The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28
A CONFEDERATE GEOGRAPHY.
Some Amusing Statements in a Queer
Little Volume.


One of the most amusing instances
known of counting chickens before they
are Matched" was the publication of
geography by an enthusiastic Confederate
during the civil war. The geography was
written by Southern preacher for the
education of the young sons and daughters
OF the Confederacy, and the inculcation OF
belief in the Confederacy's grandeur.
The reverend gentleman's effort might
have been as he desired, but the tide went
the other way, and the authors hopes col
lapsed, leaving the statements in the vol
ume false prophecy, instead OF facts, as it
was hoped they would be.
copy of the geography is in the posses
sion of W. A. Ingham of this city. 1t is a
little 16-mo. volume of 223 pages, bound in
cloth. 1t is the first of a proposed series
called the palmetto Series" and is en-
titled Geography for Beginners, by Rev.
K. ]. Stewart. The other parts of the
series were never published, says the
Cleveland News and Herald.
The edition purports to have been pub
lished by J. w. Randolph, Richmond, Va,
but the printing and binding were done in
England. The book was to be sold at So a
copy. cargo of these Southern school
books was intercepted by Union cruiser,
and the books were sold in New York at
auction. Mr.. Ingham bought ten copies
and gave them to friends. His last copy
was stolen from his library ten years ago,
but recently he obtained copy, which was
sold with library With the Biographies
on the ship were number of bibles and
separate gospels, which were being donated
to the Confederate soldiers by friends in
the English Bible Society. Mr.. Ingham
obtained a number of them also.
The geography is remarkable for the
facility with which it ignores the United
States of America. The Confederate States
and Government are prominent. Where
ever the United States is spoken of it is as
''The Northern Government"
An extract which illustrates the style of
the volume as well as the painful dis
crepancies between its statements and the
facts is given below:
"In 1862 the Government of the Confed-
crate States was duly established at Rich
mond, Va, under constitution which had
been adopted by the several States, with
the Inauguration of Jefferson Davis as it's
first President for term of six years, and
Alexander III. Stephens as Vice President.
Every effort that human ingenuity could
contrive or immense resources OF money
and vast ornaments on sea and land could
accomplish was made by the Northern
Government TO capture the capital and
other important places, and break up the
political organization of the Confederacy.
"But by the constant, evident and ac-
knowledged aid of the God of battles and
King of nations these efforts have all failed !:
and, at vast expense of suffering and blood,
the people of the Southern States have
fought their own way to political indie
pendence and the respect and amity of the
great nations of the world. May that God
Who has graciously blessed their efforts
keep them in his most holy faith and fear.
and long secure to them the blessings of
peace and prosperity"
At the foot of the page is list of ques-
tions for review. The answers which were
supposed to be given were evident from the
wording and the contents of the page Just
quoted. Here are specimens:
"When was the Government of the Con-
federate States established under its pres
ent constitution? Did the North try to
break it up? Who aided the South? Who
is King of nations? Can nation fall
without His word? What will happen if
we forget him."
There is little doubt that the publication
is the only textbook in existence which
gives such an account of the results of the