The best answer to this question may be drawn from the many newspaper articles which appeared in Western and Southern papers after the death of one of the authors.  There is general recognition on the part of the writers of these articles that while the books served well their purpose of teaching the art of reading, their greatest value consisted in the choice of masterpieces in literature which by their contents taught morality, and patriotism and by their beauty served as a gateway to pure literature.  One editor, who used these books in his school career, said, “Thousands of men and women owe their wholesome views of life, as well as whatever success they may have attained to the wholesome maxims and precepts found on every page of these valuable books.  The seed they scattered has yielded a million-fold.  All honor to the name and memory of this excellent and useful man.”

[What Constitutes Real Value]

One of the wise men of the olden time cared not who wrote the laws if he might write their songs.  Among a people devoid of books the folk-songs are early lodged firmly in the mind of every child.  They influence his whole life.  The modern schoolbooks—­particularly the readers—­furnish the basis of the moral and intellectual training of the youth in every community.  The McGuffey Readers, from their own peculiar inherent qualities, retained their hold upon the schools until in some states laws were passed which in their operation caused schoolbooks to be regarded as commodities estimated almost solely upon the cost of paper, printing and binding.  The value of these material things can easily be ascertained and compared; but unless the print carries the lessons that help to form a life the paper is wasted and the pupil’s most valuable time is misspent.  The teaching power of a schoolbook cannot be weighed in the grocer’s scales nor measured with a pint cup.  In the field open to free and constant competition, the books best suited to the wants of each community will in the end succeed.  It was under such conditions that the McGuffey Readers won and held their place in the schools.