The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-22
Books for Our Schools.

ton, next month, the writer has
examined the publications of various
houses, and inquired into their gu
thorship and merits, and We feel that
we have a right to say something
along this line.
We believe. with every true son of
the south, that the histories. geogra-
phiee and readers used in our schools
should be written by southern men
aud women who can do justice to our
literature, our heroic deeds and our
geographical advantages We find
that the University Publishing com
psny is the pioneer in tbis southern
school book work. 1t was organized
by southern men soon after the war
and it has labored long and faithfully,
sometimes almost without hope Gen
Robt E Lee was the originator Of the
idea that our school books should be
written by southern men. to preserve
our history and he fully endorsed
the efforts of the University Publish
ing company, Of Gen Gordon, and
others, in providing books for our
southern children
We have now in use in the schools
OF this country aud State. Maury's
biographies, Holmes readers aud
Hansell's ;Chambers') histories and
in several counties Sanford's arithme.
tics. These books. we believe, are
giving satisfaction. There are none
better, that we have seen, and we see
no use of changing them now, there
by upsetting the work Of the schools
and causing the people needless e1-
peuse, with the possibility of getting
inferior books.
They are by southern men. Com
modoye Maury was born in Virginia.
and went to school to James Otey.
afterwards bishop, of Harpeth Shoals,
Tenn. This "Path6oder of the Seas
great scientist, inventor of the weath.
er chart, etc, is known ss the world's
greatest geograpber, and one of it's
greatest benefactors lie was Con
federate soldier
DR. George F. Holmes spent his
boybood and early manhood in South
Carolina He graduated at the South
Carolina college, and, we have been
told, taught his first school here at
He was for time q
professor in the University of Geor
gia, and later president of the Uni
versity of Mississippi. For nearly
10 years and at the time of his death |
last year, he was professor of English
and History in the University of Vir-
yinia. He was a southern man and
> Confederate soldier.
Prof II. Z Chambers, author Of
Histories, was for time q
professor in Tulane University, Louis.
lana. aud is now head master of "Tbe
Boys high School," of New Orleans.
BE was not old enough to so into
the war, but his father was Confed-
crate soldier
Prof Sanford, author of Sanford's
and algebra, established,
and was principal of preparatory
high school in Greene county, Ga
and when Mercer, the Baptist Cni-
versity, was established at Macon, be
became professor of mathematics IN
that institution.
Col Chas F Venable, author OF
Venable's aritbmetics. a'gebras, etc,
was, for some time, professor OF
mathematics in the South Carolina
college In 1852 he wen: into the
Confederate service with the first
regiment of South Carolina Infantry
Later he was raised to the rank ct
colonel. and make chief of the Top
graphical Engineering Corps. on the
staff of Gen R E Lee, in which
capacity he served throughout the
war Since the war, ne has been
senior professor OF mathematics in
the University of Virginia He died
Saturday. Aug IL.
Anctber South Caroiirian whose