The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17
IN THE LITERARY FIELD
A FATHERS EXPERIENCE IN PRO
vIDING READING FOB CHILDREN.
Dumas Profits Greater than Those of
Modern NoveIists-EngIish Pub
fishers Talk.

There are two kin of stories which you
can tell to children under ten-fairy tales
and stories of adventure. says a writer in
the Boston Transcript. Fairy stories first
because they are an actual translation of
child life, which is fairy life, in its Won
der, credulity and lack of boundaries and
limitations. We have followed Andrew
Lang through all his many-colored compi-
lations, red, green, blue and the rest, and
we have also wandered with Alice in Won
derland. with CULVER among peoples great
and small, and with Munchausen and Don
Quixote on some of their remarkable jour-
neys. For my children quite rightly be-
lieve that no fairy stories worth hearing
have been told since the old days. until
somebody out in Chicago a few months ago
wrote eth Wizard of o." And this ex-
ception I judge is because of the humor
and not for the fairies.
a child's humor strikes me as rather ele-
mentary. If l were to taxi a vote / know
they would unanimously agree that THE
Tar Baby" in Uncle Remus is the funniest
thing ever written. l don't know but it is,
yet I can't say that L would ask for it
every night for a fortnight as they do.
Their humor seems TO be physical, the hui
NOR of situation. To get some poor deluded
one into a scrape, like a fox or a father.
and with tapping paws lie low" like Brer
Rabbit and then watch the denouement
with shrill, exasperating cries-this is the
kind Of humOr that is universal to children,
and the majority of adults never wholly
outgrow ii.
Mostly tell stories Of adventure. Here,
TO the ortiSt parrator h1riIdS rrn0n other
mems foundations. 1 remember beginning
with the oldest when the others were drink
ing the milk of human kindness in their
long clothes by the freight on Sunday
evenings. 1 was an amateur at religious
narrative, and l didn't know how. But he
soon showed me. 1 was TO begin at the be-
ginning and sing my song with epic large
ness. A tiny forefinger followed my longer
one from page TO page of the picture Bible,
pausing at each heroic figure with mute
query. Then II was that | knew first how
grandly the Old Testament is a children's
book. Suppressing a few geneslogies, where
the lively chroniCler fell asleep, and, walk
ing. borrowed a few pages from his grand
mothers memory, and a few rude pictures
that he scrawle in an idle moment on the
margin, these tales are told as great stories
ought to be told, centering in heroes, NOV
ing rapidly through events. letting the
events do their own moralizinS; told
simply, honestly, fervently and without
wonder or homily.
For a time the Bible was the child's chief
companion. Together we swept through
the drama of Israel and the tragedy Of
Jesus, the story-teller as impressed as his
little auditor as he saw the ages in piano.
rama. Even now the young scholar, who
followed his leader by slow and patient
reading 10 attest his accuracy and review
the story, can correct him on many minor
details. Joseph, Daniel and David were the
great triumvtrate who made the pages live.
Paul and Peter seemed DarVRnuS beside
gigantic Samson. wicked Jezebel and sturdy
Joab. AS for Jesus, l would not say. as
some recent students of childhood have
stated. that he was less than the others.
He was by himself. The others were heroes.
He was the good elder brother.
But in this manner and at this rate our
material was soon exhausted. L was sur
prised to find that a day came when the
Bible was no longer the favorite book.
When the little company became mature
enough to yield to a moderate amount Of
drill and listen in partial peace while prayer
was being offered. family prayers were in
stituted. The reading of the Bible was
soon. however, voted as a bore, or as they
profanely suggested, a chestnut"
Shocked as l was, l knew the irreverence
was u~nintentional. / found that In the Sun
day school the lads felt the same feeling
Of knowing all that was to be taught.
While still convinced that the Bible ought
10 be told TO children in large masses. I am
now coming TO feel that ii must be supple
mented I'm the church and home by other
helpful narratives. until the time comes
when its poetry and its soul appeal TO the
maturing life.
As 1 have partly indicated, whatever was
liked in hearing was pretty sure to be read
afterward. 1 remember how the eldest
came TO start his library. He had a Bible,
but nobody thought. he was old enough to
care for books of his own. I had just
bought a neat little edition of Malory's
king Arthur" bound in four volumes in
limp calf. He p~ounced upon it at once and
claimed ii as his own on the ground that
he had a speaking acquaintance with his
great namesake. l was amused at the idea
that the long. devious chronicle. with it's
antique English. should interest him, and
told him he might nave the books as long
as he cared for them. From that hour he
lived in the age OF chivalry. The volumes
went with him in his going out and his
coming I'm. his rising up and his lying down.
AS the old vOluptuary lined the pages of his
poet with rose leaves and sprinkled wine
upon them, so these volumes received the
speedy tribute OF dogs ears and worn
edges. There seemed 10 be something in
the very fullness OF detail which fitted a
mind that Travelled constantly on little
Journeys and FASTENED not TO reach a goal.
AS in all childish reading. his play at once
became it's reflection, and we lived con-
stantly with a little knight whose handi-
craft made pasteboard armor and swords
OF lath, and who charged from unexpected
house corners with lance at rest. or cara
coled upon the green.
The classics that appeal to children teach