The San Francisco call., 1899-11-22
III. READING COURSES AND A
GIRLS LIBRARY.
The Reading of Novels.

NO more common disease affects the
reading public than the love OF novels.
II the intelligence Of girls were in pro-
portion to the amount OF fiction they read.
the future would be bright. The indis-
criminate selection Of novels is what
makes the situation especially bad. II is
not contended that works Of fiction
should have no place in a girls library.
On the contrary. fiction is a department
Of literature which no young person
should ignore. DR.. w. T. Harris styles IL
the bait by which we create love OF
reading, and II should lead out TO other
reading, especially in the lire OF science
and history and philosophy" A child
should read much fiction. but the amount
should be lessened as the years go by
A girl Of 10 may read five times as many
novels as works OF poetry. biography.
science or history. When she has reached
~ her literary taste has been poorly culti-
waited II fiction forms half OF what she
reads. Ideals have their place no doubt
in the aspirations OF youth. IL is not,
therefore. surprising that children readily
read books that stimulate the love OF the
imaginative. Thousands OF persons are
reached by the novelist who are too young
TO follow the essayist or the biographer
or TO appreciate the clearer vision OF the
poet. Undoubtedly the great writer's OF
fiction have been valuable teachers OF
the masses. The good novel will culti-
vate the desire 10 excel in what is en-
nobling. A certain class OF sentimental
novels present serious dangers to the
minds of persons dissatisfied with their
conditions. The works of fiction perused
should give true and not a false view
OF life. The novel has its place because
the imagination cannot be fully satisfied
with history. biography. travel or even
poetry.
1t is the abuse and not the use OF fic-
tion that is at fault. The only practical
BILE plan is 10 regulate novel reading.
There is such an abundance Of good hc-
tion that there is no excuse for spending
time with what is only second or third
rate. Many a girl spends hours in read
Ing books which no good judge OF litera-
ture would ever add TO her library. II is
not enough TO avoid novels which stimu-
late the passions, Ignore or mislead the
conscience or present views OF life that
are fundamentally false and debasing. To
read only iirst-class novels Is good advice,
but this advice IS not enough. Fiction is
not the best kind Of literature for either
men or women. Inveterate readers OF
even good novels are not always well in
formed. Indeed, they are often very shall
low in their estimate OF human charac-
ter Children naturally like stories but
surely girl should not always remain
child. Icecream will cloy the appetite II
meal is begun with II. Better 10 leave
II until the more substantial articles are
eaten. In like manner, the first part Of
ones leisure every day might be en-
ployed in reading solid works OF litera-
ture.
II fiction were taken up as a recreation
it's advantages would be more lasting. 1t
is impossible for a girl TO love Dickens
without becoming large hearted; II she
appreciates Thackeray she will receive
thoughts of value. The works OF Mrs
Mulock-Craik. Miss Alcott and Black
have given many a girl in a rough and
poor home an insight into what develops
q higher womanhood. II IS a mistake TO
suppose a girl should read whatever is
for the time popular.
How to Read.
To know how TO read is as important as
to know what 10 read. Ii Is useless TO
read what does not interest but mere IN
terest is little good unless the intellectual
and moral faculties are cultivated. Girls
often read without having any purpose
in view. Desultory habits are injurious
TO a student. Every one should be u
student. To read a few pages here and
a few pages there, without any definite
object is a great waste OF time. Some
department of study should be chosen