The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-15
A List of Stories for the Young
People.
READING FOR CHILDREN
Literature That Is Helpful as Well as
Interesting-An Imaginative Ele-
ment in the Mind of
Every Child.


children in the lines of history and sci
ence. This week we mention for our
young people a list of stories for young
people.
great deal of attention is in these days
given to the reading of children, and
many books designed primarily for the
young folks are delightful recreative read
ing for those of any age. Yet there are a
large number of people upon whom the
effect of advertising a book as juven-
lie is to give the impression that it is a
book that will have no interest to them.
The fact is that the average juvenile story
is more carefully written and more in
teresting in style than the average adult
novel; We do not care to urge this mat
ter, however, for we have lots of young
people who are anxious to read all the
books we receive, and we feel that they
will derive more benefit from them than
will any competitors our argument might
bring into the field.
A number of people are alarmed at the
efforts in this progressive age which tend
to provide ample reading for children and
to induce them to avail themselves OF t.
These people are conscientious and in ear
nest and must be taken seriously. But,
in the first place. they do not understand
the psychology of child nature, and in
the second place they seem to be ignorant
that children do read up to the limit of
the spare time they have, and that it is
the part of wisdom to provide literature
that is helpful as we'll as interesting and
to advise them concerning it. We would
be the last to claim that lie whole, or
the greater part of the rea ling of chill
dren should be made up of stories, but
there is an imaginative element in the
mind Of every real child Wl--ch must not
be allowed to starve, unless We desire to
destroy an important part OF his char-
acter. Moreover many ethical and prac-
teal truths are apprehended better
through the fiction adapted to the young
than when presented in any other manner.
The important thing is that teacher and
parent should know what the child is
reading and sympathetically direct his
taste The child is ready for the advice of
those in whom he has confidence, but II
interesting ana instructive reading is not
provided he will not be slow to find
substitute that soon becomes of absorbing
interest. though the effect may be any
thing but helpful.
We begin by mentioning a few books
which are attractive at that period of life
when one delights in the tales of fairies
and myths. One of the best books of this
| nature which has appeared for long time
| is "W. VS. Golden Legend by William
Canton. This is a volume of stories of an
| cient and medieval times, told in fas-
| cinating style and quite original in their
| plots.
Legends From River and Mountain,
by Carmen Sylvia, tells of the myths OF
| the mountains of Central Europe, while
Down the Snow Stairs" by Alice Cork
| ran, 1.-The Story of Little Jane and Me-
| by NJ. E., and "a Celestial by Enzie,
| will claim their share of attention.
1.-THE Golden Maiden, anu Other Folk
| Tales and airy Stories Told in Armenia
| by A. G. Seklemian, while of interest to
| the children, will appeal to older people
| who are interested in considering some of
| the thoughts and myths of the old nation,
| interest in which has of late been re-
| vived by the barbarities of the unspeaka-
| BILE Turk,
The books of Mrs Isabella NJ Alden,
who is better known to our readers by
her pen name of Pansy, are very much of
| a kind and Three People" will be read
| with interest by many of our patrons.
Harold Avery in the Triple alliance:
| It's Trials and Triumphs," has furnished
the boys with. a stirring tale of school
| life.
| Amy e. Blanchard is an author whose
| come well-known favorite by her stories
| for girls Heretofore she has contented
| herself with telling pleasant stories of
| home or school life, but in the two books
| before us to-day she has introduced
something more of a purpose. 'Thy
| Friend Dorothy is to certain extent
| historical and treats of life among the
Quakers in the early days of the Pennsyl-
vania colony. while "kittyboy's Christ
mas" is holiday story for a younger
| class of readers.
One of the most prolific and versatile
writer's for young people is Elbridge S.
Brooks. He always writes a good story
| and always has some historical or geo.
graphical information to communicate in
addition to the interest and inspiration
of his narrative. In Under the Tama-
racks; or, A Summer With General Grant
| az the Thousand Islands," he introduces
| the reader to some fine scenery and to an
important historical character.
| Stories of college life are very common
| nowadays. but common as they are, the
reading public always seems to relish an
other. The special popularity of "Three
Freshmen" by Jessie Anderson Chase, is
| that the freshmen are women, and their
names are Ruth. Fran and Nathalie.
While many juvenile books appear
which are written primarily for boys. not
SO many are devoted to subjects of inter-
| est to girls. When, therefore, an author
appears who can write stories for gir.s
| there is no lack of patronage. One of the
| most successful of such writers is Ellen
Douglas Deland. Her "Oakleigh'' and
| malvern" have long been favorites, and
her "Katrina" is equally attractive.
1t seems as if Mrs. Martha Finley
would never end her extensive series OF
Elsie books. "Else On the Hudson and
| Elsewhere is the 23d of the list.
A story of life in Western Kansas is
1.-The Ranch On the OXhde; a Story oil
| Boys and Girls Life On the Frontier.
| by Colonel Henry Inman. who has of late
become well known to our readers by his
stirring histories of the Santa Fe Trail
and THE Great Salt Lake Trail"
Very charming are many of the situa-
lions in Demise and Ned Toodles; a True
| Story" by Gabrielle e. Jackson.
The forte of James Otis Kaler is in mar
rating fascinating stories which deal witt
themes in early American history. Bu
his other tales seem to be Just as popu
lar. The latest is Jenny Wrens Board
ing House: a Story of Newsbsy Life il