The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-08-18
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
No. % continued.
BY UNCLE SILAS.

tBeIng continuation of an address de1iv-
fne Treu at a session nc OF the Peabody Teachers
the evening of July Bro, 1894
Sixty years ago the books that were
put into the childrcu's hands, were as
primitive as the school houses, and as
nnforblddlng in appearances, COM
pared with those of the present period.
Nebster's speller was then coming
INTO use with its column of A B C;s. as
attractive to child as a stone is to a
hungry tramp. In one session of three
months learned the letters, and 10
spell simple words prepared for be
ginners. Ny master made me get nv
lessons over and over until | could re-
peat them off hand. Then / took the
book home and my -nctl,er tore off a
leaf. BY this means l advanced as far
as Baser. Had | had a teacher with
tue advantages of to-day, would
nave mastered the entire speller in
that time.
After the spelier. came McGuffey's
readers, just then introduced, Nos, !.
2, 3 and 4.
When | was sufficiedtly advanced 10
learn to write, the paper furnish "a
was a little better than the ordinary
wrapping paper of today. This the
master had to rule for the children. as
the art OF ruling, as now practiced,
was unknown.
The pens were made of goose quills,
and one of the torments and plaques
IT my teaching experience was the
daily making and repairing of Quill
pens.
Sixty years ago Pixies Arithmetic
was IN service. in which values were
represented in pounds, sl,llings and
pence. But when | began that branch
OF study, Smiley's Arithmetic was in
troduced with values in dollars and
cents.
AT that date there were no dimes or
half dimes. The silver coins in use
were l23 cent pieces. known as "bits.'
and ct cent pieces, designated "pica-
ynnes.'
How many of you know that the
great daily newspaper. so long and
favorably known in New Orleans, was
named the Picayune for this little
piece Of sllvery aud that it was the
first daily ever published in the South.
and perhaps in the United States, and
sold for that price9 l remember to
have frequently seen pieces Of silver
that were once current, cut from quar-
ter and half dollars, four 'picayunes"
out OF tie former and four s.blts" from
the latter.
Glasses IN Grammar scratched their
heads over the heavy platitudes Of
klrkhan. Chopping fire wood was a
luxury to the study of that book.
Students of Geography used Olney's
work. When | studi d geography.
there were "a states in the Union
West OF the Mississippi river the only
ones We're Missouri and part of Louisi- |
ana.
: Florida, Arkansas, Michigan ard |
were Territories. All that |
section now comprising Iowa, Mime
sofa, Nebraska and part Of Kansas
was known as the Missouri Territory. |
Ali that grand extent of country be-
tween these territories and the Rocky !
Mountains was put down on the map |
as the Great American Desert. Ore
gon extended to the Pacific and was !
known only by name.
Mexico came over to the Sabine riv-
er, bounding Louisiana on the West, |
and all that section between the Rock
y Mountains and the Pacific Ocean as
far North as Oregon was designated as
Upper California.
Texas was part of Mexico, and the
Inhabitants were a sort of free Lane
ers who had no great respect for the
laws Of God or man. They did some
thing that displeased the Mexican
Government, which sent Santa Anna |
with an army to teach them manners.
The Texans assembled under the |
leadership OF Gen. Sam Houston and
awaited their enemies at st. Jacinto, |
gave them a good whipping, on March
Q, 1886, and declared that Texas was
q free and independent Government.
In 1915 Texas was annexed to and be-
came one of the United States. Santa |
Anna, then President of Mexico, let
ting his ambition get the better of his
sent an army over the Rio |
Grande to chastlse the Texans. Col, |
Zach. Taylor, with some soldiers, was
rnsticating in the Chapparal near by,
aud when he heard what the Mexicans
were doing, he beat the long roll, aud
the MeAicans were soon skedadling
back whence they came
This reused the Ire Of Uncle Sam
who sent one army towards Monterey
and Buena Vista under Taylor, and
and another under Scott by Vera Cruz
towards the City of Mexico. and it was
not long before the Star Spangled Ban
ner was waving from the tops of the