Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1877 — History in Our Common Schools. [ARTICLE]

History in Our Common Schools.

Our attention has recently been called to a History of the United States for the use of schools, by Prof. J. 0. Ridpath, which is not only the best we have ever seen, but embraces features of rare value never before incorporated into any history. It is written in a style of great elegance, but simple and easy of comprehension ; systematically arranged in a connected narrative; elegantly and intelligently illustrated with chronological charts, progressive, maps, typographical diagrams, portraits and cats ; fresh, philosophical and readable. It iB as mneh unlike an ordinary school history as the beautiful periods of Irving are unlike the turgid nonsense of Tapper; and it so adroitly weaves the inspiring story of the oountry into the web and woof of its material facts as to impress the lessons of history upon the mind with indelible foroe. It is fact dressed in elegant periods, noble diction, impressive characterizations, and illuminated by appropriate incident and beautiful pictures. The publishers (Jones Brothers 6 do., Cincinnati, Ohio)

Ajr Imperial Prince was lately bom to the Emperor of Japan by one of his twelve subordinate wives, Yanignara, a daughter of an ancient and influential house of the old Kioto nobility. By a traditional law of Japan the Mikado has twelve wives in addition to the legitimate Empress, to provide for contingencies or non-succession. No disgrace attaches to the position, and the purity of the unbroken descent for nearly 3,000 years is owing to this custom. But in the present state of opinion there are many objections to the custom, and probably it will not be continued after this reign. If the present Empress had children the custom would be abolished without delay.