The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-09

ters so plain that there can be no argu.
ment about them. and the teacher who
questions II Lees History II good. ranks
with the artist who has his doubts II
blue and yellow win make green. Hear
one OF tho wiscst and most successful
teachers that America has ever bad. II
have 10 express the most unqualified sat
isfaction with Mrs Lees History. The
results obtained from II prove IL TO be
the best history OF any country that We
have used In my school now closing its
thirty-hrst session
Children delight in the work IN Mrs.
Lees History. one gentleman who has
thousands Of Southern children TN the
schools OF which he has control declares,
History has come 20 he much more
pleasing study IN our schools since we
have been using Mrs. Lees book"
REVISION OF HISTORIES.
II there were no other question In
VOWED except the sale Of books, Mrs
Lees History as it stands at present.
would be- perfectly satisfactory 10 any
publishers The book SIS clearly without
a rival and the distance between a. and
re competitors may wei be stated IN the
form in which the racing triumph Of old
Eclipse was announced. ~ c''s History
drsi-thc rest nowhere. But the Same sort
~ careful ambition which has made Lees
History what DO is now seeks 90 make
10 better 4 liborious canvass of the
views Of prominent teachers and Con-
fcdcrote veterans and others has been
made Committee of Camps. ministers
of Tho Gospel. newspaper men. profes-
sion9l men. business men and intelligent
women hv the score have written and
expressed their opinion of the book.
nfnf that farIfI lN from
anywhere. every suggestion that cone
tanned the promise OF am improvement
has been treasured up. Tho criticism Of
hostile hook firms has not hcon forgot
fen and recently Inc publishers have
caused a most extensive revision 10 ho
made bv means az which the books viii
be- improved In every way New matter
Will be added. few alterations have
proved desirable now Illustrations now
mans. new everything. VIII make Mrs
Lees Histories in the future. the &C.
rcntel standard of excellence So that the
ns"al WAY 10 rate the claims ~ any
other book viii be- 10 say "1t is half as
good as Lees. or 'n quarter as good.
etc.. rs The case may be.
READERS. ETC.
30 is curious how plain Il ittc in,cstica-
ton of the subject caused % appear The
fact that many Jt those defects which
married all school histories. prior 90 tine
appearance OF Mrs Lees books. also mar
RED the pages OF the RcIde,s offered by
northeIn publishers 10 our southern
schools. The sins of these readers were
both of commission and of omission.
They did those things which they ought
not 90 nave done, and left und0ne those
things which they ought to have done.
One standing ground of complaint agaiEs.
them was their persistent Introduction OF
matter which coIld not fail TO be dis
pleasing 20 the Sotuh This ground was
extensive. Thu books We're made 90 sell
in southern markets. and if the compilers
OF The books did not keep clearly in mind
The peculiariues of the people who would
buy the books What reasonable hope was
there that they would bear iu mind amy
other consideration necessary TO The pro-
duction of desirable books Therefore
when slduderous poems and political
prose were found thick I'm the pages Of
some of the northern Readers. the sug-
sesiion was made al once that such
fact would indicate a careiessness in all
the departments OF the makeup OF the
books which would render them practical
y unfit for use in any schools a care
iul examination revealed that. 300 one
particular OF the utmost Importance. the
grading Of these readers was so Door that
many schools We're using books OF three
lr four series in order 90 get a grading
which woull suit their purposes. The
Johnson Company at once conceived the
plan ot issuing AN absolutely uncXcep-
ionable set OF readers. The critical ard
he literary path was thoroughly blazed.
Tor candOr cOmpeis the statement that
several of the northern-made readers
we're Of excellent artistic and literary
makeup. But the Johnson Company was
hot 20 be satisfied with ordinary excel
euce. Their books were 90 surpass lhc
'thers even IN the points in which those
thers We're the strongest and 90 contain
caretulness of grading and am adapted
less 90 the spirit of the country ln which |
hey We're TO be used which We're evident
y undreamed of by the makers OF nor.h- |
rn books
Ia connection with this adaptation t0 |
DE needs OF Southern schools comes the !
0nsideration of one of the gravest faults /
Z omission On the older books. These |
oaders had been forced, for very shame
% take some notice OF the existence of |
0uthern literature though most OF them /
ad done so grudgingly. The utmost /
hat any of them mad concedel-and ,ha, |
oncessi0n was in a series of books not /
ltely offered TO the Southern schools
'as To- make toerable number II ex- /
-acts from Southern writers. These ex- |
-ac,s. however, either by chance err by |
asign, were Of such character that they
iisht as well have been written A. .hc
orth Pole as in the Southern states.
hey belonged here by The fact THAT ticir
lth0rs were born In the South. nut ,hcy |
)ntained no word of Southern ring. no
.scripuon Of Southern scenes. no tribute
the Southern character. no reference
Southern peOp.e. This fault is per-
city remedied in The Johnson Readers
hey stand for the best literature of Eng |
nd and OF America but in this they
ave no very great advantage over some
her books. FOR there are several series
which the literary taste Us not SO far
ferior & that displayed .n the Johnson
rios. But they are Southern Readers.
I'D in this respect they occupy position
tin regard to- Southern schools which |
other series of readers can hope 90
ARE. ln making these books % Wis
e clear and explicit understanding the
c first point OF al was ,0 make a sel
books by means of which the subject |
reading could Dee most thoroughly and
ost quickly ana most asrecabiy learn
. To accomplish this the gradiu- OF
-sons. the style of writing. and The in-
rest Of selections needed the strlcte-l
tention. But after his was done and
done. much more remained
hind. At this stage the ordinary rc,I-
is regarded as complete Not So the
hnson Readers Out of the mass pf
after selected and classified as wcl
sh perfect for the mere teaching Of
aiding there was selected next. that
rt when served the secondary. but
ally higher purpose of intoxicating SONS
lral lesson or teaching some useful iact.
d thus. without sacrificing aught OF lit-
any merit or pedagogical usefulness.
1917 - u ~ ]