Familiar Dialogues, and Other Pieces, in Prose and Poetry, calculated for Sunday School Exhibitions, without Denominational Distinction.
Pottsville [Penna.]: Published for the Editor, by B. Bannan, 1848. First edition. 12mo (5.88 x 3.75 inches), publisher’s black sheep spine lettered in gilt, marbled boards, [i]-viii, [v]-viii, [9]-124 pages. Fragile binding somewhat rubbed, somewhat foxed and spotted; in good to very good condition. Item #22422
“It having been the privilege of the editor for some time past to be connected with a Sunday school, he has been les to write for his scholars such familiar dialogues as might be calculated, in his opinion, to benefit them. . . . Without laying too much stress on outward polish, it is not too much to say that a certain freedom from restraint, an ease of manner, wherever it is not found to be a natural gift, is a very pleasant acquisition, and that it would not be difficult perhaps to point out cases where a happy address, a certain social tact, has led to the enjoyment of very important privileges.” An entertaining series of dialogues and sketches from an unknown local editor, intended for performance by children, the majority with religious content (including a few intended to be delivered alongside a display map of Jerusalem), with a few as might be expected in Pennsylvania in both German and English; the collection concludes with a satirical fling against phrenology and reformers in generals, with a dialogue among children and a phrenologist named Dr. Hocuspocus: “All these notions must be ascribed to your miserable teachers; the gospel ministry is far behind the age. If I were to found a new society, I would introduce anatomy, pathology, physiology, and phrenology; them’s the things I would introduce.” (One interlocutor points out “them’s the things is rather poor English.”) OCLC (2/2026) notes Library of Congress and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania only.
Price: $150.00