Scrap-Heap Suggested for American Books Textbooks in American history from which pupils in the elementary schools of the country secure' their historical knowledge are dull that they ought to be tom up and consigned to the scrap basket, in the opinion of Dr. Allen Johnson, Professor of American History at Vale University. bothered much bout scientific "In the early days, before men
method, history was written as a brilliant drama, a series of delightful and moving scenes,.as thrilling as the most enchanting fiction," the educator continues writing in State Service. 'Of course, facts were used, but if the facts did not) fit the picture they were quite cheerfully shuffled, lest a literary' masterpiece should be spoiled. Then there came the dev of physical science. grew ekingly scientific and correspondingly dull. They assumed that all facts are created equal.
Plodding doctors of philosophy made in Germany' turned their! thick-lensed spectacles in scrutiny of the past. On it they laid their heavy hands. With deadly German' efficiency they investigated and disproved most of the charming stories with which the early' historians had embellished the lives! of their heroes. Doubtless we are) just as well off without these! apocryphal legends, but, alas! they squeezed all the romance out of! the ages and substituted in ite place date-labelled facts served up in the most unappetizing manner. Ever since our American children have yawned over their American history lessons, and voted dull that; unprofitable! which should have been most exciting reading. It would appear too, that our foreign born population fore unrestricted U-boat war from'has been forced to believe that!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.