The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17

US how TO tell them stories. Form and
style TO them are but little; sentiment and
poetic description are annoying Interrupt
tons. First is personality. must name
and describe my hero. He is the child him
self personalized. Then comes action. There
must be a journey, a combat, a plot. Next
is mystery, suspense, surprise. Finally, the
solution. With these simple elements any
body ought &c tell d tale. They are the ele-
ments of the classics.
L have settled down of late to a continued
story. Beginning with colonial times have
portrayed the adventures of a certain Col.
Lindsay, who fought in the revolution and
then went over the Alleghenies to the
Western Reserve and met a series of un-
paralleled adventures with the Indians in
his new home.
Tonight. for example. I am describing an
attack on Marietta that took place while
our mythical hero was away. The eyes
brighter as the gathering of the tribes is
described. The children gather closer TO
me as Colonel Lindsay's capture far from
home is related. The brave defense of the
beleaguered garrison under the lead of the
colonels young son, brings cheers of APP
probation which arouse the dog. Then
there is the colonel's skillful silent escape
and his return in disguise to the ~neighbor-
hood of his home. The children look car
vigorously into the fire as the great battle
day comes with its wild charges, the rolling
up OF the farm wagon. loaded with burning
hay against the stockade. the break at the
gate and the almost miraculous appearance
OF the brave colonel with hurried reinforce
~ III Inv 49, "AA NAE NASNOA
This is all simple, rather crude, you say.
But 1t is the only kind that goes. Stories
about cats. birds. flowers and girls may
win a ~yawning attention. but il is life.
strong, brave and conquering, that is de-
sired. | think the craving is i'm the main
wholesome. The children are actually con-
temporarleS of the pioneers and the saw
ages. They need a certain amount Of eX-
element to satisfy their emotions. They
strengthen In character, in endurance and
valOr, as they dwell Will the brave and the
true AnV amount of moral nohi1ity may
be portrayed, but not preached to them.
The curious way in which these children
reach up 10 an age beyond their own is
very noticeable. 1t is equally characteristic
in their play, when they usually initiate
''%grown-ups." Children have always been
thus since the DAYS when Jesus described
the children of His time playing at marry
ing and funerals. A boy was accosted the
other day by a man who took an interest
in mis- bright face and asked him how old
ne was. Well he replied with a shame
faced look. Il amt but twelve, but my
pants are marked sixteen" j find that my
children take very little interest in books
and magazines written for them. They
care a great deal more for mems books,
and for magazines like the Scientific Amer
lean, Success and the Worlds Work. I
edited a children's paper myself for several
years before L could get my own children TO
take any interest in it. They seem to have
a wholesome instinct that periodical litera-
ture Is of quite little worth. They skip
through 1t with that mania for collecting
odd facts which seems to me perfectly
parallel to their manner of collecting
stamps, buttons and curios. Perhaps they
may begin to mak som of the wondrous
toys that the handicraft editor assures
them are so easy, but l never saw any com
p!eted. They read the premium offers not
because they intend to annoy their friends
by asking for subscriptions, but because
they like TO fancy themselves possessors Of
all the treasures so bountifully illustrated.
All the plosity. the creaking morality. the
palnstaking effort TO be interesting editori-
ally and yet never forget to preach-all this
is happily skipped. Occasionally a child's
magazine, edited with fine reserve and
sympathy, does crowd its way in amidst
the throng of other periodical matter flung
thoughtlessly on the table by adults and
steal into a thoughtful moment with sweet
ness ere the child is aware, and thus be-
comes a friend.