Sorry. Went to a really good grammar school in the 40's, back when America was a wealthy and powerful country. I remember the day that I was reading my favorite Chinese Detective Story before going to farrier class to learn a useful trade.
Yes. It was the perennially exciting "Brown Spots on the Wall."
by the inimitable Hoo Flung Dadung. Speaking of reading, there is no sadder proof of the dumbing down of America than the good old Readers Digest.
Peruse a copy from the 1950's, and compare it to a recent issue. Today's 8th Grade reading level, to which standard RD is edited, would clearly be about 3rd or 4th Grade level back then ... or about the level of Obama's supposed teleprompted oratory.
Sorry, Major. In my unseemly haste I did not notice that you also, are a fan of Chinese literature. A pity this thread could not switch to the Russian Classics available at the time.