MARK TWAIN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC CHRONICLE
1865
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This items has not been previously republished elsewhere. It is included in this collection because of its potential to be the work of Clemens and is deserving of further research and consideration.]
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MISAPPLIED PIETY
The Alta's report of the proceedings of the Board of Education
informs us that there are 140 teachers in this city "praying for Robinson's
Arithmetics." If Robinson's arithmetics are in such a bad way as to require
all this praying, would it not be well for Robinson to lease a prayer-meeting
or two and foot the bill himself? Are we to be taxed to death to support a school
system, and then stand by and see the money diverted to securing the salvation
of the abandoned and depraved arithmetic of degraded Robinson? It must not be.
Let the 140 teachers arise from their knees and go to skirmishing in the holy
cause of education.
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[transcribed from microfilm]
