Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-15

grown up know the felicity of Macau-
lays words: We may remark that
scarcely any passages in the poems OF
Milton are more generally known or
more frequently repeated than those
which are mere muster rolls of names.
Every one of them is the first link in a
long chain of associated ideas. Like
the dwelling place of our infancy re-
visited In manhood, like the song of
our country heard in a strange land,
they produce upon US an effect wholly
independent of their intrinsic value,
One transports us back to a remote
period of history. Another places Us
among the novel scenes and manners
OF a distant region. A third evokes ali
the dear classical recollections Of child
hood"
Most true. but mark the words,
dear, classical recollections." .Oh
what learning Isl" How many such
"reminiscences has Demos at the age of
seventeen? II he is ever to be glad at
/ Hdear classical recollections" we must
give him something classical and above
all something dear to recoilect
IT we should expunge from the list
the names of Burke, Macaulay and
Milton how many good hour would be
left for other work, delectable as well
as wholesome! The grievOus task of
the present will turn into a delight, if
We offer to our pupils literary food
that is none the less stuff for
strength" because it is heartily craved
by the appetite Of youth
| What shall we give them to fill the
void according to their pleasure? The
question would take time and trial to
| answer. When there is a call for or
| acles, I'D rather see than be one."
But a sure resort we have when we
learn aught concerning the nature and
wants of youth; to wit. Mother Goose,
who is full of wise saws and modern
instances" Hark to her grooming!
| What are little girls made Of made of :?
| What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and all things nice,
That's what little girls are made off,
and again:
What are little boys made Of made of?
What are little boys made of?
| Bows and arrows and little wheel-bar-
rows,
That's what little boys are made Of"
And it's much the same when they
are older. Let us make a patchwork
of these pieces, and we can guess the
riddle of the fireside sphinx to mean
| that children like best games in imi
tation of life. real dOings of the worka-
day world, spiced, sweetened. smart
ened up a bit. That would be in liter
| ature not distractions, but stories.
This prediction of theirs is after all
fortunate. since stories we want them
l RI Vo
during the first year of the high school
| just for the fun of them. If i'm after
| years our pupils are to take joy in hap
pening upon we'll beloved names, let
them learn to love them now. The
| teacher should take no shame for triv-
iality; she should rival Scheherazade.
| There are the Bible stories, most essen
| tial to culture, least known of all beau
| tiful legends; the rough old English bal
| lads. all astir with uncOuth vigor, and
the plentiful hoard Of beauty i'm Greek
myth. for the younger soul can better
| feel the hush of divinity appearing.
and most simply believe it. There are
all the rOmances, too, lit with the
glamour of chivalry unfading, "the no.
BILE and joyous history of the worship
| full King Arthur" the book of the San
grail, STORY chrOnicled for one of the
| truest and the hottest that is in his
world and countless splendid les
Of knights and paladins. Without a
doubt they will make dear classical
recollectiOns."
| But we must not keep the boy on child
| ish things after he wishes to- grow. ana Is
getting to take delight not only in tale.
| but in the manner of its telling. In the
/ first place he will tell you that he would
| like more noise. He glOres in the SOUND
of thing, in whatever has swing or
| roll, a rumble or a glorious clang. Ihefe
cannot be too much of SCOTS verse:
| echOing with the tramp of armies ana
| He would like more color, too, if it is
brilliantly alive. Said Nine. Peramier III
| the decadence Of her beauty. when the
street Arabs ceased to turn and watch me
| as | passed 1 knew that all was over.
| All honor to the street Arab, and 10 the
more civilized schoolboy too, who has as
as on the street! The chance is given
him i'm THE Ancient Mariner. lie Would
| be just as glad of it amid the Drishi
pageantry of 'Palamon and Arctic; nov
| Superseded the witchery of "ChristaDel,
| the austere purity of the white Doe OF
Pylstone" the tender beauty of the Eye
Of ST. Agnes" the sea CLEANS OF me
"Forsaken Merman,' and III risk in hrs
hands the big tapestry of the "Faery
Qnsene.' 1900
I Still it is not the music nor the bright
/ ness oil THESE poems pioN'H
| some to youth. but the fine romantic
/ tales they tell Let 1t be known thai
I such a man as Stevenson Is tolerated by
the critics and critics are straightway
held in estimation. A teacher who shows
her pupils that she can worry about the
| fate of that provoking David Balfour
| will be believed when she offers them
Milton, saying. "A great man. very
| great man" The study of fiction in the
| school Is no bone thrown to the spirit OF
| levity; tor in these pages first opens
knowledge OF mankind, first awakens the
interest in that criticism of which alone
boy hood is capable. and queerly enough
sinyularly capable, the criticism of life in
| action Juventus is born moraliZer
The gift to look quite through the deeds
of mem he would not mind possessing.
and fiction is good for the purpose. Bet
ter still is the drama.
i If they would only demand more Shak-
speare," Il quote from a pupil) AT last
ideas are accepted without a protest for
they are incorporate In flesh and blood
Here even the dun may learn reverence
before the issues of life. pity for the sor-
rows of little men, terror at their con-
sequence, joy in immortal laughter.
Cassius shall teach him to read his TEL
low men. Macbeth to pause. Rosalind To
be merry, and Lear to bow the head
After all it is no offence To the schoolboy
to see that he appreciates nothing so Well
as Shakespeare. With such a love for
Iloyely words growing within him, he maj
| well wait for Burke, Macaulay and Mil