Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-04-23

New York EYenirp o Post

New York Evening Post.
The record of the life and labors
of Noah Webster is an Entertaining
tale, as all narratives of the struggles
of American Republicans during the
infancy of the republic are to us to-
day; and it is certainly as instructive
as any one of the fables in the old
spelling books. 1t is entertaining,
because it recalls wildly to the read
er's mind the exciting and pictur-
esquc times of the Revolutionary
war and the succeeding years of con-
fusion; and it is instructive because
it teaches quite as forcibly as any
work Of fiction with an appended
moral, that perseverance, sobristy,
courage and education are the condi-
tions of honest success.
| Noah Webster was a representative
American Republican. While he
was a growing boy he was imbued
with the principles which governed
the founders Of our country. While
he was at college the war of the
Revolution was begun. He left his
books and shouldered musket.-
When he had done what he could as
a soldier, he returned to his studies,
and completed his college education
as the smoke of battle rolled away
from the field and discovered to the
astonished world the young republic
victorious. He was not rich, and he
had to earn the money to pay for his
tuition. All these things combined
to make Webster a democrat of Il
rigid stamp. He had helped to
throw off from his countrymen the
chains of British rule. When he lert
college he looked about him for some
useful occupation, and it occurred to
aim that he could make America still
more independent. Perhaps he was
to democratic in this. Some people
thought that, in counseling the disuse
of English books and English meth
ods of education, Webster was ad-
vising his countrymen to cut off their
noses to spite their faces, as Il good
old proverb (of the kind that DR..
Franklin liked) says SO forcibly.-
Talking Of DR.. franklin reminds us
that that CHEEKY old republican was
one OF Webster's truest friends and
strongest supporters. In 1888, when
the echo Of the last gun of the Rev
olution had scarcely died away, Web
ster's Spelling-Book was given to the
public. Who does not know Web
ster's Spelling-Book? When we COLI
slider that 5O,oO0,O0O of copies Of 1t
have been sold, and that it is now
selling at the rate Of million copies
year, it seems probable that every
one knows it. Unfortunately, the
chief merit Of Wcbstcr's. Spelling
Book, Ill the opinion of a great many
sensible persons, was it's authors
originality and industry. The spell
ing-book, they thought, taught per-
sons how not to spell. Most of the
boys and girls who studied it had to
unlearn part of it taught them,
when they became men and women.
But whether or not we spell theatre
ter ter, we must revere the men,
ory of the man who made the spell
ing-book and afterwards gave his life
to the dictionary. We need not ac-
cept Webster's peculiar opinions of
photography and lexicography to ap-
preciate his character as a man and
his indomitable energy. We still
look upon the old spelling-book with
reverence. When, together with the
English reader, an arithmetic, and an
exceedingly small geography, it con-
stituted our whole school library
there was q feeling of awe mingled
with our reverence for it. Many a
mans spelling lesson was the great
est stumbling block of the dsily
journey during the early years of his
pilgrimage. Then the uncompromis-
ing morality of the reading matter
in. Webster's Spelling-Book made
him feel prematurely that he was very
wicked. He can look back now into
the old school-room, through the
open window that faced the lane, and
see the master at his desk with his
ferule beside him, and the diminutive
lad standing in Il corner, the target
for furtive volleys of paper pellets
from his schoolmatcs, with the dog
cared spelling book in his hands and
wcemly ,TCr h's task.
INDIANS like money better than
lands. 1t is handler to have around
and can be more easily turned into
whisky and trinkets. For this reason
they are always ready to barter for
the filthy. lucre, whether they sell
lands, ponies, squaws or children
A delegation of Sioux Indians is ex'
pected soon in Washington to ncgo-
tiate for the sale of their tribal rights
in the Black Hill to the Government.
They have already heard of the de
sire to purchase these regions, and
are reported to have canvasscd the
question, and resolved upon dispos-
ition of their claims for $l,O00,0O0'
They are shrewd fellows, and have
shown their pre-eminent qualifications
for the real estate business in de.
manding SO large price for so wild
and undevelopcd tract, because it is
so badly wanted by the Government
The officers of the Interior Depart
ment are very anxious to open the
region to the inspection of the mad
caps who wish to dig it up for gold,
but the task of pickering for it with
the Sioux delegation will be anything
but. expeditions or agreeable. The
country may be opened this season.
but it looks doubtful. = Chicago