The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-20
Pointed Out in the School Histories
Nowin Use.
THALHElMeR'S AND BARNES.
Severely arraigned in Report Made
10 the PuIaski Daughters OF the
Confcderacy Eggleston's
Work Bad. Too.

To the Pulaski Chapter OF L. u. c.:
The following Is the report which your
committee has. In obedience TO your order.
prepared on the histories which the re-
cent Board OF buucasIon required all
teachers IN the public schools of Virginia
70 use.
1t has been thought best to consider
each text book separately.
THALHEIMER s HISTORY.
Thalheimers School History Of the u.
S.:
In the opinion Of your committee. this
history Is unfit for use as a text book:
LIST. because 70 condenses so much that
II makes history extremely uninteresting
20 children. al an age when II is impor-
tant that they should form a taste for ~
In some cases. whose capters consist OF
little more than a long list Of isolated
facts. and a maddening prodigality Of
dates and unpronouncable proper names,
all OF which have NJ real meaning 10 the
child. and consequently obtain no perma-
nent lOdgment In his brain. for example,
notice the whole Of chapter Bird.
Bacons Rebellion, in which the true
historian cannot fail 10 see the same prin-
cipes involved ana the same ends sought
as in the Revolutionary War is passed
over with scarcely a paragraph notice,
when II should have been impressed on
the students mind that II was but tho
revolution in miniature with dhis differ
ence: that II ended in defeat and sorrow
instead Of glory and liberty
Second. because of It's extreme partial
ity: CHANGING over the chapters on the
early settlement of the New England
States one would think that NJ. 4. Thai
heimer was pillar in the church in
the Massachusetts colony. and willing 10
falsify In its interest 20 an unlimited eX-
tent twas not that a striking Characters
tic Of the pillars Of that cnurchl, IL one
IS 10 Judge by the easy grace with which
ne speaks of the rights (which were pure
~ imaginary Of the "freemen' OF that
colony when he must know that the gov
eminent was a most exclusive religious
oligarchy. where scarcely one-ffth of the
freemen had the right Of suffrage. none
IN fact but church members, and witty
Englishman says that none could be re-
ceived into that church without giving
publicly an experience which few but
lnatics and hypocrites could give.
SKILLFUL MISUSE OF WORDS.
In chapter twenty. no mention is made
OF Vrginias magnificent gift OF the I've
States OF the northwest thereby making
the Union possible. when some smaller
States selhshly demanded It as a condition
Of union the fact that each State ex-
pressy reserved to herself all rights
which We're not mentioned in the Consu-
tuition. Is deftly concealed.
In chapter twenty-five, the author re-
luctlanuy admits that Its enemies con-
sidered the consultation Of the Hartford
Convention disloyaL' Can you Imagine a
more skillful misuse of words? With the
pen of a Thalheimer and readers who had
but modicum OF confidence In our state
ments, we think we could prove conclu-
sivclly that Marlborough himself was a
gentleman Of sensitive honor, a generous
friend. and a loyal subject. instead OF
one OF the hasest Of mankind. who sold
everything that was saleable-indeed. We
might without fear Of contradiction. in
troduce Judas IsCariOt as gentleman Of
blameless life who has been basely ma
ligned by his enemies The student is left
I'm ignorance Of the fact that while the
Union went into the war OF 1912 for the
sake Of new England (the only seafaring
part of the country at that time)
and the other States were fighting brave
ly she was showing blue lights to the
enemy. and preparing to secede from the
Union. and even TO join the English be-
cause. forsooth her trade mot her honor;
that was a small natter was injured by
the continued war
The student Is not told that South Caro-
linas notification scheme was a last des
perate protest against the Ubiquitous tariff
laws by which the whole country was
taxed heavily TO enrich few hundred
New England manufacturers.
In chapter thrty-one. the Wilmot pro-
viso As, by intimatiOn. heartily endorsed.
What a conscience was that. my coun-
trymen! No wonder the South. I'm the
words Of a foreign historian. was suspic-
ious of the newiy-awakened conscience
OF the North" Ton the subject Of slavery.
DELIBERATELY FALSIFIED.
In chapters thirty-four aud thirty-five
the story OF Sumter-is deliberately falsi-
ned. The single paragraph devoted 70 Il
furnishes a mqgnihce2t illustration Of
the fac, that no Ingenious person need
stoop to tell lie in so many words BY
a skillful workman the most malignant
" false impression NAV be conveyed
without making one untrue statement
With an airy grace and skill born of long
experience. the author passes over the
fact that Messrs. Lincoln and Seward
while spending some weeks in reitera ing
their promise 10 the Confederate COM
missioners that Fort Sumter should be
evacuated, sent a spy 10 gain access 70
thefort under false pretences: and that
rhe fort was only reduced Though II had
long Threatened the safety Of the city,
when an armament bad started from New.
York 10 its assistance. Wearying at last
OF the indirect method OF fslsifying the
author gives us the plain. .unvarnished
truth"(O that Munchausen himsslf neei
not have blushcd 70 own. in the story OF
the murder ~ Bal,imore's citizens in her
very-strests. by tho Sixth Massachusetts,
while passing through Maryland in IA
grant violation OF Mr.. hncoln's plfghted
word. as well as OF the constitution
Mr. Lncoln,s duplicity IN violating the
promised neutrality OF Maryland Ken
lucky and Missouri. IS far too unimpov-
tant to be mentioned by historian who
is occupied with stories Ike the Boston
Tea Party. etc.
Not one studen; I'm a thousand would
gather from this history that the exist
ence OF what Is now termed West Vir-
giuia is lasting proof Of the fact that
the government cared not for constitu-
ti0nal or moral rights.
Most Confederate veterans will be sur
prised To learn that there were equal
numbers Of Confederates and Federals
engaged in the battle OF Bull Run.
We recognize the fact that such was
the sDlendor Of our soldiers in their
matchless courage and marvellous endur-
nncc that the terrified enemy according
60 Mr. LncOln's account. almost invaria-
biz reported themselves Outnumbf red
three 10 one. We can excuse their mis-
takeel. There are few people IN this world
who could stand before an army OF Con-
federates. even though they be twice or
thrice outnumbered-from q historian.
however. writing thirty years afterwsrd