Ohio History Journal

OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL

SOCIETY

REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS

BY THE EDITOR

AN EARLY OHIO SCHOOL BOOK

Through the kindly interest of Mr. Kora F. Briggs,

the Society has come into the possession of an interest-

ing school book published in Columbus in the year 1818,

two years after this city became the seat of the state

government. From the copyright notice it appears that

this book was first published in 1814 by the author, Ru-

fus W. Adams. On a page preceding the preface are

published two recommendations, one by Jacob Lindley,

"President of the College at Athens, Ohio," and one by

Andrew Wylie, "President of the College at Washing-

ton, Pennsylvania." These two recommendations bear

the dates respectively of March 10, 1814, and Septem-

ber 10, 1817. As will be seen from the title page of the

book this copy is one of the "Fifth Edition, Improved."

The following preface is not without interest as giving

in brief compass the views of an old-time schoolmaster

and his object in publishing the volume. It reads as fol-

lows:

PREFACE

Although selections of excellent matter made for the im-

provement and instruction of young persons are numerous, and

many of them executed in such a manner as to reflect the highest

honor upon the authors; yet it occurred to me that a school book

on the plan of the following pages might be of service in the

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140       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

great business of educating youth. Having in a long course of

teaching school, observed in many instances the inattention of my

scholars to the subjects they were perusing, on account of the

definition of terms, and that many of them who were called good

readers retained not any, or at most but very few of the ideas

that were suggested in the composition they had been perusing, I

became persuaded that a work containing the definitions of the

most important words, would in some degree remedy that defect.

The pieces chosen for this collection are such as paint virtue and

magnanimity in the most conspicuous manner, and by frequent

perusal, are calculated to instil those principles into the minds of

youth; at the same time they display an abhorrence and detesta-

tion of vice.

No expression or sentiment, that might gratify a corrupt

mind, or offend a chaste ear has been permitted to find a place in

the following work.

To lead the young mind in the path of virtue, and to aid in-

structors in the arduous business of educating youth, were the

motives which led to the production of this work.

If this edition should be well received, and should, even in

a small degree, prove a public benefit, the author will think him-

self well remunerated for his trouble, and that his time has been

well employed.

The preface is followed by "Observations on the

Principles of Good Reading." Then follow the selec-

tions. These, without apparent exception, are of a

serious character. Some would not pass muster for a

school reader today. Others are well chosen and may

still be read with interest and profit.

The text is accompanied with notes explaining the

meaning of every word that might not be readily under-

stood by the pupil. It was evidently the thought of the

author that a clear understanding of the text was one

of the best guides to the development of a taste for

reading and the most effective expression in reading

aloud.

The book numbers 260 pages and is in an excellent

Reviews, Notes and Comments      141

state of preservation. The title page, which is repro-

duced in facsimile, carries the imprint of one of the

very early publishers of Columbus.

PORTRAIT OF SIMON KENTON.

In Filson Club Publications No. 17 the artist who

painted the portrait of Simon Kenton is spoken of as

Louis Morgan. The contribution is by General Samuel

W. Price, himself an artist, and an authority on the

subject treated in his carefully prepared monograph

entitled The Old Masters of the Blue Grass. His

sketch of Morgan is a very interesting one, but it dif-

fers in some important particulars from the contribu-

tion to this issue of the QUARTERLY by Mr. Walter D.

McKinney, who gives the name of the artist of the

Kenton portrait as James Morgan and sustains this

claim by a manuscript letter from Thomas W. Cridland

who made the frame for the portrait of Kenton pre-

sented to the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society. The differences between the sketch in the

Filson Publications and that included in Mr. McKin-

ney's address will be subject to future comparisons and

an effort made to determine beyond question the name

of the artist.

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.

Brief contributions entitled The Descendants of Te-

cumseh and Ezra Meeker, The Ohioan will appear in

the next issue of the QUARTERLY; also acknowledgment

of a gift to the Society by Miss Rachel Trimble.