books at any
time-much more at the present
1.-THE previous text book was faulty, II was suf-
hcient ground for setting IL aside. IL this Is In
troduced 1T must be from its being more desirable
Tin the est mation Of the committee on text books)
than any now before the public.
Let rs look at the primary works book for
beginners-for small boys and girls The fourth
sentence Ia a. follows s'Always read the example
carefully, rejecting upon each, so that you may
learn clearly and fully what meant by the deni-
| ton OF description" Now, will the fathers aud
sentence from the preface, and after 'reaecting,"
zee IL they can determine "clearly and fully what
II meant" ain nearly all the little books we have
noticed, pupils are required to memorize much
from It On about a page, for instance, Of
clever little grammar, claiming to be very popu-
lar, the pupil memorizes-Or. No. No. Yes.
W e. John or jaime. VII go: eonjunct1H lon
the other" And, after "guessing" some time,
they NAV very likely come TO the conclusion that,
u the paragraph means anything, 10 10 itself
tissue OF errors; and If 1t Is correct 1t IL tissue of
On the Cd page we End "familiay srplana-
| iioH. might present to your mind-all have
| ever seen. TO do this WsSld have to use nouns"
which 10 not grammatical.
On the same page are the following question
and answer for these begnners-these little folks:
Since the world furnishes thousands and thou
sands Of objects for US to consider, and since we
never speak without having something In mind,
what 10 essential to every thought or saying?"
Now, gentlemen Of the book committee. answer
that simple question for beginners, If you can
m N OF all 0f tvUa tp-
four hours TO Z" guess' or a" reflect )" and then, |
undertake to say, not one Of you will have accom-
plished what you have here set children to do, on
And this is but fair specimen of the whole
work. Page 4, GA common noun Is a generic
| name Messn Committee, please define ssserie
so that a small boy can understand IL.
The explanations to adjectives and verbs are
equally faulty; and In like manner through bout the
book, the definitions are entirely unsuted to the
youpg min m,ad tb Moreover S the style OF the book
inaccurate mode Of thought. His sentences are 30
modified, and patched, and amended, as to indi-
cate that either his thoughts are very indefinite
and uncertain, or he knows not how to express
them: Did space permit, a few examples would
| suffice:
correctly, In single person and number, or in
particular form, through some or all Of its moods
aud tensesn
To sum up the whole matter, the book is SO
| what could have induced a committee to throw
out any respectable work and adopt this. Was
1t being fingered by some smart book agent or to
be thought up to the Improvements Of the dav, or
was 1t utter incompetency to judge of the book !,
Whatever 1t may be, IL seems eminently sug-
gestive Of the fitness Of the committee for their
place.
To prevent any misapprehension, / will add
that this criticism 10 made upon the merits Of the
book itself, not from interest in any other work
for have none, direct or indirect; not from per.
sonal motives, for l neither know the author
agents, or the book committee; nor from selfish
feelings, for i have no children In the public
schools Ii 10 written solely because an examina-
ton Of the book satisfies me that the people are
being served with want Of ability or Of good
faith. SBNEx.
CASES BEFORE JUSTICE DoNN.-Daniel Quinn,
who was arrested by the Provost Guard for sell
ing liquor to soldiers, had hearing this morn.
Ing, and was fined s25.
Yesterday afternoon two boys, John Dacey and
itan police for fighting and general disorderly
conduct. They were taken before Justice Donn
who committed them to Jail for court
STEALING EQUIPMENTS. YESTERDAY, Justice
Walter Issued a warrant to search the premises of
VIM. Robinson, cold, for Government property
stolen from the quarters of the New York cavalry
The search resulted In the recovery of fine army
revolver. Robinson gave security for further
hearing; and In the meantime efforts will be made
to recover other missing arms and equipments.
A NUISANCE The attention Of the proper au-
thorities is called to a dead horse living In the
street at the corner Of ID street south and Fourth
street east. II has already tainted the atmosphere
in that vicinity, and Is very offensive to the
sounding residents
COMMITTED To-DAY.-Charles A Maybe for
stealing revolver from a member Of Capt Sauers
New York Cavalry Company was committed to
Jail by Justice Walter, and Robert Garcia for
stealing an overcoat from John @. Reisinger was
committed by Justice CLARK.
HABEAs CORPUS Deputy marshal Phillips has
a writ Of habeas corpus to serve in the case Of
Daniel g. Armston private in Sickle's brigade,
he being minor and In delicate health.
WHITEHuRsr, 43i Pennsylvania avenue, fur
nishes superior Card Photographs, suitable for
sending in letters. See mis- llkenesses of distin-
guished men, views Of camps, etc. Photographs
In oil and water colOrs and pastel, from minia-
ture to life size. au 17-eolm
Is IT POSSIBLE that any Soldier can be so foolish
a. TO leave he city without supply of n olOway's
Ointment and Pills Whoever does SO will deeply
for B0ss are sSs oHS s. ann
sourVJ' only 70 cents per b < or pot. Sc l2-lw
RAIDER. have you seen Prof Woods ADVERTISE
'ent IN our paper. Reaf it, it will interest you.
for exchange 1t the Star Once oountsr.
To TIE AyILIcrIp!-Be sure to read the adver-
;semen, Of McLean's Strengthening Cordial and
Blood Purifier. IN another column.
DIED,
OF Thur day morning, 18th instant, AFTER three
weeks painful illness, which he bore with chris
tan fortItude, THOMAS f. BAKER, in the 6ist
year OF hi age.
I he Eelstiyss s1d friends of the family are, re-
quested to attent his funeral MORO friday
toreT Don at 10 O'Clock from his lat, residence Ith
81. J, al, north OF Columbian College.
FOR SALE.An elegant d.ppe grey HORSE.
L. years old ,l5h hands high, onE fu tail, n
su table for 3 field or staff officer. Also SIN
or good, eheap Horses for suite s. wag-So
ons. Apply 81 the private bles 18th ST. between
and g. Sc III -2tf
1876 INTERIOR DECORATIONS. dS6
pApERHANGlNGS, all grade. and prices;
WINDOW ShAnES, PICTURE CORD and
TASSELS. GILT OVAL PICTURE FRAMES,
TO-, at J. MARKRITER'S
No. 4s6 Seventh &C., doors above
sc ll-l0t.n Odd Fellows Hail.