THE GOVERNMENT CLASS BOOK: A MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THE PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LAW

New York: Maynard, Merrill, & Co., 1894. Hardcover. Good Plus to Very Good/Issued Without Jacket. Andrew Young (1802 - 1877) was something of a 19th-century, western NY prodigy, largely self-taught and a teacher himself by age 13. Young's teaching career ended at 21 when he became a merchant, then shortly later, an editor and publisher of local newspapers in Warsaw and Batavia, NY, before editing an abolitionist paper in Warsaw. In 1835, he self-published his first book, "Science of Government," which was widely read in New York and neighboring states. It led to several other history books as well as terms as a state legislator. This volume, "The Government Class Book," was Young's attempt to improve the classroom education of young U.S. citizens. As Young noted in the preface, " In the U.S. the people elect their own lawmakers and rulers, establish their own constitutions.The danger of entrusting such power to the ignorant has not failed of illustration in our States and cities." This New York edition was revised in 1894 by Salter S. Clark, Esq, with a supplement on New York's state and local governments and its constitution by Myron T. Scudder, M.A. About 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches, 434 pages including index and 4 pages of publisher's ads. Grey cloth-covered boards with red front cover lettering and black borders. Gold lettering on spine. As not unusual with classroom texts, the boards and spine are somewhat worn with moderate scuffing and soiling including some scratching and staining but with all lettering and design elements legible. The binding is beginning to loosen but hinges remain intact. Text edges show some soiling and staining but text itself is clean, complete and unmarked. Previouw owner's signature and small address sticker on fep. Overall, a more than decent example of a political science text used for decades in NY classrooms.