The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-15
For the Farmer and Mechanic
SectIonol School Books.

As some of your readers may remem-
Der, | wrote short time since sort of
critique upon book entitled Thompson S
Teachers Examiner, and was prompted
thereto by conscientious desire to check
the food Of Yankee literature which
under the guise of school books would
seek to innoculate our Southern youth
with error and falsehood. and would per-
suade our children that their fathers and
kinsmen who fought aud perished in the
late war, were rebels. traitors, incendi-
aries, and assassins | said the book was
sectional in its history. and erroneous in
it's grammar, and | require no stronger
proofs than the authors own writings.
And now the author with visions of
lost patronage dancing before him. seizes
his pen and sneers. Assuming an air
of lofty superiority he says This would
be-sagc duddciously attempts to criticize
and condemn book published by me en-
titled the Teachers Examiner. If there
was any audaclty in my attempted
criticism OF Mr.. Thompson's work, it was
only because my capacity tor expressing
contempt and scorn was inadequate to
the demands OF the occasion. My re
marks on the gentleman Grammar,
though only lmade en- passant seem to
have given more serious otfense than any
thing else. He quotes numerous author
tiles to prove his grammatical correct
ness, but advances none to substantiate
his slsnderous charge that rebel em-
mlssaries attempted to fire the city OF
New York" Concerning the expression
The two Miss Mortons' | still maintain
that it is Incorrect Obviously should be
The two Misses Morton We might as
well say, THE Mr.. Browns instead OF
The Messrs. Brown.
After making me feel dresdfully by the
application of such remarks as Smart
Aleck," etc., he kindly administers q
balm to my wounded feelings as follows,
II can only pity the person who in his
Grammar" etc. His generous compass
consoliDg and aptlY illustrates the maxim.
"a fellow feeling makes us wondrous
kind"
Morton ladies is by no means the only
he asks, when and by whom aoas lakes
again When and by whom ,oas the gulf
But perhaps Mr.. Thompson, having
carefully considered the claims of the
two words uoas, and acere, finally decided
in favor of the superior merits of the
former. In which case we shall again be
covered with shame aad confusion. In de-
fense of MS use of the term rebel, he says,
Both terms (rebel aud confederate) were
carefully considered, and the former term
selected as being more appropriate for
the OCCASION
So it seems that term which a regard
for truth and decency has caused to be
abandoned by the more respectable
Northern historians is entirely consonant
with Dir. Thompson ideas of propriety.
Replying to my aliusion to him as an
erudte lllinolsan, with that charming
originality which enllvens his whole ler
ter he styles me au erudit, Carollnlau. To
be considered erudite among lilinoisans
is not necessarily hattering, but to be
called erudite among Ncrth Carohnians,
is a compliment which to "A youth to
fortune aud to fame unknown and i'm
INJURED In ignorance and obscurity, is pc
cuiarly gratifying.
AS to his assertion that since the pub
lication Of nay spicy articles, his or
ders from Southern people have increas
ed two fold, | pronounce it an empty
boast, which for its great remoteness
from the vicinity of truth, is worthy Of
place in the Teachers Examiner
ln conclusion would in most friend
ly spirit advise Mr.. Thompson to with
draw the Objectionable features of his
book, and cease to mslign people who
have never injured him in the past, and
will never harm him in the future. He
can gain no glory in leading such course,
having him as its champion.
JOHANNES.