New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-07
CHILDREN IN LITERATURE.
MISS BRANCH DECLARES BEFORE THE
FROEBEL SOCIETY THAT THE LITTLE
ONES ARE BECOMING MORE AND
MORE A LIVING FORCE ART.

MOisE - LiNlNG FOICE IN AMI
The regular monthly meeting OF the Froebel So
ciety of Brooklyn held yesterday afternoon
in the rooms of the Froebel Academy. Mrs. In
derh presiding. The meeting was in charge Of
the Literature Committee Mrs J. B. Beattie.
chairman. Mrs. Beattie presented the subject for
the afternoon. with short pea for good reading.
She said she believed that in proportion to the
number Of books there less reading OF
standard works than ever before. the newspapers
and various periodicals taking their place.
Miss Anna Branch. a former student Of the
Froebel Academy and a graduate Of Smith Col
lege. presented strong and intensely interesting
paper on the Tendencies OF Modern Literature"
Miss Branch said in part:
Comparing the literary work Of to-day with
that of fifty years ago. we find an almost phe-
nomenal Increase in the different lines OF thought
pursued by literary men. and in the earnes'hess
with which they follow their special lines rs II
the instinct toward division OF labor were extend
Ing Itself into the sphere of art Inc compare
tive study OF literature besides being interesting.
Is ennobing: through it one learns of the environ
ment of literary and Intellectual heroes. ana 10
understand that one must grasp the IDEAS toward
which social economy L. aiming"
OF the child In literature. Miss Branch said:
1T is not only the Characteristics and psycholo-
gists who are Interested IN the development or
the child. the child has become more than ever
a living force in comparative art Not only mas
he stories and poems and songs OF the best writ
ten for his private delectaiion. but he takes his
place IN the master pieces Of iierature-in Barrie
Sentimental Tommy and the poems OF James
WhitcomO Riley. and IN Stevenson. who Is surely
the poet laureate Of The child
In conclusion she said:
1T seems strange That the only tendency much
talked OF nowadays Is one that does not exist
the tendency TO dccadence. great many people
OF the present day talk IN a funcrca! manner about
general dcoadcnce. and the decadcnoe OF 'ctS;.
while IL Is probable tnat tine Tendency tNIs'S olis
in their I-ddJstcd intelircts. ana IN a par t'1
and distorted view OF ii alBc hcId which U'y are
too pIcjudlccd TO contemplate rs "hoIr. iH'lc
certainly intellectual mOnstrosites tO-day au-
as the yellow Astcr.' The Heavenly Twins ana
stephen Crane poetry: bat one should remember,
like placid philosopher. that such WORKS are
Their own GdmHdtOn.
1T IL unfair ~ cry decadcnce from the study OF
only inferior writers. wncn We have literature
mlnistcrcd 10 by such men as hipins. stevenson.
Hall Game. Ian Maclarcn and Henry James ne
originality. but there two intensely modern
aui hors-one quite dare to cali mem per
fect.y representative Of tho coming i"IloI
whose works too exquisite ana remote 10 pc
generally known. bur who. a. the publo s1as I, ~
Fater and Maurice de GU"riu. -,
general discussion followed the paper MISS
Adele RANKIN next gave some words OF adVisc IN
regard TO good rea !.Eg and the best methods 10
be employed in teaching children 10 read; ~
Rankin entitled is Life Worth Living The next
Among those present were Mrs. J. r. iiarticn'
Mrs. &. NJ. Chadwick. Mrs. +. J. BenJaniln. aifS
Adams Mrs {. Glover. Mrs. \. + Matthews. Mrs
Char.es UnderhlIl and Mrs +. W. Souza.