The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-20
sTER11Ne,s SCHOOL BOOK SERIES.


We have received copies Of this excellent series
of text books, and perused them with something
more than cursory attention. The compiler, Mr.
RICHARD STERLING, Principal of Edgeworth Female
Seminary Of Greensboro N. c., is practical and
successful teacher Of many years experience. In
the preparation of the books before u.s. the aim Of
the author was to meet the special wants Of South.
ern schools. From his own long connection with
the work Of education, he knew precisely what
those wants were; and we think he has been very
successful in his efforts to furnish useful and &C.
ceptable text books. The books arc printed on
good paper, and altogether present very neat ap-
pearance, equal in this respect to almost any otter
series.
The Readers, of which there are five, have been
admirably compiled. There is much instruction
in elocutioo, something rhetoric, and great
deal in photography and etymology, scattered
through these Readers; the greater part prefxed
to the selections and s'cxanples." The selections
are very judicious, and afford a great variety OF
excellent models IN every conceivable style, both
Of prose and verse. We are glad that Mr.. STER-
LING has had the good taste to omit number of
most excellent ''pieces," that have been worn
threadbare by the speech book" elocutionsts,
and substitute in their stead new ones, by living
writer's and orators: not that sufficient number
of examples have not been retained Of the best
English writer's, but greater space is allotted in
these books 10 the teachers of our own day, than
is usual in s'Readcrs." Thus we have represented
in the Fifth Reader the following authors from
South Carolina: T. S. GR1MkE, (Sacrod Ltora-
ture;) Hon. R. H. Wilde, (The 14th Congress;)
gcn. JAMES Fl. HAMMOND, intellectual Power;)
T.. s. GR1MKE, (The Natural and Moral Worlds;)
DR.. W. GILMORE Sra1s, (The Eye Of the Rattle
snake;) Hon. ". c. PRESTON, (Eloquence and
Logic;) Hon. JOIN c. CALHOUN, (Liberty the Need
of Intellisence;) Hon. HUGH swNToN LEeAnE,
characteristics Of Lord BYnoN.) In verse we have
::Ihe Voice Of Years." by LOUISA S. McConD;
ssHayne-Let the Death-bell TOLL" by W. GILMORE
S1MMs; s"To Harry" by W. H. TntRoD, etc.
In the case Of young and obscure authors it may
be very well to give the habitat, as "FANNy Kill
Roy, 1T Virginia." or 'MARY A. MILLER, North
Carol 4a;" but it looks odd to sec '.YouNa, Eng
land,' s'S;r WALTER ScoTT, Scotland" MILTON,
England" 'fCowpER, England, 'BYRoN, England" I"
and s.LAMARrrE, France" However, we presume,
Mr.. STERLING thought it best to adhere rigidly to
the rule he had adopted.
How blessed are children in these latter DAYS to
have 80 many and such excellent books given them
for their entertainment as well as instruction. 1t
was otherwise when ourselves trod the thorny
path to the hui of science. Few and dry were the
books that fell to our lot. Every ssReador" was
''dog-eared" from end to end, dozens Of times,
before it's successor came to our relief; by which
time we used to know almost every piece, both
prose and verse, by heart. There was little Of
system in those books, and the compilers never
appear to have had any idea OF combining the use
full with the agreeable-of teaching tho rules of
eIocution and composition for instance, at the
same time with an incipient knowledge Of itera-
ture. However little they may be disposed to ap-
preciate it, the youth Of our day are far more
privileged than were the many generations of their
anteoessors; andi is to be hoped they will make
suitable return to the spirit Of the age which
has thus favored them by devoting themselves
more diligently than ever to their studies.
The following are the books we have received:
l. Sterlngs Southern Primer.
g. Steriing's Southern Elementary Spelling Book.
8. Sterlings Southern Pictorial Primer.
4. First Reader.
5. Second Reader.
6. Thru Reader.
z. Fourth Reader.
8. Fifth Reader.
Mr. STERLING has in press:
9. The Southern Orator, G complete manual Of
eooution, containing all the rules necessary to cu-
tlvate the art Of oratory, without encum bering it
with those minute instructions which properly be-
long to the teacher; or those useless directions
which are never learned and never should be-.
There are about 200 choice exercises in dcclama-
ton selected from authors Of distinguished merit.
10. Sterling's Southern High School Spelier.
This book Is designed for the middle classes in
schools. It contains the rules for forming de,iua-
isues with copious illustrations under each rule,
and the definitions; selection OF words derived
from the Saxon, Latin, Greek and otner languages,
with both root and derivatives defined. A full List
Of words Of irregular pronunciation words OF
the same photography, but differing III pronuncia-
tion and meanlng-of words OF different ortho-
graphy but similar pronunciation. Also full
vocabulary of foreign phrases in common use in
our language; and lastly, list OF abbreviations
usei in writing and printing.
After saying this much Of these books it will be
scarcely necessary for US to commend them to tho
special attention of teachers and all others inter-
ested in the subject of school text books.