The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-08

ence, both in the text and by map questions,
to the maps which it contains. The mathe-
matical works are from thepen of Professor
venable, formerly Of the South Carolina Col
lege, now of the University of Virginia. His
Elementary Algebra and his two arithmetic
books ere equal in clearness, precision and
method to those Of Davies. Text books OF
geometry, q higher algebra, &C., are in
course of preparation. The series OF Eng
lish Southern readers has been edited by
Professor Holmes, who occupies the chair OF
history and general literature in the Univer-
sity of Virginia. The "Fifth Reader" the
only one of the series which we have had
an opportunity of examining, is very Judi
ciously arranged, contains tasteful and
well-selected extracts from American (chlef-
ly Southern) and English writers, and has
the definitions of the more difficult words
which occur in the text at the foot of each
lesson. We are glad to learn that this ex-
.cellent reader has already, to a considerable
extent, been introduced into our schools.
Professor Holmes has also published an
English grammar, and promises manual
Of English composition. Professor Schele de
We're, of Virginia. a gentleman distinguished
for his profound and extensive knowledge OF
modern languages, has prepared the French
series. We have examined his "Grammar
Gin French" and consider it an excellent
handbook for more advanced scholars, but
confess that we think it would be better suit
ed for the use of schools if it contained a
larger amount OF exercises, both French
English for Illustration and English-French
for the practice of the rules given in the
text. Our townsman, Mr.. Sachtleben, has
prepared for the same series guide to
French pronunciation, which may prove a
useful auxiliary to teachers and scholars,
who have little or no opportunity OF con-
versiDg with Frenchmen. Professor Glider
sleeve, graduate of Charleston College,
and of the University Of Gottingen, and for
many years professor of Greek literature in
the University of Virginia, has undertaken
the task of preparing the Latil series Ito be
followed by Greek series) We have care
fully examined his syntaX of the Latin Ian
guage and think very highly of it, both as
regards the plan Of arrangement, the doc
trinal part and the abundant illustrations
by means OF quotations from classical all
thors. 1t is book excellently adapted for
the Cicero and Virgil class, and for higher
classes. Its usefulness in schools will, how
ever, be materially increased by an addi-
ton of English-Latin exercises, which the
professor promises in his preface.
In conclusion, we take the liberty to urge
uSon our teachers to examine the books
contained in the University series, and to
adopt, if not the whole series, at least these
which they find suitable to their purposes.
The University Publishing Company is es-
scntially Southern enterprise, though, for
obvious reason, located at the North. The
gentlemen who have prepared the books
are our fellow-citizens in the narrower sense
of the word; motives of friendship and pa
triotism should, Us far as we can, induce us
to prove our appreciation of their labors by
awaiting ourselves of them in ours.