New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-31
READING MADE EASY

Most of us have forgotten the aWIul trouoIes
wo encountered in our early years in learning
the difficult art Of reading. Those grOtesque
symbols the letters of the Alphabetically have
they such names and shapes These laws OF
spelling-why are they so complex and IN
volvedG These rules Of pronunclation-why
are they so unintelligble and immethodicalf
Most of us failed utterly in our attempts to
comprehend these things, even with the aid OF
all our juvenile faculties of perception, logic,
and reason. 1t was not the part of our teachers
neither perhaps was it their interest or ours
that they should make any attempt aG ex-
planning such matters; for, il short thhey are
inexplicable. lacy very properly made it their
duty simply to force the facts, absolute and
relative, into our heads and memories, leaving
the philosophy where 50 much other philosophy
has to DO left in the metaphysical and mys-
FERROUS clouds which float before our vision, but
forever beyond our reach.
He who can simplify the business of learning
to read is public benefactor He who can
clear up Me paths of knOwledge-he especially
who can make the frat steps plain instead of
confusing, inviting rather than Iepulsiye-de-
serves the encouragement of grOwn"up chill
dren, as he is sure to receive the gratitude OF
infante humanity. We must welcome all in
telligent attempts in this direction, assured that
it is only through repeated attempts that we
will finally realize the desired result.
Some years ago DIR. Edwin Leigh of this city
got up a system OF prOnouncing photography,
which has been tried in the schools of st. Louis
and Boston, aud which is now, by order Of the
Board of Education, TO be tried in some of the
primary schools here. The results 'Of its use,
according to the reports of school authorities
in the places just named, have been very re-
markable. BY it children learn to read with
surprising fHoility-mastering the art within
half a year, and pronouncing with an accuracy
impossible under the old system. We confess
that some of the statements We have seen on
this subject would hardly seem credible, if they
did aot come from teachers and school super
intendents of excellent reputation.
DR.. Leigh, in his system, uses our present
Roman character, and does not introduce any
new method of spelling. But he has the let
ters or types specially prepared with marks or
lines that indicate their sound or power in diff
ferent words or situations, and enable the
learner to apply principles that are easily COM
pretended to every verbal problem that is
presented to him. 1t is not n phOnOtypy that
is set forth in his "Primers;" it is an estab-
lshed photography. 1t is not reformed alpha
bet, but an improved notation for the one in
common use. 1t is not a substitute for the or
binary print of our books and newspapers, but
a help to the learner who must read them rs
they are now printod-a help, we are assured,
that is simple, practical, and available.
The test of value of this system is easily
reached, and consists simply in its trial. 1t is
spoken of by the ST. Louis anu Boston teach
ers in such way ss to MAKE its trial here
entirely justifable. If the system be found to
work well in tho few primary schools where it
will now be taught. we shall soon see it intro
duced into them all. And if our youngsters
justify its use by the way in which they ac-
quire the art which has, from time immemoral,
distracted the heads of the successive genera
tons of boys and girls, there will I've no fur
ther doubt of its utility and value.