Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-06
visit From a School Book Angel.


ing the reports from twenty or thirty OF the
investigating committees now in session, a
parsonage of benign aspect entered aud in
trOduced himself pleasantly as one OF the
"schOOl book fiends' denounced lately by
THE STAR. Now we had never seen a
schOol-bOok fiend, thyugh we had often
heard OF them, and busy as we were we
turned 10 look at him. He was a man or
perhaps we should say a being, of stately
proportions, noble brow OF the Poe ampli-
tude, and face in which sensibiIity, benev-
olence and dignity seemed 10 struggle for
mastery, or rather to combine TO make a
perfect whole. His dress was in keeping.
The coat, hat and gloves were black, which,
with a certain wistful pensiveness OF counte-
nance, seemed 10 indicate a state of mourn
ing over the fallen condition of the world
under the influence of bad school books:
while at the same time his vest and pants
were Of more cheerful hue, as if TO inspire
hope, that,.through the Introduction of his
superior elect series OF books ight mi yht be
thrown into all the dark corners OF the earth
and sin and besOttet ignorance banIshet
under the glorious influence OF his spoilers
and Biographies. He handed us his card
"Thaddeus Burkett- Eclectic Educational
Series; Wilson, Hinckle & Co., Publishers"
II, too, was in keeping; black lettering, indi-
suggesting hope. Then he spoke. What fit
ness in the voice! y tenor of surprising
sweetness and pathOs that had Sankey-
like effectiveness, swelling with a vaIlIug
pathos as he dilated upon the awful condition
OF the lost ones who never knew the Eclectic
Series, and changing TO an exstatic peal Of
triumph as he described the bliss OF a world
redeemed from the Cornell Geography, the
Franklin Reader, Davies Arithmetic, AMI
the Worcester Speller. Prejudice AMI ia
credulity melted like Stow under that win
ming voice. He demonstrated not only the
immeasureable superiority of the Eclectic
Series Wilson, Hinckle * Co, publishers
over all other school books present or posi-
bic, but he established by a process OF reason
ing which seemed conclusive at the time, but
which we now find ourselves rather at a loss
toexplain, that not only would the change
to the Eclectic Series be effected without
cost TO parents, but that IL would absolutely
put money in their pockets. 1t was some
thing like this: You assume In the first
place that school books are never used more
than one year-parents being always flush
OF money will not condescend TO allow their
children to use second hand books and con-
sequently every year the books on hand are
thrown away and new ones purchased. This
being the case when these new ones are
bought, all you have TO do is TO slip In the
Elective series al the reduced "introduc-
ton price" In place OF those now authorized,
and there you are, The inquiry came I'D to
the mind whether the school books are all
thrown away, and new books purchased
every school year; whether, as a matter OF
fact, In these hard times, and IN any other
times, good many parents do not find it
necessary to practise economy, and TO re-
quire their children TO keep their books in
good condition so that they may be used In
turn by the younger ones, and thus do good
service for years. That there is brisk trade
in secondhand school-books would seem TO
Indicate, too, that they are not all thrown
away after one years use. Then again
the unregenerate spirit OF scepticism would
insist upon prompting the suggestion that
If there is such gain by getting new series
OF books at introduction prices" which
low prices last for three months only;
whether the argument would not hold gooi
in favor OF changing school books every
quarter, in which case the Eclectic series, if
introduced, would have 10 make its exit In
ninety days for somebody else's cheap 'ia-
PRODUCTION price" series. Other inquiries OF
tie same (absurd, of course nature, pre-
scented themselves to the mind, but died on
the tongue, under the influence of that ire
sistible voice and that ineffaole smile. AS
he went on hour after hour telling OF the
merits OF his books, aud how communities
had risen and prospered through the use OF
the Eclectic series, and how natiOnRlities had
fOundered through not using them, people
coming into the office stopped SPELL
bound. Mere common book agents,
drumming for neutrality-suspicious. works.
paused as In the presence OF a master.
Whole delegations OF ladies essaying to
swindle THE STAR out of puff OF unadver-
Iised church fairs, and charity entertain
ments TO provide fannels for the Hottentots,
Joined the charmed circle of pupils al the
feet of this great artist in persuasion. Two
or three hundred people, male and female,
who want 10 contribute for THE STAR At the
Centennial, also joined the class. Others OF
the style who visit newspaper offices and
favor the editor with their views upon all
sorts OF matters, regardless OF time or wind,
Iaid their tribute 10 the silver tongued
speaker In the same way. And this is the
benIgnant Being We called a school-bo
nerd. Perish the epithet! Say, rather, an
angel, q textbook angel.