Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-13
TOO MUCH sTORY-READING.

you will know" But 1t depends a good
deal on what and how you read, wheth-
er the knowledge thus gained is worth
acquiring. A fond father says with
honest pride, "My boy is great reader
he is very fond of his book" But
inquiry shows that the young hopeful's
reading is confined to class of books,
the more of which he reads the less he
knows of anything that is real and prof
liable. If not positively vicious, it
places before the uniformed mind fasci-
mating dreamland, peopled by ideal he
roes whose virtues and achievements no
wise parent would wish his boy to imi-
tate. A due admixture of wholesome
fiction with history and biography is not
99ply &c yuae H9t sGie GGbieGt0nabe but Of real bene-
of is not good even for pastime. We
pity the boy whose parents are so care
less of his future as to permit him to
feed-or starve-his mind on them ex-
clusively.
But even if better class of story
books be read, it is not we'll to bring up
our boys and girls on story-book diet
alone. The habit once formed of devot-
ing the entire reading time to fiction. it
is exceedingly difficult to train the mind
to more substantial work. a confirmed
novel reader is as hard to reform as a
confirmed TOPPER But if we want our
children to grow into strong men and
women, with clear heads and Well-stock-
ed minds, we must not let them feed on
fiction alone. Suppose it is task, at
first, for Willie or Jenny to read histo-
ry; are they to neglect every good thing
simply because it is task By,and-by
if wisely directed, their history will be-
come pleasure, and grand point in
their education will thus be gained. In
deed, it is far more important to form in
our young people good reading habits
than to take them creditably through
the ''ologies" and higher mathematics.
These may prove of little permanent
value; but the ability to read and enjoy
good books is a source of constant and
always increasing pleasure.
The necessity of exercising some con-
troll over the reading of our boys and
girls is shown by such statements as
these, made by Hartford librarian. In
six months, he says, one boy drew l02
story books from the library, and girl
ending nel nDesldembsFF ED Is nS per tbs esnte 81
books drawn by young people were fc-
tion. The same proportion probably
holds good in other cities.
Many of these young folks doubtless
have no one to direct them in their choice
of books. They want to read. Their
minds are active and impressible, and
they read what they can lay their hands
on. naturally selecting that which ap-
peals most directly to their present taste.
Now why would it not be good work
for intelligent men and women, who
know what good books are, and what are
the needs of young minds. to join togeth-
er to assist these boys and girls, as far
as they are able, in the choice of books,
and not only that, but to encourage them
to form good reading habits by reading
with and to them? There are not many
young people, we believe, who would
not respond gladly to sympathetic over
lures from cultivated men and women
for so kindly purpose as this. A read
ing club of six or eight boys or girls,
under the direction of good Christian
woman of education and social position,
would be blessing of Unreasonable
value to those priviledged to belong to
it. Are not such little educational cir
cles among the possibilities of the future?