The San Francisco call., 1899-12-10

IN none more characteristic OF the age
II ana none Of greater Importance
than the child's book. II is not
Acfg long since there was no such
thing in oNistcnce-no ST. Nicholas.
no Harpera Young People. no boy detec-
tive. na childish saint in humble circum-
stances run over by an omnibus, ns board
iug school clrl eating "a midnight supper,
no oliver Optic o- Louisa Alcott, no Alice
IN II U771iUri511rr Hessf Sawyer fas Young
Slcuth or little Lord Fauntleroy. chill
drcn Of the past who read anything read
grown peoples books Not many genera
tlous ago thcy had not even primers, but
learned their letters ont OF the Bible and
spelled their way Valiantlv through the
Jaws and chronicles Of the Old Testa-
mcnt
Sow writer's OF ability follow the pro-
fcssion ~ composing books for children.
Publishers devote themselves 20 the bust
ness of putting children's books on the
market Chlldren's magazines appealing
20 a great variety of interests attain
large circulation. The child has become
a parsonage 81 literary Importance. whose
TASTES are studied and hauercd. and Tor
whom reading is made easy and agreeable
Dog every art known 10 tht trade ot book
making.
An examination of the chndren's books
of the season reveals the fact that the
business OF attracting juvenile interest
has been completely systematized. SO COM
Tletely that half dozen receipts viii set
uD a. clever author for life ir the business
AZ mixing and splicing tales for children.
Tor instance. one favorite dish is made
as follows: Take a boy from 10 10 H. or
even upward. The younger the tougher
Spice literally with ready impudence.
Acquaiut with an important secret.
tCrime is "A good subject. the movements
~ an army win do very well) lIidnap.
Let The hero make his own escape with
marvellous ingenuity and daring Turn
IBIS hdnapers over into his hands other
INGREDIENTS may be added IA considerable
variety. A satisfactory combination is ef-
fected by mixing a head villain. whose
ewes are set too close together and whose
manners are polished with an under VII
lain, generally rough and stupid. Sauce
with intolerable hardships. Caves, de-
serted houses. trap doors. tunnels under
walls. secret panels. may be used as ia
voring. dash OF feeble love making
may sometimes be added. but must be
used very cautiously. Finally. depend
upon accident 10 bring all into shape The
destruction ~ the head villain is very
neatly accomplished IN this way. Recap
ture and subsequent delivery Of the hero
are also good effects TO attain by acct
dent. Remember that the main thing IS
everybody cles ia nobility. generosity, wit,
res0urcefulness and endurance.
Another type of cookery. a little old
fashioned. bat 10y no means ont Of favor
uses the youthful saint as its most i'm
po-iant ingredient
The orphan. or tho child OF a drunken
father. who is run over IN the street and
is sent 20 the hospital. and who there
reconcilcs lovers. discovers lost children.
rororCratcs characters. or brings bless
irrs and comfort 20 sad hearts. Is az pres
ent fashionable form in which TO dish
1hc youthful saint. Garnishcs Of all sorts
are used. but the most important point
Tor the chez to keep IN remembrance in
this, ae wei as in the other type, is that
tno chil'-hero must be superior TO all
other created beings. and must achieve
impossibIitlcs constantly.
Receipts in abundance could be given.
sufficient to hll an Every Boy His own
STORY Writer. but these two examples
Nal Doe enough 10 illustrate the most com
D. t3po of Juvenile In IL the youth
ful readers love Of the marvellous is graf
lied hy tho extraordinary achievements
of fhe principal character. and his vanity
SIS BATTERED hy the fact that this hero is a
mere child. while al the same time great
care !s taken never To- distress feeble
SIMS ginaflon or "A commonplace mind with
stIIt Ifi.I. iIlllI OF lnllA conceptions.
The action is rapid and plain. and the
characters are all simple. not TO say me-
chanically unreal The result is a story
which can be read very rapidly without
calling for amy effort OF the mind.
Another class of books wholly differ
ent from the one just described. except
in commouplaccness. consists Of the milk
and water adventures Of milk and water
heroes The more ordinary and the more
diluted both hero ana adventures the bet
ter. This type Of story seems TO be in
tended Tor little children who are OF an
age 10 ask: "ls there a little boy in it7''
Is there little girl I'm it?' and nestle
down contcntcdly 10 hear anything about
any little boy or any little girl.
Sometimes tales are written for the pur-
pose OF conveying useful information A
company OF lively boys are set fishing on
The St Lawrence. and after an exciting
struggle with a bass. or thrilling upset
OF canoe. are halted TO listen TO stories
~ the history which was enacted on the
fhores OF the island where they are en-
camped or else a trivial love story is
made tho settling of studies OF Italian pic
tures. Writers and parents seem 10 for
get how cunning the youthful reader is in
skipping. A boy or girl has as keen a
scent for story as the best hound for
d fox, and can pick out the trail from the
RfIAtek INiE4e OF nlfEtrihllOn. description
Cr character analysis. Never fear that a
boy or girl viii submit TO the imposition
Of getting Information out OF these fraud
ulent books.
A type of juvenile books which pos
Eesses more vitality than those described
contains the narrative Of the actions. es-
pecially of the pranks. OF an ordinary
company ~ children. at home or at school
Girls toasting marshmallows on hatpins
az midnight. or boys tempting their un-
wary comrades into the woods snips
hunting are frequent characters In such
tales. There Us more scope for originality
IN stories Of this nature than IA the others
described. and writers OF genius have
written very entertainingly OF every day
boy and girl life. Speaking broadly, how
ever, there is in making a narrative from
the sport and The seriousness Of young
people much temptation 10 triviality and
little incentive TO any sort
of distinction. Accordingly. in most sto-
ries OF ordinary child life it would be
hard 10 find anything likely 10 elevate the
mind. 10 enlarge The symps thies, or TO
enrich the imagination OF the young
reader.
In fact. a review OF the books written
Tor the young shows them 10 be
20 uniformly poor and feeble in substance