The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-04

Mr. Hamilton ". Mabie Expresses HIS
Views Regarding 10,

Views Regarding IT,
There have been strong protests from
very intelligent sources IN recent years
against much of the specially prepared
reading matter for children. 1t has been
argued. and sometimes with good deal
OF spirit, that the tendency or enteiprls-
Ing publishers 10 supplant Defoe, Haw-
tborue. Irving and the older classics was
a sim against lthe intelligence growth
and character of the young. Mr.. Hamil-
Ton W. Mabie. i'm "a recent article IN the
outlook, Ola Reading for Children, dis
cusses this very important subject lie
writes ia q very temperate mood but
none the less decidedly Ia favor Of tie
great books that were formerly the chill
drens classics. From 1t We quote the iol-
lowing:
Parents make no more serious mistake
than taking the tone Of the family life
from the children, instead OF giving that
life clearly and pervasiveiy. the tone Of
their own Ideals. convictions and intelll-
gcncc. Nature does not present one as
pect TO children another 10 mature per-
sons and a third 20 the aged; she press
ents the same phenomena 10 all, and
each age takes that which appeals 20 IT,,
dimly discerning, at the same time the
larger aspects which are 10 disclose them
selves later on. The child loves Nature
Tor certain obvious and beautiful things
which &c readily finds, but Nature Is all
the time enrichlng the imagination OF the
child beyond its care and CONSEQUENCES.
Ana the method OF Nature must be our
model
u we could arrange Nature for children
hy selecting a few pretty flowers few
cQlored stones. "A few feeCy clouds, and
separating them from the sweep and
majesty 81 the universe, we should make
the same tluuler which we are constant
ly making hy excluding children from the
influence and power OF great books and
Condcmuius them TO the companionshiD OF
books written to on different stages Of
Development as shoes are manufactured
90 nt feet of different sizes. The attempt
90 create reading matter for children.
based ON their ability 90 receive and UNI
dersiand at a given age, shows lamenta-
ole ignorance OF the child mind and la
mentahle ignorance of the stuff of which
great books are made. The mind is not.
Ike the feet accurately measurable al
"a given moment. if presents. al given
moments, certain definite limits OF eX-
preston. but 30 never dlsclOscs its capa-
city For reception. And SO is am open
secret that 10 can receive brood over. and
And delight ~ ideas which it only dimly
understands. more than this, such ideas
arc often the most nutritious food OF the
growing mind.
There are great many so-called chill
oreE's books which are wholesome. en-
tcriainins and Cducative in a high degree;
but they possess these high qualities, not
because they are chlldren's books. but
because they are genuine veracious vi
tai and human; because. in a word. they
disclose, in their measure. the same ouali-
ties which make the literary masterpieces
what they are. 1t is a popularity OF such
books that they are quite as interesting
TO mature as 70 young readers. OF the
great mass OF books written specifically
for children. il Is not too much to saw
that it is sin TO put them in the hands
OF those who have no standards and are
dependent upon the judgment and taste
Of their elders. a sin against the chllds
intelligence. growth and character. Some
or these books are inn0cu0us save as
MASTERS Of time. many more are senti-
mental, untrue and cheap; some are vul-
gat.