, 1880-12-19

Ever since their ancestors threw away
Their horn-books In the old country, the
Yankees from the Pilgrim Fathers down to
Bill Baraum, have set great store by prim-
ers. The first book called by that name is
said to have been printed in Old England in
the time OF Elizabeth and to have contained
little besides the alfabet and q few simple
words. 1t was only when trapsplonted tn
! New England that the primer took its proper
place IN literature, growing in Importance
and expanding in volume until it took rank
alongside the family Bible and the almanac
as one Of the three books without
which no successful attempt at house.
Keeping could be made. There probably
never was more useful work dropped
from the press than the original
New England Pfimer.'' It was Instructive
and pleasing alike to age and to youth. It
was, like "Froggy" Dibdin's Library Com
panlon, the young mans guide and the old
mans comfort" If children did not cry for
II, they certainly wept by reason of it, for it
flad the "Shorter Catechls1n," and another
one, not very short, devised by Mr.. Cotton.
II IL mad not been for the revolution in the
oloRy which began to shake Boston and all I
us dependencies pretty soon after the close |
OF the second war with England, it is likely /
that the New England Primer would have
held its own, or, at least, would have con-
tlnued to be used by very good people In very
secluded localities, until it was ousted by the
travelling publishers agent for schooI-books.
who, in the long run, is sure to drive every
instruction book out OF the market which HIS
Deem IN existence over ten years. Time was
"llen the parent, seeing his offspring at work
upon the same lesson and In the same book
Which he himself did formerly use, could
remind the youngster of the degeneracy of
modern times and Of the increased stupidity
OF children. Now, what fond father would
1are to cross-examine his son on the secular
lesson OF the day? The child studies new
books and learns things that the generation I
before him wot not Of
AL THIS COMES from throwing aside the old
eliable "New England Primer"
10 mend the condition Of things as far ~ {
'oSsible, however, some benevolent GENTLE {
acn down in Massachusetts have composed
notner little primer, smaller than the first | =
ne ana a good deal easier to remember. It
cal1ed <Ihe Benjamin Franklin Prlmer.n u
hough Nr. Frank1ln's connection with the !
'ork seems to endwith his standing guard on | a
1e title-page in the guise of marble statue. ! ;
[e has got on Daniel Webster's head and
oat, and seems to b. meditating whether It
ou1d be cheaper to come down from hia .
celestial or to hold an umbrella over himself r,
case OF severe rain. The book has first '*
ass testimonials annexed. MY children I
i cry for It,' says Brigham Young: at =,
axes fine show" says P 7. Barnum: II Il
n glad it Is out" says Mark Twain; "if it g. g
Id Struck in, it would have been worse than | D,
e measles" Next after the atfabet is the l..
cture OF very sheeptsh dog, followed bv a
'other OF a very cocky hen which looks
re remote ancestor of THE TR1Busr,s sh
rmg chicken which crew the morning after %
'rhc1d was nominated. Then come pict- Is
es labeled "Two Oxen" "One Ing-en.' sh
Turk" "a Turkey" and a II II
'al representation OF Vishnu with the
'end: ''Do not be idol" A small bov-
because bull~pup has borne away th
eh Dig sample from the seat Of his pauta- co co
ms as to suggest reason why only front ~ ~
~ of the boy is given, stands as an il1ns. bo
ton for this lesson: W.
[ere Is nice dog 49,
las tue dog sharp teeth7
H. 5es' the dog has sharp teeth. az
III "4aal4c vie" SHOWS James clingInp tn In.
OF very high pole which sticks I'D in the an ar,
1d!e OF river, while three or four croco- Ito
IS are reaching up for him. This is thu ou
tructlve comment: Sui
:e James and his pets In
is pets are fund OF him 70
e Will soon feed his pets. nre
men comes the dog OF history and of song, Ste
u a tea-kettle tied to his tail, and this fu,
ion: 'A140 but
IN tha do,., i'm!
na tIoD % 49, n M .uhs Ent
ae can is on the dog. n,s
IN. dog, run. ths ~
seems strangely like Noah Vahe+ar,s ha,
spelllng-book story, commencing: mo 1n,r
10 teu ene olo men, / ord
"o tlpsy mep at 1amp-post are arguing rna!
% the identity OF one of the heavenly -
les:
1t the sum- frDl
}, 1t Is the moon. "sc
the mt,ou full? 20 n