Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-08-30
Literature for the Young.

There are few questions Just now agi-
tating the public mind than that of edu-
cation. The study of literature has also
attained in the present day a deservedly
high rank among the branches of a
good education. In nearly all the
schools in the land the cultivation of
taste and discrimination in reading the
English language is held to be indispen-
sable. This is certainly encouraging,
but there is another very important
thing just here to be considered. 1t is
with regard to the literature for the boys
and girls. As yet the department for
juvenile literature has received but
comparatively little attention. 1t is
true that there have been praiseworthy
efforts to introduce a more interesting
and elevating class of reading into our
schools, instead of the dull, desultory
reading books so long in vogue. All
these are signs in the right direction,
and prove that there is a gradual popu-
lar awakening to the Importance of the
subject It is to the plans of those who
recognize the need of placing juvenile
literature that one must look with conf
dence for its permanent Improvement
A little serious reflection would soon
convince the thinking person that it is
a fallacy to suppose that books for
children are of less consequence than
books for grown up people, or that less
genius or ability or painstaking is
requisite to write or compile them.
The notion that it is easy to write for
children makes it seem still more easy
to select for them, and the thousands of
volumes with gay bindings and attractive
pictures are quickly transferred from
the shelves of the book stores to the nur-
series and children's libraries, with the
most cursory glance at their contents
and an absolute ignorance of their
effects.
Now, to consider juvenile literature
less important than adult literature is
very much like considering the founda-
ton of a structure less important than
the structure itself. To expenditure,
thought and talents on the latter, while
neglecting the former, is in one case as
disastrous as in the other. 1t is useless
to throw the blame of this deficiency
like a ball from the teacher to the pa
rent, from the parent to the publisher,
from the publisher to the author. All
share in it and each reacts on the other.
Many parents are negligent in this mat
ter, and, many authors, who try to be
careful, do not know how to discrimi-
nate or to choose wisely. The general
demand regulates the supply and the
supply regulates those who do not know
what to demand. What is chiefly needed
is an increasing appreciation of the i'm
portance of the subject and a general
diffusion of knowledge as to the ele-
ments needed to form superior juve-
nile literature. Whoever will animate
the first, or diffuse the second, will be a
public benefactor in a most effective
way.
Children need very different mental
food from adults, but they need to have
it quite as pure, as true, as nutritious to
all their faculties, as refining to their
tastes, as rich in imaginative power, as
elevating in. moral tone, as dramatic IN
interest, and as powerful in character.
When we learn how to value and how
to demand for them such a literature,
the floods of immoral; coarse poetry
and feeble volumes that now corrupt
the morals, enervate the mind and VIII
ate the taste of our children viii pass
away and give place to literature far
less in quantity, but far superior IN
quality, and that viii rank side by side
with the best Of any age and for any
time of life Columbus 1GG.l Sun.
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