The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-04-04
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AMerlcanlsm 113 Years Ago.

what | found up in the attic!"
1t was Ruth speaking. She had
bounded into the sitting room where
Uncle Ted was reading the evening
paper She flew across the room and
put something in her uncles hand
what is it," inquired Jack, from
his seat on the further side of the
room, where he was studying his les
sons for the next day.
"Its an old histiry," replied his
uncle, after glancing at the title page.
"A history printed one hundred and
thirteen years ago, for 1t has the date,
1903, on the title page. 1t was writ
ten by Samuel Whelpley, who was
considered very able writer in his
day.
"And 1t has my great-grandfather S
name in it," exclaimed Ruth, with her
eyes sparkling as she danced around
her uncle's chair. Just think, my
great-grandfathe read that book and
it has been in the family ever since.
found it in a trunk in the attic"
I'D rather have a book just printed
than one more than hundred years
old" remarked Jack, with some show
of jealousy over the fact that Ruth
had made the discovery
THAT depends upon what you want
it for" replied Uncle Ted. "lf you
want a history for accurate informa-
ton. of course the latest books are
likely to be the best, for the authors
of today have the most extensive
sourcves of information at their COM
mand, but if you want a history for
the purpose of getting the ideas of
people who lived many years ago, the
old histories are best. Also, | think, if
you want history written in stately,
dignified language, with vigorous
expression of the opinion of the writ
ers, you will find the oil ddistories
most satisfactory | recollect that
when | was in college used Whelp-
ley's history sometimes for reference
reading, and was much impressed with
his style. Also, remember that he
had some very strong opinions on the
subject of immigration. have for
gotten just what he said, but ! think
| can find it in this book.
"Yo usee, this is naot an American
history, but "A Compend of History
from the Earliest Times. 1t gives
| Just one chapter to American history.
and, of course, it does not undertake
to give detailed account Of the settle
ment of this continent and its devel-
opment. Yes, here is the place where
he wrote about immigration. Now re-
member, this was written before 1908,
for the boo kwas printed that year.
| When this book was written there
were ony about 100000 people in the
United States, and there were only II
states in the Union. There had been
only three presidents, Washington,
Adams and Jefferson. I'm going to
read a few sentences from this old
book:
"'No government was ever more
benevolent or liberal to foreigners,
than that fthe United States. 1t has
holden out to them the greatest en-
couragements; nor has it disappointed
their expectations. y " 1t is not I'M
likely, however, that the future histor-
ian will be compelled to say that our
government, in relation to foreigners,
erred through excess Of benevalence
| and urbanity. Though many
worthy characters are found in so
great an emigration as has been to
this country, yet, for the most part,
they are poor, distressed, overwhelm-
ed with calamities, disconnected, OPP
pressed by the tyranny of their gov
eminent somtimes, but more common
| ly by their own vices or imprudence.
" Every foreigner soon after his
arrival in this courty, by a course
neither circuitous, expensive, nor long,
becames a citizen in the fullest sense.
He Immediately becomes a politician
is profound in the science of govern
ment-is able to set all things right.
He declaims against oppression,
flames with zeal for liberty, and sell
dom fails to be at the head or tail of
innovations and reform, perhaps of
Instruction
Now, children, those things writ
ten in 1908 might very truthfully have
been written in 1918. There are now,
as there we're then, lot Of good char
acters among the immigrants. You
know Mr.. Nelson, the man whose farm
we visited out South Of town last Sun
day-there couldn't be q better citizen.
The nthere is the Schultz family-one
of them owns the dairy farm where we