The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22
History of Old Grammars Traced;
Delving Into Ancient Realms
OneH Years
LogC School Recall ed. Text
Books Hold High Prestige Among

presents taking qualities OF point and SIM
plclty: "A grammar of the English Ian
guage, IN a series of letters-intended for
the use of schools and of young persons
in general. but more especially for the use
OF soldiers, sailors. apprentices and plow-
boys" This curious little book. written
by the notable Englishman who had him
self been plow-boy apprentice sailor and
soldier, as well as bookseller in Philadel-
phia, and afterwards member of the Brit
ish Parliament is dedicated fondy 10 Her
most gracious Majesty. Queen Caroline"
as work having for its objects to lay
the solid foundation OF literary knowledge
among the laboring classes of the commune
ty. 10 give practical effect TO the natural
genius found in the soldier. the sailor. the
apprentice and the pl0w-boy, and 10 make
that genius a source of wealth, strength
and safety TO the kingdom Royalty
has, in the hour of need no efficient sup
porters but the people,"
Cobbetts grammar written in Amer
lea, 1877, at North Hampstead, Long
island, and takes the form of twenty-three
letters addressed to Mr.. James Paul Cob
bett-''My dear little James'-his fourteen
year-old son, who had never been hidden
or even advised TO look into book. but
who had read and had written because he
saw his elders read and write, just as he
had learned TO ride and hunt and shoot. 10
dig in the garden, to trim the flowers and
to .prune the trees" Characteristically the
C0bbett grammar system is also highly
critical and political "In the immense field
of knowledge, dear little James. innumera-
bic ale the paths, and grammar Is the
gate OF entrance 10 them all. Every man
should entertain a desire 10 assert with
effect the rights and liberties OF his coun-
try-tyranny has no enemy so formidable
as the pen" The little pea-green boy
would truly have been in grammatical
clover had the lucid chapters Of the Cob
bett grammar been laid before him prior
to his collision with the more profound
Murray. Little James, however, parsed
sentences like these: THE borough tyrants.
generally speaking. are great fools well
as rogues," and 1T were jest indeed TO
buyers as a lawful legislative body" Cob
bett also serves up with visible relish. the
grammatical errors found in Bacon. Black
stone. Hume, Swift. Bolingbroke, Milton,
Addison, Dr. Johnson. Goldsmith, DR..
Watts and, most frequently Lndley Muir
ray. 1.-The father of English grammar" One
entire chapter is devoted TO Errors and
Nonsense in a Kings Speech" Happiness
or misery is in the mind: IL Is the mind
that lives" concludes William Cobbett TO
little James. Never esteem men merely
on account Of their riches station. Re-
spect goodness. find IL where you may
AN ENGLISH GRAMMAR
"Kirkham's Lectures, Accompanied by a
Compendium" of 1925, was published in
New York and retailed by the principal
booksellers OF the Union. This book fol-
lowed In Lindley Murrsy's beaten track.
but with valuable improvements. the defni-
lions being simplihed and made more INTEL
ligible. Kirkham's Young Learner" was
advised. in the preface. that he lived in
"a land of liberty on which the smiles Of
heaven beam with uncommon refugence.
the rich boon of freedom and prosperity
was purchased with the blood of our faith
ers''-therefore. he-the Young Learner
lowed IL 10 his country, his Creator. himself
and 10 posterity. not TO be content TO grovel
i'm ignorance. Become learned and virtuous,
Young Learner. and you will be great: love
God ana serve him and YOU will be happy"
4 or Ch IA rf ora mr.
parts of speech and thirty-five rules or
syntaX, fronts the title page, TO be spread
open before the student when parsing;
Samuel Kirkhams grammar was indorSed
by colleges. academies and classical schools
all over the United States. and was long
high authority In every log-cabin scnooi
in the Western backwoods. True American
patriotism breathes from its yeHowsu
pages: Il sing the shady regions OF the
West There are nine million people In on.
United states. BENJAMIN Franklin Invented
the lightning rod. Who ever lives 10 see
this Republic foTsake her moral and literary
Institutions. VIII behold her Liberties pros
rated." To New York aud New England;
klrkham ascribes many proNlnclalis
Il be goin lie lives 10 hum. faint no
better'n hiss'n. The keows be gone ter
hum an liner goin' arter UNI" Pennsyl-
vamia has credit for these: j be TO be
there He knowed me. lie ort 10 go. so
he ort Whar you gwine ana Is mat
your plumber. stranger are among ionS
list OF vulgarites ascribed TO Maryland,
Virginia. Kentucky and Mississippi
Roswell Smiths Productive Gram
mar" 1882 emanated from Boston and was
founded somewhat on the Pestalozzian plan.
IN a system Of questions intended 10 In
duce the child 10 originate and produce
ideas "A noun is a name. Boston Is the
name Of a place. Is Boston a nOun2 II so.
why?" Sixty-six chapters OF alternating
obiect-l lesson questions and answers, 696
I'm number, doubtless made the little New
England grammatical pilgrims progress an
easy uphill grade from nouns 20 the pars-
ing OF complex sentences. orthoepy was
not reckoned with In the early grammars,
and some. forms now obsolete were used
such AZ '.adnouns," term including adJec-
tives and restrictives
Especially attractive and precious among
the quaint and curious old grammars is "a
dear and dumpy twelve. John Comly's
little book of 1876, English Grammar Made
Easy 10 the Teacher and Pupil originally
compiled for the use OF West Town Board
ing School. Pennsylvania" The dainty
size OF this abridged grammar in it's if-
teenth edition. almost makes one love pars-
ing and forgive all the terrors OF grammar
i'm old-school days. In the 40's and sos
Noble Buffers Practical Grammar of the
| English Language" still a most excellent
| treatment OF the marvellous and beautiful
| science of words. held high rank I'm all
| schools OF the South and Middle West
EMMA CARLETON.
New Albany, May L.