The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-29
DESK STUDIES FOR GIRLS:
READING COURSES.
III. READING COURSES AND A
GIRLS LIBRARY.
BY JOHN MILLAR, NJ. A.
The Reading of Poetry.


of young women for literature, they
cannot overlook poetry. Sooner or later
they should hope to know of Shakes
peare, Milton and Goethe. The great
poets rank next TO the Bible. To be
ignorant of Cowper and Burns, Whit
tier and Longfeliow, Scott and Tenny-
son. is to have the mind dwarfed
Browning and Wordsworth will tax the
powers of mature years, but poetry
should not be rejected because of its
depth or obScurity. Poetry should be
especially read to give a proper atti-
tude of mind, habit of thinking OF
noble things, of keeping the spirit in
harmony with beauty, goodness,
strength and love. A poem like Ten
nyson's In Memoriam' is worth more
than dozen popular novels. Of all
kinds of literature poetry is the most
stimulating and refining. The poet is
the best representative of the spirit of
his age. To read what he creates is to
| re-create in ones own mind the i'm
ages and pictures which he first con-
ceived and then expressed in verse. If
a girl has no desire to read poetry there
rs some defect in her training. Children
love poetry. To ignore poetry is to
slight those productions which Shelley
calls 1.-THE best and happiest thoughts
of the best and happiest minds The
main purpose of poetry is to give
pleasure. and pleasure of kind, if thu
choice is well made, that will eler, -lia
and ennoble. More and more says
Matthew Arnold, mankind will dis
cover that we have to turn 10 poetry
to interpret life for us, TO console US, to
sustain u.s.
Variety In Reading.
! If general reading is desirable for
men it is also desirable, if only in a
\ los Aavr 90
poetry have been considered more at
length because they necessarily and
/ properly will receive much attention
/ from most girls. 1t is pity that
young women so often lack general in
! formation. 1t does not render a wo-
man less attractive if she has an in
telligent comprehension of the many
public matters discussed in the news
papers. She does not necessarily be-
come an advocate of female suffrage
by understanding political questions.
] he social { I'd eco 1omic prob ems Of on.
times af1ect the welfare OF both men
and women
A girl should include biography and
history in her reading courses. The
former is especially valuable for young
persons. To know the lives of distin-
guished people is to know, to a great
extent, all the knowledge and resources
of their times. The study of biography
furnishes US with valuable ideals for
LIES duties, and it cures us Of affecta-
ton. 1t supplies us with the accumu-
lated wisdom of the past and increases
our regard for the divine attributes
which have been implanted in the hui
man heart. A girl is filled with a new
inspiration when she reads the life of a
good woman. Biography is more val-
liable than fiction, because It holds up
possible ideals. History also. if prop
erly studied. gives broader view to
woman's inference as a social factor. 1t
should not be regarded as an account
OF battles and sieges. nor should il sug-
gest the memoriZing of dates or the
enumeration of what is given in genoa
logical trees. Young persons may read
lily understand and appreciate history
if regard is had to historic landmarks,
or IL they are taught to see how smaller
events are connected with larger ones.
If the Imagination has been properly
trained there will be no danger of fam
ciful impressions gaining an advantage.
The power of drawing correct conclu-
sions will be cultivated and the power
of realizing truth will be heightened 1t
is unreasonable to limit the range of
womans thoughts any more than those
of a man to the daily routine OF the
average life. The efforts necessary TO
provide living will demand much at
tention, but women no more than men
can live by bread alone.
Any advice for girls regarding read
ing courses would be defective that did
not give prominence to periodical lit
erature. The home should be provided
with newspapers and magazines and
preference should be given to those
clean in tone and bright in character
A good daily newspaper may furnish
the family with topics ofyaluable con-
versation. Idle gossip has little chance
where there are sensible subjects to
talk about. Monthly journals of high
rank now are published at |
prices that put them within the |
reach of most families young
girl may not have received what would |
be called a finished education. but
she has generally the opportunity of |
becoming fairly well informed She may
not be able to acquire proficiency in |
music-a very desirable accomplishment |
She has. however. in most instances. |
the privilege of making herself fairly |
we'll acquainted with general and cur
rent literature. To be able to play /
the piano is commendable; to be able |
to talk intelligently is better.
Books In the Home.
Happy is that girl whose early home |
permit her 10 form the
reading habit unconsciously. The par
ents and friends who furnish children
with books and periodicals are doing
no small share toward forming an in
telligent community. Give me a
house." says Beecher, furnished with
books rather than furniture" A house
should no more be without a library
than without a kitchen or bedroom.
Even if the house have but one room,
one corner of it should be the place
where a few books are to be found,
Better to provide good books than cost
ly ornaments. One comfortable room
well stocked with books is more to be
preferred than a parlor with expensive
decorations. John Bright once re-
marked: In the houses of the humble
a little library. in my opinion, is
most precious possession" girls
library should have a place for its con-
tents, even if ii occupies only little
shelf in one corner of her bedroom 1t
shows a serious defect in home train
ing where home is found without
books. When there are no books there
IS the absence of one of the best agen-
lies 10 make up for the possible loss
Of school advantages. If the absence
IF a small library is due to poverty
here is some excuse. When there is
evidence of means the lack of books
shows a lack of culture. Ii too often
happens that the daughters of well-to-
10 parents show little appreciation of
good reading matter. Money is expend-
I'd on dress and socials, but books are
seldom purchased. 1t is one of the most
homogeneous sights to see an eieganti ,
house with fine furniture. paintings of I
he masters. valuable -brac. ella