The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-23
THE BOYS FIRST READING.
Valuable Counsel on the Subject by
Dr. johnson.
From the Boston Courier.


From, the Boston Courier
DR.. johnson, who said first and last a
good many clever and practical things, OBJ
serves in relation to what he quantity calls
getting boy forward in his learning"
that be would first let the child read any
book which would hold his attention, be-
cause, he reasons, you have done great
deal when you have brought him to have
entertainment in a book; he'll get better
books after ward.n The principle is one
which shares the disadvantages of all gen
eral statements of truth, since a general
truth is always likely to be false IN p irtlcu-
lar cases; but the idea which the philosopher
wished to express is undoubtedly sound
one. There is obviously no question that
it is idle to expect any particular advantage
to come to boy through an especial book,
while he hates all books per Sc. He must
be convinced that it is within the limits OF
possibility for printed volume really to
please him, a fact by no means patent to
the minds of many really intelligent young
sters; and after that attention may be given
to the sort of books he shall read.
There are manifestly two things to be
considered: To get the boy to read,
and to get him to read proper
books. For the first of these desirable
things the receipt of DR.. johnson can not
be surpassed. 1t is recorded that teacher
in a mission Sunday school in New York
shocked his colleagues by reading to his
class of newsboys from the Arabian
Nights, and on being questioned explained
that he had tried great many things and
this was the first that had held their atten
ton, and he was convinced that it was idle
to suppose he could do them any good until
their attention was secured. 1t is said that
the result in the end justified this somewhat
startllngly unique method of Sunday school
instruction, and that once the teacher had
persuaded the gamins to listen, he was
clever enough to lead them on to moral aud
sven to religious instruction. Whether
every body could be equally success; ul may
be regarded as at least an open question,
but the incident serves exCeilently as an it,
lustration in the connection. 1t is certain
ly the first step which costs in the matter
Of getting boys to read.
On early reading, however, largely depends
the boys taste in after life. If he can be in
duced to take good books at the start ne is
seldom likely to have any dangerous lean
ing toward poor ones thereafter. Whether
it be true or not that virtue wins followers
by its inherent qualities, it is certain that
knowledge of good literature makes the
taste of poor reading stale, fiat and I'M
profitable on the mental palate. 1t is
hardly too much to say that any parent
may cultivate liking for good literature
in his child ii he is only willing to take the
trouble. 1t is sometimes hard work, per-
haps, but it certainly can be done.
How TO combine the two ends, that of
having the lad read whatever will interest
him and having him read what will beget
in him taste for desirable goods is ques-
ton which will have to be answered differ
emily in each individual case. There is a
point where the two considerations come
together, but IN every case the personal
el alton comes in and no general rule can
be laid down TO cover all. In our day,
however, the field Of juvenile literature is
SO well filed that there is the widest latitude
for choice. aud this lii Isait goes far to-
ward simplifying the problem.