The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-14
Proper Realng y
~ ~ for Children.

A>~~~~N<~ >c.c~~~>>~~~~-~~e~~
An article In the New England Magazine by
Florence WinterbuTn, entitled The Child's Taste
IN Fiction" is refreshingly to the point all
through and quite delightfully."- devoid of any
theorizing suggestions Of psychological study.
The best parts OF the paper are too long to
quote but she begins with this sentence:
Few grown people know what literature they
like until they have been told by somebody whose
opinion they respect what they ought to like.
But children, being comparatively isolated
from the influence OF contemporary opinion. re-
ceive from their first acquaintance with book
the effect OF the book itself free from the prejt-
dice OF an introduction The ideas they may form
in regard to IL have the sincerity OF conviction
reached by independent reasoningi more accept
able, consequently, as an indication Of individual
taste, than the impressions Of adults who rarely
approach a book with unbiased mind"
! Although there is in the life Of every child
period when he is intellectually honest, It is
often brief; cut short by his intSductiou TO
school Here the sharp edge ~ originality
| quickly grinds away against the rSchine con-
! structed TO turn indivdualism into Averages.
Most intelligent young people under a dozen
years when childish tastes begin to change, have
a hunger for what is vivid and presents ehoos-
ing, II one may so phrase II, the legs of plain
prose not the wings Of verse liking rhyme very
we'll, but insisting upon the story.
Folk lore makes no mistake and is permanent
~ satisfying. Mother Goose" holds her place
in our nursery because in such thrilling narra-
tive as Little Jack Horner" and MARY and the
Lamb" there is immediate answer to the
child's wish for reality A living person with an
, identifying name is at once projected on his
attention. He is introduced playmate. Then
he Is given something to do that is both curious
= and interesting; something one would not mind
o doing ones self If chance offered,
$ THE child does Gull sensibly If he is allowed
He chooses the story that strikes the truest note
y that appeals both to his knowledge and his I'M
J. aginaton. And another hnc point showing how
c closely his instinct is in agreement with the
- keeucst critics is his preference for a certain
+, skillful reserve in the drawing Of character.
He likes to have his fancy stimulated not satiated
L Perhaps this desire is characteristic Of girls
g although not wanting in boys. Wherever there
e is originality in Young readers there is present
10 desire to seize upon an idea offered and carry It
d farther along Some children take pleasure IN
III mentally experimenting with any hero or heroine
ie thev adopt as i friend. They invent new sitna'
Id tons develop traits ap author has barely limited,
n and solve problems simply suggested. Firm out
C. lines natural tones, arc the essentials, and with
III these the child improves
to To Miss MuHcts Christmas Party bid
'' den by the aid of the Spider all tho people you
c- read about'-thc "Rcv. Swiss Robinson and
Family" Tiny Tim and Al the Cratchetts,' Mr.
oi Aldrich's Dad Boy" Rouo and Jonas and
as Miss Edgewor,h's Youths and "Rosamond'
nS "Haroun al Raschd' and "Sindhad' and th'
we "Three Wise Men of Gotham" "Acsop with his
Dee Fables" and "Baloo and Bagheera," Uncle Re
in mus" and Robinson Crusoc' and whole pro
ry c,ssion more and Samuel McChord Crothers dc
ne scribcs their mutual acquaintance in style tina
ng will hold the children GREATNESS with intefes
m and keep their elders bubblng over with aughei
vas A more delightful compound Of exuberant fancy
APP sy satire and genuine, good-humored Jun
en- would be hard 10 find There Is protusion Q
ely illustrations, III extremely clever, Olive W
Long is the artist. Houghton Miifiin Co.
Jack London has already achieved a reputato
l as a writer OF striking originality, ard IN his ID
80 est book which he calls the Children OF the rros
li he has chosen subjects which are as fresh
uI" thew are entertaining The Children OF the Fro
en, are the dwcllcrs in the far North Esltimos an
IA, Alaskans, primitive folk all of them with prim
H. tive passions, The stories are strongly conceive
mas yirilc and real Hitherto stories Of these regio
,, have been told from the point OF view OF Il
Wv, white man, the intruder and these stories der
no great interest from the fact that they are all to
Jus from the point Of view OF the Alaskan Indian
81, the EsqumauN.
no Children are vastly entertained by the stori
va. Of Nam-Bok who was called by his home-kee
g..' ing companions The Unveracioua.'
.bc Children Of certain temperamental peeuliarit
.-o,, eniov intensely James Barre's The Little VIII
ANTS Bird" Bur Of its subteSr suggestions wo'
be lost on child OF only the average amo'
II In Of imagination The childish greed FOR mar
MED tive is implhcntly eager, and refuses to tt
,rics more than one point Of view Of any drama
horn situation. The following English estimate OF
shot book may be found intercsung' The aut
4 Is who would attempt TO initiate him would be
i,rs foolish Fellow" says the London Academy
80, T;,crat,,re in the course of a review OF Mr..
,er, Tje's ,Thc Little White Bird" For Mr.. Bal
,(rI has rare gifts that are not to he simulated.
cater and foremost he has humor the real kind
pos hunor that bubbles from 'nc n'it - .i
n 10 temperaments other self that, mildly anu
len mildly eontemptuons, watches It's masters mo-
icrer But Mr. Barrie knows perfectly well
name he is an incurablc sentimentalist but nc can
d. lie hello il any more than he can help mockins
ori, himself for being one Also he has pathos, c
e ,bc nrehcnson Of the minds Of children incu'
oa,s Nat elder child the artist, and perfect symp'
,ybo with all simple and unsPoiit natures whe
hin, they are women, boys or dogs.