Evening journal., 1901-12-21
CHRISTMAS AT
THU LIBRARY
Librarian Suggests Books
Suitable Tor Holiday
Reading

Christmas is essentially a children's
festival The special preparations
that are being made for the holiday
season at the Wilmington Institute
Free Library are therefore particularly
appropriate Within the last week
additional electric lights have been in
stalled in the childrens room SO that
It is now much mere cheerful and
pleasant than ever before. A liberal
supply of green including pine
branches. holly and mistletoe has been
hung about the room. every electric
light being encircled by holly The
children are very much Interested ia
this process OF making their corner
beautiful and the contributions of the
little ones have been numerous. Two
or three little boys, who were not
very well clothed, insisted on being al
lowed 70 buy wreaths Of holly and
sprigs Of evergreen that they might
contribute to the decoration.
The bulletin boards too are we'll COW
Yered with pictures IN black and white
and colors Illustrative Of scenes in the
life Of Jesus, or of modern Christmas
celebrations. These pictures have for
the most part been cut from the illus
trated papers, though this collection
has been augmented by kind friends
of the library who delight in pleasing
the children.
Most Of the time during the last few
weeks that the children could spare
from their studies and from their
Christmas plans has been devoted to
reading along the line Of Christmas
customs. For two or three weeks
children have been clamorlng for
Christmas poems and books and arti-
cles ON Christmas customs. In re
sponse to these widespread requests
the children's librarian has prepared
an extensive list This list includes
some entire books. but mostly is made
up Of reference to articles in collee-
tions or magazines The list has been
typewriter and is available to young
and old alike Who may wish to con-
suit it. Obviously the list is too long
TO give entire in these columns. Al
selection, however, may be OF service
70 teachers and parents who may be
besieged by walking Interrogation
points.
It should be said that most Of the
books referred to have been reserved
for reference in the library. all Of them
being brought together in two or three
shelves. Since Christmas had its Ori-
gin in the birth Of Christ, reference is
made to Lee Wallaces "Boyhood Of
Christ and Guerbers Legends Of
the Virgin and Christ" From the vo-
luminous literature on the history.
customs and observance Of Christmas
one may select Brands Popular An
tiquities of Great Britain" Consult the
index, Chambers Book of DAYS. !"
vol 2; Washington IIying's Christ
mas Eve and Christmas Day. lin
sketch Bo0kD; Wagner's Manners.
Customs and Observances," DID. 277-S5,
and Walshs "Curiosities of Popular
Customs"
Among Christmas stories again it is
hard to choose. there are so many good
ones. Dickens Christmas Carol =
though old, is always new. Eugene
Fields The First Christmas Tree" Tin
his Little Book Of Profitable Tales'D
has already become a classic Dodge S
Hans Brinker' describes Christmas in
Holland. Miss Alcott's books contain
many Christmas stories, and the type
written list at the library points them
all out. In Seven Little Sisters" Jane
Andrews tells Of Christmas on the
Rhine In Boyesen's "Boyhood in
Norway" is a Christmas story describ-
ing how the holiday is celebrated in
his native land. In fact this list con-
tains stories Of Christmas celebrations
in many lands.
1t is thought that Bellamy & Good
wins open Sesame q vols.), and Nc
Caskey's Christmas in Song, Sketch
and Story, contains the best collec-
tions Of Christmas lore. Attention is
also called to Eugene Fields Just
fore Christmas in his Love Songs
Of Childhood and most famous Of all
Moore's Night Before Christmas,
which will be found in many collec-
tions Of poems.
The library will be closed on Christ
mas Lay, but this collection Of books
Will be kept for reference at least un-
til after New Years Day.
Will Entertain the Boys