Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-25
CHILDREN,s LITERATURE.

lately, In securing from prominent repre-
seHtatives of almost every department OF
social, political, religious and literary work
the most approved and advanced views in
the special field Of each. Its latest con
tributicn to popular discussion IS q very In
teres,ing series OF articles on Literature for |
Children, "from the pens Of such well-known
juvenile writer's as J. T. Trowbridge,
Charles Barnard, Frank Fl Converse,
Hamilton W. M,bie, Eliot Nc Cormick, and
Horatlo Allen, Jr. The articles are all
of the nature of reply to the one which
heads the list Hamilton W. Mabies. Mr..
Mabie is one of the editors of the Christian
Union, and his article was written, and
proofs sent to the other gentlemen we have
named, with view to answering the ques-
ton. How far should children be allowed to
displace the reading Of the acknowledged
classics by books written especially for
them?
Mr.. Mabic docs much more than state
the question, in his long and interesting
article. lie argues strongly in favor of
turning the attention Of children more ex
clusively to the classics of youth snch
books. for instance, as lambs "Tales from
SHAKESPEARE, Kingsley's Heroes" Have
thornc's "Tanglewood Tales and wonder.
Book" Baldwin's "Story of Siegfried,'
"Guliver's Travels" "Grimms Tales" etc.
And for children verging upon young man
hood and wcmanhood, he recommends such
orks as Bryan,'s translation Of the "Odys-
sey,' Sbakesperes plays the novels of Scots
and Dickens, etc.
at is very serious objection to childrens
books" he says "that they separate the
growing boy or girl from the most vital life
of the race in the years when that life could
do most to enrich and clarity. The children
of to-day are in great danger Of missing the
very best influences which history has set in
motion by this unnatural divorce between
childhood aud it's proper food we do not
build them up physically by food different
from that which we find necessary for Our
own nourishment; we only reduce the guam
tity but to-day q boy may read necessarily
and yet not have one thing IN common with
his father who lives in an atmosphere of
books. and so there is never developed in
him that historic consciousness which ought
to form the background of every true educa-
ton, and there Is utterly lost the continuity
of interest and expansion rather than change
of aim which are 50 essential TO the stronges.
mental life." THE great mass of childrens
books" SAYS Mr.. Mabie, "have no vital or ar
tis.ic quality; many of them are hopelessly
crude and ignorant many more are shame
fully careless and slovenly in workmanship.
But il they were all good they would still
work serious injury by separating children
from the literature of the world"
Mr. Mabie would restrict, IL necessary,
the number Of books which our children
read in order that they may read the best
If they can not devour the classics as they
do the light food of the juvenile bookmaker,
give them less Of it. Let them take
their time. 'One good book year is
infinitely better than hundred poor books
used us mere amusements or stimulants.
1t 10 somewhat amusing to note the en-
barrassment of the gentlemen TO whom these
suggestions are addressed. They 'hardly
know how to take it," as the saying is. All
of them, of course-unless it Is Mr.. Trow-
bridge-are to be classed under the head of
juvenile book makers Mr. Mabie's request
for their view on the subject must have
seemed to them decidedly like boarding the
lion in his den. Like men who are in the
habit of checking their opinions with their
courtesy, however, they manage TO fall n,
briefly, with their leaders suggestions, in the
main. Mr. Trowbridge, perhaps, is the
most frank. lie can afford to be. "The
article he says, lis timely, and it strikes
me, upon the whole, as just. do not myself
believe very much in special childrens books
nor do think an author should be content to
wlite torthe YouIg-e&cep'' perhaps LOT 'hc
very young-what mny not also De reau WIN
interest by those OF mature years. , truly
good ST DRY is enjoyed by all anu II 10 an
encouraging sign when the Older members Oh
family are seen competing win the young
or ones in getting possession OF the last num-
Der OF periodical containing chapters by
favorite author. ! know oil at least one
writer who would long since have lett the
overcrowded field OF so-cal!ed juvenile !iter-
allure but for such signs US this ar lroW-
priuge 'h'hAs Tue 't'uo'c HES ~ TUT '"'' '"a'
'hc vast army Vi "'''e.A io' ,uo 'ouus -.
no' o''nR 'ne' po"'' io" "s" oo'e0 ~
oil % 'o'' poo' a.u ''0'e.' NV - 1874,
,no .'",s. 'p ~ as,,.. 80
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