The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-23

Boy Blue" and the toys he'll play with
no more. Field was such a lover of
children, so deep were his feelings for
them that it would have been impossi-
BILE, even had he wished it SO, to con-
ceal his heart in his poems. He was
the kindliest soul on earth, the kind of
man that a friend could absolutely rely
upon in the hour of need.
Of all American poets Field best I'm
derstood the heart of a child. Field
alone. and in pre-eminent degree, was
given that keen insight into child ma
ture, that compassion for its faults,
that sympathy for its sorrow and that
delight in its joyous innocence which
will endear his to his race as long as
his poems are read.
If Field had nothing else to bring, he
could truthfu1ly say as he faced his
Master. 81 followed in your footsteps;
I loved the children and the children
loved me-
The Mission of Literature-Cora Smith.
What is the mission of Literature
This question may be asked from the
remotest ages of the literary world. Its
greatest mission is to enlighten men,
whether in science, history or the arts.
Its great purpose and aim is to furnish
good or evil food to the youth, to de-
light old age, to ornament prosperity,
to comfort adversely, and to fit man for
the highest motives of this life and the
life immortal.
1t is a matter of sincere regret as
we'll as surprise, that many of The
views of the purpose and mission of lit
erature now prevailing are far below
the standard Of good literary judg-
ment.
With not a few of our best writer's
the necessities of life are of such a ma
ture that they are obliged to write for
their daily bread. With others, desire
for fame is their worldly ambition, and
they are to realize it through their
writings. Still. with others. that which
they seek is to please the reader and
crafty the taste of ones great sense
of beauty.
Literature, when properly viewed, has
all, these ends, but are these all? If so,
literature would not enter as a factor
in the worlds best civiliza ton, nor take
its place among the great activities of
the world. Then the question arises
what makes up the real mission of lit
erature? First, the knowledge of hui
man nature to itself and to the world.
A second mission is that literature is
to interpret the spirit of the age. The
conception of great ideas is a third mis-
sion. In Tennysons "Memoriam'' is
found as remarkable specimen as
modern literature provides for this
noble mission of letters. Another mis-
sion is the presentation and enforce
ment of high ideals. Not only must lit
erature involve in its mission some
great idea or ideas, but also great
ideals. 1t may be said that the two
should be found together, great ideas
springing from high ideals.
So it is. the highest mission Of litera-
ture is making the world better, worth
living in and making life more noble
and divine.
Therefore to these the laurel leaves
belong,
To these our love and our allegiance"
Nature and Education-Isabe1 Kelley.
The natural mind is composed of a
multiplicity of unrealized possibilities,
and which will always remain mere
possibilities if we fail to nourish and
encourage them to grow into realities
AS the atmospherical and terrestrial
agencies sprout a seed and further it's
growth and assist each other in the
operations. so education sprouts the
possibilities in the natural mind and
nourishes them until they blossom into
full-grown realities.
Education cannot bring out what is
not included within the undeveloped