New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-22

A DIRECT FACTOR IN LITERATURE
A CHRISTMAS THEME.
After the luncheon and business meeting Of sorosis
Yesterday afternoon al the Waldorf Miss NJ. z. Ford
delivered an address on "Child-Li,e in Literature.
which was the feature OF the after-meeting Miss
Ford's views OF her subject brought about an AMI
mated discussion. since many OF the members did not
agree with her Many mothers thought fairy tales
and stories OF fancy and fiction positively harmful
for children TO read. while still others believed that
history and science and philosophy were beyond
their chldrens comprehension The numerous opin-
,ons advanced and the discussion induced proved 20
he extremely interesting. Miss Fords friends and
allies heartily indorsing her views while those op-
posed TO them argued their side with good-natured
eloquence Both views claimed strong grounds for
sound argument. Miss Ford said in part:
Just al present attention IS attracted TO child-lfe
in literature not only because Christmas draws nigh
and everything pertaining TO children Is peculiarly
interesting but because OF the recent publication In
this city OF two deservedly popular books dealing
with childhood I refer 10 Sentimental Tommy
and sonny" Mr.. Barrie has given us the most
complete and suggestive study OF chid-lfe ever at
tempted IN fiction Il is the romance OF childhood as
revealed through imaginative Tommie while in the
mastery portrayal Of the character and suerings OF
Grize are made 10 realize how. even 10 child.
rfe may become a tragedy
Mrs Ruth McEnery Stuar;'s Sonny is series OF
;nini;sbe rnonologues impressionlstic sketches de-
lovable boy from his birth TO his marriage ! should
Ike 10 call attention also TO the unique publication
sent out no: long since from the Mcmillan press
kind OF compendium OF child history in al ages and
among all nations. 1t is entitled The Child and
childhood In Folk thought by Professor Chamber
lain OF Clark University Worcester Mass II would
seem 10 belong rather the kind OF books clasSed
hv The French as Pour Serv.r FOR. though it IS
rch storehouse from which future phiosophic writers
on childhood may freely draw. and moreover shows
and IN
formation = does not possess book that vitality
or artistic integrity that would make 1t interesting
simply as reading matter. Still. It IS sure TO be read
by mothers and educationists. FOR there "a nothing
else o. is kind. It is the pioneer in rs method OF
child study which Is the historical and philosophic
rather than the literary.
We are Indebted chiefly lovers Of children. or at
.eas, 20 lovers OF what Is simple. chdlike and intui-
toral IN naturer hearts and minds. for our best ,er-
AZURE This IS especially true OF Shakespeare ana
Goethe though neither used child-lfe Itself except
&c an unmportant accessory IL IS true that Goethes
cno. Of child angels In Heaven al The close OF the
second part O, Faust is the most delicate touch IN
tina, strangely suggestive vision. The wise man is
he who does not his child heart says the Eastern
rage Mencius: ard Jean Paul Rich'ers declaration,
7 love God and little children, won for MIN more
friends than all else he wrote.
Looking back 20 classic literature We realize that
the Creeks and Romans did not have the same ldea
o. child rights that We have. II was the custom as
know, expose 10 WHO beasts or 10 tile
superfuous OF unwelcome infants. Sill, the higher
law the sanctlty OF childhood and vague conception
OF the Divine paternity made itself felt. To Illus
ra,e we have only 10 recall the fact that the MODEST
Greek ;rilogy and most famous Roman tradition both
their origin the providential rescue OF aoan-
doned chEdren-Oe dipus and the mythical founders
OF ancient Rome.
The Greeks and Latins never MADE chlldhooo
d-ec; factor in literature Still Hectors child Is one
O. The most beautiful memories Homer has given US
and little Ascanus could hardly be spared from the
Aeneld Perhaps there is little room fOr children N
az epic poem: but since have made the acqu1ht- |
0, J. NJ Barries Grizel We are changing our |
view o. the literary poss bites OF chd-ife. Victor
Hugo Wordsworth and Barrie have revealed 70 ne !
%. .ialites IN the budding human e that angels
n ght envy. To these three names let US add DICK
ems George Eliot, Mrs Browning. George SAND ana |
Rooeri Browning In such subtle. delicate way DO |
these writers portray chiiGIfe that il quickens the
readers sght and al the same time makes him re-
call the almost forgotten experienccsof MS own child
hO5J This modern treatment Of chd-life is part OF
tho --aantic movement revivfying literature al the
beginning Of the present century. The new democ- !
racy % literature proclaimed the essential dignity .
0, everything human. Of every soul-en1o"'d Great
urs. Gods little children. win the dew of Heaven
fresh on their souls naturally appealed 10 the awak-
ene1 hearts and cOnsclenceS or the new SclOOi OF