Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-04-25
PAO1rIO-OOAsT SERIES OF READERS.

shOrtens the road TO knowledge length
ems life." AS ameans of accomplishing
this desirable end, we believe the intro
duction of the new series of School
Readers recently issued by Bancroft &
Co., of San Francisco, will be found a
valuable aid. 1t would require more
space than we can devote to the subject
for thorough review, or to give more
than brief outline of the reasons upon
which we base this opinion.
The Speller of the new series is unu-
sually full and systematic. Its design
is, to associate in the mind of the pupil
practical ideas with the oral exercises,
and impart information adapted to the
capacity of the learner. This system is
admirably carried out in the Readers
likewise, which contain articles from the
pens of our most gifted writer's, on
wide range of interesting subjects.
The Speller is divided into two parts,
beginning with the simpler rudiments,
in plain Roman letters and script, illus
trated by exceedingly neat engravings
of objects designed to fix the mind upon
the lesson to he impaired. The script
exercises are connected with the text
throughout the work, and thus serve to
fanliliarize the eye with the peculiar
form of characters representing the same
letters. The second part includes words
spelled two or more ways, words with
contrasted meanings, words liable to be
COMPOUNDED, rules governing accent and
illustrating the different shades of mean-
ing affected by it, and copious rules re-
lating to prefxes and suffixes.
The Readers, from the First, printed
from large clear type, with many beau
tiful engravings, to the Fifth, contain
ing an array of choicest extracts CLEANED
from the whole field of American and
English literature, are SO progressive in
their nature that the scholar will be
lead almost imperceptibly to obtain
practical insight into the varied rules of
elocution. As may be surmised, the
literature of the Pacific Coast has re-
ceived special recognition in this series,
but, as the author remarks, not to the
extent of being sectional or exclusive. "
Each article is prefaced by brief bio
graphical sketch of the author, which
is valuable for reference and renders
these books attractive to the general
reader as well as serving the primary
object in a much higher degree of school
instruction.
The Manuel of American Ideas, which
may be used for reader in advanced
classes, is plain exposition of the fun
damental principles Of the Government.
It can be read with profit by all, and
as an epitome of civil science, is worthy
of place in any library.
The greatest difficulty experienced in
the introduction of new series is
founded upon popular reverence for
forms and systems sanctioned by usage.
Anything new, or which departs from
the beaten track, is regarded as an in
novation, and only accepted upon the
most indubitable evidences OF superior
ity. The cost of changing textbooks is
an objection that the publishers of the
Pacific Coast Series appear to have con-
sidered, and they have wisely concluded
to furnish their books ut two-thirds the
regular price for the purpose of intro
duction. The standard prices are
Speller IS cents, First Reader rs, Sec
ond so, Third rs, Fourth 81, Fifth
81 rs, and the Manuel 81 5O-less than
the prices charged for the corresponding
books formerly used.