New-York tribune., 1902-03-09
THE STORY TELLING HOUR.
GOOD TIMES FOR YOUNGSTERS IN PUB
Lie LIBRARIES-BOOK THAT
CHILDREN LIKE.


Friday afternoon a band of trained story teilers
delights the youngsters with talks from mythology
and history. HaphaZard story telling is allowed
only at holiday seasons, when subjects are suited
to occasions The story telers received their train
ing IN and are supported by the Carnegie Library
of Pittsburg which was the pioneer in such eff
fort, and which with its branches. is stil said TO
be the only library in this country to have rooms
especially apart story telling. One OF the
severest punishments Pittsburg teacher can be-
stow upon mischievous girl and boy is to deprive
them of the benefit of the Friday afternoon story
hour. During the last year more than seven thou
sand children have been entertained weekly in this
way in the Pittsburg schools.
Story tellers. under the direction also
gather groups of children in The libraries and in
the tenement houses and entertain them with
stories from the classics. A attractive sight
rarely be found than group of forty bright,
eager faced children tied Turk fashion the
floor around the teacher in the pretty story telling
room Of any one of the Carnegie libraries once or
twice every week. The story telling is intended TO
arouse and stimulate for the best literature,
and. although narratives chosen and a CONVEX
sationaI style employed, they planned to
amount practically a series of lectures
like those arranged by university extension move
ments. The recitals are often illustrated by pict
ures. AS a rule. the story is supplemented with
list Of Juvenile books treating of the subjects
cred. Every story is told with the deliberate in
tention of exciting interest in some especial sub
ject-history, nature. etc. BY this means, the
curiosity Of the child is aroused, and he is led
pursue the subject on his account.
Systematic preparation was made for the weekly
story hour for this year In outline sixteen stories
from the Iliad and Odyssey prepared and
told simultaneously at all the libraries Morse
myths and the Nibelungen Lied furnished mate
rial for course.
Volunteers have been found among those inter
ested in child education who gather small groups
about them at the homes of the poor in various
districts. and in this way story telling goes on
aTons the varied population OF negroes, Italians.
girls
In other ways the Carnegie Library co-operates
WITH the teachers OF the city During the last year
49, lSS books were circulated from II through the
school work ' -''
ALL THEIR VERY OWN"
The pretty room of Pratt Institute Brooklyn
while calculated in the main for the circulation of
juvenile books, is equipped with low tables and
chairs for reading. and occasionally groups
gathered together for story telling. The room is
open from to $50 o'clock every evening. when
books are circulated only to boys and girls who
are employed during the day A child's question
sometimes move the childrens librarian, Miss
annie T. Moore, to tell one of the many charming
other times Miss Moore reads TO a flock of eager
things they may not discover unaided. Fairy tales
ehdre5 GegRt @o in & At one time d student Of
OF stories on Morse myths and legends in the
dience Of youngsters AT another pictures illus
trating Miss Alcotts Candy Country" were hung
about the children's room, ana the little folks
4stenea over and over again to the charming tale.
Petitions for stories frequent from the small
visitors. who beseech Miss Moore for the story of
that French girl as they denominate Joan of
Arc, and plead Just once more, please" although
they have heard it times without number Chill
dren says Miss Moore, will listen interestedly
to almost anything"
Miss Moore believes that in the practice of story
telling by institutions there is some room for crit
clsm. he colloqual style used in narration is
especially attractive to children and If carried
far may unit than for the more conventional style
OF BOOKS instead az is the aim. of cultvating In
them a liking for good reading
II is her object 10 associate with the myths their
natural significance much is possible in order
that their true beauties may be appreciated and