Mourning St. Nicholas

I dived into my first issue of American Heritage upon its arrival. I had ordered the subscription, hoping that it would stimulate my fourteen-year-old daughter’s fledgling interest in social history. I knew I would read every word, and your magazine lives up to all my expectations.

I cannot help but notice, after reading the fascinating article on St. Nicholas (“The Magazine That Taught Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and Millay How to Write,” December 1985), how much our education system has dwindled in its capacity to produce articulate young people. My daughter is in all the Honors Classes at Alamo Heights High School, reportedly the “best” in San Antonio. I have taught school in various environments and at different grade levels and have been exposed to many bright young people. However, none of the students I know could produce work that would hold a candle to the simplicity and beauty of the small amounts of verse and artwork included in your article. Along with the author, I too wish that there were a comparable outlet for creativity for today’s young people. Thank you for revealing a picture of our past. This is an example of the kind of social history that will stimulate my daughter and continue to thrill me. I am delighted that I ran across your subscription form.