The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-16
Reading for Children.

There has hardly been more important
topic introduced for the consideration of the
assembled librarians this week than the char
acter of the books that children should read. |
1t has been discussed from various standpoints
with much ability, and many practical sug-
gestions have been offered that will doubtless
bear good fruit. There is no single influence
known to us that bears more directly upon
the development of human character than
early reading. OF course strength of mind
and purpose and natural good taste will cor
rect IN the mature person faults and unheal-
thy impressions imbibed by the child; but
there are so many who have not the power
to arrest their momentum and change their
direction that a proper start is the only safe
course for those who have accepted or had
thrust upon them the responsibility of shap-
ing the characters of children. Weak books
give false ideas of life and make weak and
frivolous men and women. Vicious books
make immoral and dangerous men and wo-
men. Books that are of healthy tone and
display vigor of style and purpose in the
writer will stimulate the minds of their read
ers, whether old or young, in the right way.
Parents and guardians would grow pale
with apprehension should they discover
their children playing with uncorked lauda-
mum; but in too many instances they Will
see them devour vile and poisonous literature
u
They might better give them the laudanum.
OF course there are good books which are
of little value for children. TIE literature
supplied to the uniformed and expanding
mind ought to possess intrinsic interest and
a correct purpose. Even if book does no
more than furnish entertainment, provided
| it does that naturally and correctly it is an
| excuse for being; for healthful entertainment
is an encouragement to the formation of a
| habit of reading which in course of time will
seek the most profitable books. The problem
of the best reading for children is not yet
solved, but light is breaking and considerable
| progress has been made The rising genera
ton has advantages in this respect that were
undreamed of by their fathers and mothers.
It has been a question whether a special
| literature should be written for children, and
there are certainly two sides to it. A child
that is old enough to encourage In the habit
of reading ought to be old enough to COM
prehend Scott Dickens. Thackeray, Char
iotte Bronte, Longfellow, Whittier, and
others of their classes and character. But a
writer who understands children can render
them special service by addressing himself
directly to their literary needs. St Nicholas
is at the head of class of magazines that Il
of great benefit to children, but it has this
peculiaritv that it interests grown people
also. That is one test of literature for chill
dren and youth If it disgusts the average
adult by its Stiffness or unnatural quality u
is not fit for absorption by any reader. Boys
and girls are constructively men and women
and if rightly guided in their choice of book
and magazines the work of the teacher vii
be greatly assisted and intelligence vii
drive out frivolity.