The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-23

aSo attcnOcn the publ1c ScnOOls OF
Missouri and other Western States
have not forgotten the old Webster
elementary spelling book. In those
days the old ''bluc back did duty in
majority Of the schools, and it was
authority of spelling. 1t was the
browning ambition of the average boy
or girl to be able to correctly spell
oifhand any word within its covers.
This feat, g accomplished ut the
monthly spelling school, when, upon
Il Friday night, the parent, of Che
pupils were present, was Joy enough
for the average student.
In many nf the Western State, this
once pornlarbook has long since given
place to ether spoilers. Durinp tire
past six months the successful bidders
in the contest to supply tho schools OF
Kansas with Il uniform series Of book,
have been receiving old books in cx-
change for the new. Something like
100, 600 new spelling books have been
supplied - the people, and probably
10000 old spoilers have been received
in exchange, but in all this pile only
three copies Of the old "bluc back
Webster have been turned in. The
copy in the hands of the writer cvi-
IDENTIFY belonged oncc to Il Missouri
boy, because on its cover is written
the name Of Roy Skidmorc. Wcstyille,
no.
Nothing will so completely carry
enc back to '~childhood's earliest
hours as p%erusal Of the old blue
back" spcllcr. Next to the ''old
oakcn bucket" with it's memories so
dear, this thumbcd and worn reminder
of school days creates upon the youth
full mind Impressions, aside from the
knowledge it imparts, which age does
not dim or remove
Probably the proudcst moment OF a
boy OF girls life was when he or she
was able to stand up in class and cor
rectly spell the first word Of two sylla
blcs in the 'bluc back" spcllcr. This
word, "~ta-hcr,' though simple, was
the test. The student who could
master this lesson, No. 26. containing
80 words, felt that one-half tho battle
had been won. The victory was com
plete when 4 student could spell and
pronounce by syllablcs the longest
word in the book-''in- om-prc-hen-
Bi-bil-i-ty.'
Following each spelling lesson in
the old Webster is a collection Of SEN
fences which leave on the child's
mind Impressions which last through
life. Some of these gems will bear
repetition here
"The gambler is uneasy when at
home
"Thc drunkard's face will publish
his yiaa and his disgrace
"0ur farmers. mechanics and mcr-
chants compose tho strength OF our
nation. Let them be wise and virtu-
GUS, and watchful of their liberties.
lIct them trust no man to lcgislatc for
them if he lives in the hubitual viola
ton Of the laws Of his country"
"How happy men would be if they
would always love what is right and
hate what is wrong
The half dozen fables in the old
"blue back are az familiar t 0 the
person who used this spellcr as is the
golden rule. Fable i, Of The Boy
That Stole Apples points a moral rs
true as the gospel itself. II is illus
trated, showing the boy in the apple
tree and the old man throwing stones
at him. The pictures show tho crude
cuts Of the time. This fable runs
IAN old man found a rude boy upon
one Of his apple trees stealing apples,
aud desired him to como down, but
the young saucc-box told him plainly
that nc would not. Wont your
said The old man then ] will fetch
you down So he pulled up some
turf Or grass and threw at him but
this only made the yoangstcr laugh,
to think the old man should pretend
to beat him down from the tree with
grass only.
"'Well. WE'LL said the old man, If
neither words nor grass will do, 1 must
try what virtue there is in stones
80 the old man pclted him heartily
with stones, which soon made the
young chap haste down from the tree
and beg the old mans pardon.
"Meral-If good words and gentle
means will not reclaim the wicked.
they must be dealt with in q more
severe manner
"The Country Maid and Der Milk
PAIL and the moral II tcachoa an