The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-09
SOME OF THE LATE
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

We are all willing to agree that the
child who has a prominently patient
considerate and unselfsh mother has a
great advantage over the ordinary child;
for the ordinary child has no such moth
err The average mother may be better
than the average anything else-at least
we are told that-but she is yet neither
pre-eminently patient, considerate nor
unseifish. Probably she is, however, do
ing her best under her circumstances,
ana needs encouragement much more
than criticism.
But there is an excellent sort of mother
VINO, without pre-eminence in any OF the
foregoing qualities, can be considered
rare boon to her children-and that is the
mother who likes to talk to them. One
| who enjoys childish chatter. One who
amiably answers questions, and explains,
as best she can this curious old world.
one who is companionable. One who tells
stories. For impressionable, eager child
hood an enchantment hangs round her,
and the pretty rhymes and fancies
are source of continual delight. Many
a v1rtuous exemplary woman whose I'M
communicative ways leave her but half
acquainted with her own children would
do well to study the takers methods for
little. And above all it would profit
her to open her eyes to the fact that
no one can win and influence chlla
heart as can the story teller.
How children love stories! And what
lasting benefit good, wholesome stories
| do children! They quicken and people
sympathies they aid their mental devel-
opment, and they add incidentally to
their entertainment and happiness. II
one need any proof of these Things; let
him observe. the small folk themselves.
See now the child of few stories cons
over and over the well-worn themes; and
note with what instantaneous and abso-
lutte stiffness he settles down at the sug-
-nc-tin of toll To ha
list.
Although mothers frequently possess
no art in story manufacturing nor IN
story relating, that need be no obstacle
now in the way of their furnishing an
irreproachable supply: for fortunately
there are those among us who have the
most exquisite art. And an art they
have eXerted in a field which must IN.
sure every ones approval-the field OF
nature. The miracles of life ana force
around us-to which most of US are as
blind as if devoid of eyes-are wrought
into tales as charming and wonderful as
any Hans Andersen ever signed his name
to. while these possess, at the same
time. the superiority of being true-tny
clews to the open secret.
How many mothers, [ wonder, KNOW
of certain alluring little volumes that
form an indispensable part of the prl-
mary teachers library of today? vic
tor in Buzzland,' Johonnofs Cats and
Three Little Lovers Of Nature, Tor IN
stance? Or the absurdly- Cat Cat
Tails and Other Tales? What child
could listen to any one of its thirty-eight
selections and not be enc d1t eds! from IN
woefully apathetic and world-weary not
to find his grown-up attention engaged
in spite of herself.
These books and a number of others OF
similar character are classified as , teacno
ers' helps. proper classiflcatlon no
doubt, but how much, what an AMOUNT I0{
of good they might do mothers. hers aaes
Mother Goose Jingle or other empty nur-
sery rhyme and-the difference.
Children have an Unborn love for sto-
ries Hence they have an Unborn right
to them. A universal natural craving
announces a natural need. But in sats-
fying even a natural need little fore
thought should be used. II there ever
was a day wnen the namby,,pamby' or
the Blue Beard sort of story had an eX-
cuse for existing. it is not today Their
day is gone They are superseded, and
we'll and beautifully superseded too, for
at present there are numbers OF BOOKS Tor
children with which it would be hard TO
find a fault. ..