Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-14

The school-Book Question Again.
CoNMUNIcATIoN From A SCHOOL TRusrKs.
MAY 18th, 1874.
Editor Star: In an article in your yesterdays
paper, on the faction OF the School Board at
''their last meeting, concerning the question of
changing Biographies" you done the justice
to those who were in favor of changing Gsog-
raphies, of stating that they were no doubt
"honest," and You win no doubt be 30 just rs TO
insert few remarks from the other side, con
the question OF changing the Biographies" es-
Pec1aly since for the present at least, the prop
osifion has not been entertained by majority
Of the board.
What desire to say Is simply this, that it Ia
somewhat remarkable that those members of
the Board who we're 20 much Interested In hay-
ing the present Biographies in use (Cornell's)
terest in retaining 1t, have not even attempted
to defend the book for its merits as a tex book.
On the contrary their tacticts from the first to
last was, TO prevent the question Of the merits
OF the said book as compared with other Geog-
rsphies, to be brought mp for debate. Why
were these Gentlemen 80 much opposed to going
into the merits or dement's Of the book in which
they appear to have 80 much interest? Where
they afreight that some members of the Board
who were so much lCiaed aud dined by a certain
''shck Book Agent" could not help but see the
utter worthlessnees Of the books? III they we're
not, why did they not show their hands by de-
Tending the book for its merits, IL 1t has any?
As for the "blsnd and childlike Book-dr m
mers," permit me TO say, that the writer of this
had occasion to meet many Of that class Of
individuals, and while he has found them as
class as gentlemanly as any set Of men he
knows of, he found that there are excsp-
tons among them, like you would find among
any other set of men. In proof of this, mean
the exception, / would only state, that two
years ago, when the proposition was made In
the board to adopt Cornell's Biographies in our
Public Schools, an Agent for that book offered,
In presence of a witness, to a member of the
Board rs much of S500.-as he, the Trustees
may name, II he would come out in favor OF
said books, stating at the tims tn at he did not
care red whether the book had any merits or
not, but that it was a matter Of business with
him.
How many sets of Oyclopaedias were sent
here, at the time, at the sujestion Of q certain
member of School Board, can not be exactly
found out, but that a respectable number OF
sets came, Is known and can be proven.
Neither Is 1t known how many members were
paid mileage to travel home from IMAGINARY
trips, to enable them to vote for the adoption of
Cornells Biographies, but 1t Is known that
some received such travel pay.
More reasons of like substantial nature can
be given, "why Cornells Biographies were put
In place or better book, two years ago, and
why such Chords are made to keep IL there.
Az the question OF change Of Biographies
Will by no means end yet, when ever It comes
up agsin In the board, some more reasons for
the great interest manifested by some members
OF the board for retaining the book In the
Schoois will not alone be spoken abont, but
proven by unmistakeable evidence.
ANTI CORNELL.
REAL ESTATE SALEs.-Messrs. Duncanson
BIOS, auCtiOupers. sOid vestard aff LOT