86 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



banner of Instruction. How many "good" Amer- 

 icans, fluttering proudly that insignificant banner, 

 can write their native language intelligibly or speak 

 it without sending shudders down the backbone of 

 the educated American ? As for the mode of speech 

 a fair percentage of teachers — but here the curtain 

 must be dropped in haste. 



