1845 printing of 1845 copyrighted text. Author is credited with a Master of Arts degree and as the Principal of the Philadelphia High School and a member of the American Philosophical Society. The text has sections on orthography, etymology, syntax, and prosody. The syntax section is divided into fifteen different rules covering subject, agreement, government, apposition, and construction. The Schultz Archive copy includes only the TOC and pages 48 and 49, as well as a note on the four kinds of type used.
1874 printing of 1874 copyrighted text. Hart is credited with a doctorate in the laws of English, as Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, as Late Principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and author of a series of text-books on the English language. A book meant for young students as soon as they are able to read and write. The primary method of instruction is written exercises. The author suggests the book be used with his First Lessons in Composition. While that other text covers rhetoric, this text covers grammar. The forty-four lessons cover parts of speech, and the written exercises are accompanied by examples, oral reviews, and definitions for memorization. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete 79 page text.
1878 printing of 1878 copyrighted text. Hart is credited with a doctorate in the laws of English as the Late Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, formerly Principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and author of a series of text-books on the English language. Based on the author's larger Grammar, the text selects portions of that work which are elementary. The text is written for text-book learners, striving for clearness, differentiating by level of importance, providing concise rules and definitions for memorization, and supplying practical examples for every rule and definition. The book has cut the section on prosody, only including orthography, etymology, and syntax. There are also sections of review exercises, exercises in correction of false syntax, and selections for parsing. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the full 128 page text.
1886 printing of the 1870 copyrighted text. The author is credited as a Doctor of Laws in English, and as Late Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, as the former principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and as the author of a series of textbooks. The author expresses the conviction that composition teaching should happen much earlier than the typical age of twelve to fourteen and requires regular practice. The book focuses on exercises; the author states practice should come before theory. The chapters cover simple words, derivative words, simple sentences, complex sentences, change of arrangement, change of structure, figurative expression (simile, metaphor, metonymy, etc.), style, letter writing, and an appendix on punctuation. The text contains examples and directions for exercises and compositions. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.
1891 printing to the 1891 text. The author is credited as a Doctor of Laws in English, and as Late Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, as the former principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and as the author of a series of textbooks. A composition textbook designed for use by students with examples for practice. Part one (style) chapters cover punctuation, diction, purity, propriety, precision, kinds of sentences, rules for construction of sentences, figures of speech, special properties (sublimity, beauty, wit, humor), versification, poetry, prose (letters, diaries, news, editorials, history, etc.). Part two (invention) covers objects, transactions, abstract subjects, imaginary subjects, personal narratives, and descriptions. A chapter on proof-reading includes system of notation for correcting student writing. In addition to exercises, includes illustrative examples from celebrated writers. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.