ed to the unknown. Yet it is believed this is the
first textbook that closely follows this method of treating the subject.

The constant aim has been to present the subject in a simple and
attractive way, in accordance with sound principles of teaching--that
children may grow into such a knowledge of their government that the
welfare of the country may "come home to the business and bosoms" of
the people.

The recent increase of interest among the people upon the subject of
government is a hopeful sign. It will lead to a better knowledge of
our political institutions, and hence give us better citizens. Good
citizenship is impossible unless the people understand the government
under which they live.

It is certainly strange that every State in the Union maintains a
system of public schools for the purpose of training citizens, and that
the course of study in so many States omits civil government, the
science of citizenship.

The author's special thanks are due Hon. Joseph Desha Pickett, Ph.D.,
Superintendent of Public Instruction of Kentucky, for the suggestion
which led to the preparation of the work and for excellent thoughts
upon the plan. The author also desires to confess his obligation to
President James K. Patterson, Ph.D., and Professor R. N. Roark, A.M.,
of the Kentucky State College, Lexington, for valuable suggestions as
to the method of treatment and the scope of the book.

The author has derived much assistance from the many admirable works
upon the same subject, now before the country. But he has not
hesitated to adopt a treatment different from theirs when it has been
deemed advisable. He submits his work to a discriminating public, with
the hope that he has not labored in vain in a field in which so many
have wrought.

ALEX. L. PETERMAN.

A FEW WORDS TO TEACHERS.

1. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY.--Every school should teach, and every child
should study, the principles of our government, in order:

1. That by knowing his country better he may learn to love it more.
The first duty of the school is to teach its pupils to love "God, home,
and native land."

2. That the child may learn that there is such a thing as just
authority; that obedience to it is right and manly; that we must learn
to govern by first learning to obey.

3. That he may know his rights as a citizen, and, "knowing, dare
maintain;" that he may also know his _duties_ as a citizen, and,
knowing, may perform them int