The Historical Reader

The selections which have been made for this work are such as seemed best adapted to excite the imagination of the young student, while imparting useful information in reference to noted events and personages in the history of various countries, at different periods; and such, also, as appeared appropriate for the purpose of training pupils in reading and elocution. Many different kinds of composition, both in prose and poetry, are therefore represented, with the greatest possible variety of style; so that, simply as a reading-book, the author thinks that this work will be found to possess very great advantages over those generally used in the higher classes of schools. One very great advantage it certainly has; namely, that, instead of fragmentary and unconnected pieces of various kinds of composition, the selections which form its contents are, to a very considerable extent, coherent and continuous; and that their relation to each other and to the general subject are briefly but clearly explained.

In performing this twofold office of a companion-history and an entertaining and instructive reading-book, it cannot but be the means of saving much valuable time both of the pupil and teacher. The accompanying Vocabulary and Geographical Index will, it is believed, prove very useful auxiliaries, while the Biographical Index of Authors will, in connection with the statements and references in the text, have the effect to make the student acquainted with most of the great names in his torical literature, as well as prove a guide in selecting the best works for careful perusal or study.

That every important period or topic in the world's history

should be represented in a volume of this size is of course quite impracticable; but it will be observed that the selections have been arranged in chronological order, except that, as the history of the United States is generally first studied in most schools, the pieces relating to that division of the subject have been placed first.

The Model of Analysis given in connection with the first selection will serve as a guide to teachers in constructing exercises of this character, which are useful, not only for the purpose of testing the accuracy and fullness of the pupil's acquisitions, but in showing him how to arrange the various topics clearly and logically in his mind.

With this brief explanation the author submits this work. to his fellow-laborers in the cause of education, as an experiment which he hopes may prove successful in accomplishing the important objects which he has carefully kept in view in its compilation.

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