The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-22

tory OF Kansas" and Democratic
nominee for State superintendent of
Public Instruction.
uted throughout the state today. This
book is one of the best arguments in
favor of state printed school books
that could be offered. Miss Anna E..
Arnold, the author, is to be congratu-
struction, and the state should con-
graduate itself for having secured the
work.
BY no means the least feature of
this publication to be considered is
the fact that it will be sold for Is
cents per copy. a price made possible
by the size of the edition. Publishers
Of small editions can realize the fulfill
ity of trying to put out well bound
book, printed on good paper and con-
tanning $50 fully illustrated pages, for
a quarter. Miss Arnold's Kansas His
tory, as issued by the state text book
commission, has all these features of
proper book construction. Forty
thousand capies will be issued ut this
time for use in the eighth grade, city
schools, and ninth grade in country
schools.
In this book, Miss arnold has ac-
complished something of the unusual.
She has fully covered the important
features of G. states history in plain
reads like an interesting story. Her
subject, the life Of young state that
has made much history, is a difficult
subject, especially difficult in follow
ing the events of tie most eventful
period Of it's history, the periods prior
out permitting the army of incidents
and events to trample upon each 9TH
ers' heels in confusion. Miss Arnold
has accomplished this feat
Compare AL Authorities.
The book was not written In a hap
hazard manner, neither is 1t a re-write
of any Other history. A large number
of written authorities were consulted,
compared and tested in securing the
data. The dim past, and the stories
Of early exploration of this country
are not given as absolute authority,
but as gleanings of the hes. data OBJ
tainable.
For instance, the Coronado explor-
alton 400 years ago. is told in a way
that would not be confusing to even a
pupil of the fourth or fifth grade, and
the theories of other hist Dricns are
bOlstered up with quotations from let
ters written by Coronado to the King
of Spain. TIL whole book shows
careful study of the subject and in
genuity in securing illustrations that
fit the subject matte
A noticeable deviation from the
style of many historians appears in
the absence of long-winded biogra-
phies of the people who had parts in
making state history. The events and
their proper sequence are considered
above the family history of some re-
mote territorial official.
Each chapter is followed by a con-
else summary, a number of supporting
references to other publications on the
subject, and series of well-chosen
questions calculated to fix the impor-
tant features in the mind OF the pupil
Maps showing the changes in boun-
dairy lines, the old trails and the divi-
sion into counties. help to establish a
mental picture of the states growth
An appendix shows the territorial and
state officers Of Kansas, the institu-
lions organization of counties and
dates. and an index of subjects.
Classic in Language.
The last chapter, under the title
'"The Kansas Spirit is a classic OF
simple language and patriotic ideas
Like the preceding chapters of the
book, 1t contains no flood of flower,
rhetoric. but is a calm, effective argu.
ment in favor of progress and goot
citizenship.
been prominent in educational circle.
by reason Of her marked ability as ar
educator and her former text publica
ton. "Civics and Citizenship" Hel
debut before the general public come.
with her nomination. on the Demo
cratic ticket. as q candidate for the OF
nee of state superintendent of publ,
instruction. and the publication Of he
Kansas History. Her first politica
venture resulted in her election a.
county superintendent of schools il
Chase county. her home, where he
ability is highly appreciated.
Many Photographs.
Tho illustrations OF Miss Arnold
book are from photographs and au
thenticated drawings and paintings
II required much effort to secure pic
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