The Republican journal., 1907-09-05
HAVE OUTGROWN
FICTION HEROES.

bic
The american boy of today doesn't
+ y hero of the 'goody-goody' Sort"
> he author of Toby Tyler; or Ten
*, with a Circus" and of hundred
looks which Young America has
sWallowed and digested, in the
Ken Ierald.
,nes Otis Kaler, or plain James
As ninety-nine out of one hundred
ms readers know him, calls the
srcan boy "the fairest boy who
wed" And the fairest boys
yer lived are the critics whom he
al nose to pass on his books. Mr..
: d. Kaler, lives in snug house in
Al cortland, and his delight now, as
ss heen always, is the American
He has lived with his boys for
ntv i've years, and proposes to have
m with him always.
nv to make my boys boys l have
'aB he has said. 81 like to pick
BOY and stay with him for few
number of days if l can. l
If 10 see him at his work and at his
3 want to learn his ideas and
nd MS nature. Then, in writing, l
a. uodel always before me-a liv-
american boy.
When ! have finished few chap
1T new book | often call in one
ay young friends and read them to
IF he is interested, and wishes to
. more, | know that l have been
-es,tul and that the book will please
f. tys as it has pleased him. But
,tfts uneasily, as if he wants to
la5y. and l see that he is staying
-7 10 oblige me l tear up what l
Il a-au reading to him and try
a.leve that the American boy of
4, ypects his ideal book boy to
, g.eat deal of snap and plenty of
su.#a. He must be able to make a
is good fight against the troubles of
Ike man, rather than fall back
T. , appeal of innocence in dis
seems to me that the time has
when the Alger boy took we'll.
ESTES of the American boy have
.l- realty during the last twenty
. d the young peoples books of
avs in which Elijah Kellogg
p[y read the good boy was al
poor boy and the boy whose
-.t, we're we'll to do was invariably
.V. the average boy does not
- the fact that there are scoun-
/. n MS own ranks. His heart is
# .- nature is open and frank; he
rN- vet learned the distrust of his
viii come, but as boy he is
r.m II as yet.
n. as hrm faith in all other boys.
villain is something that is not
. life that he knows. He does not
-.. picture which contains a
tt biackguard. He does not
I-8,.a it: it is not true to the life
ta yes.
the boy in the book should al
3leamplish his purpose does not
,a 1n, for he knows that it is not
Bt he wants a boy who will try
afd to win. If he has fought
the v5ung reader is satisfied if he
. net succeed in all that he tries to
The BOY of today demands that his
SET looks shall show him the con-
-ns which he knows to exist.
avoid the use Of over many girls
..y tories. AS a rule the boy of
..r-n or sixteen doesn't like girls.
uaF walk with them now and then,
ae NIGHTLY afraid of the all too
l. gapgoach of sissy from his CON-
lun> and as a rule he avoids them
r ut school. They are not at all of
world
ia mngle boys and girls too closely
story for young people detracts
d Ire truth to life which the boy of
sg even more than his elders, de-
Is IN the tale which is to bid for
interest. The boy is harsh critic,
81 I'll too many girls are brought in
oe not relish it as a picture of his
aud.
.l that the American boy enjoys
Ing about the doing of the things
knows he, too, could do if he
eu the same position as the young
G. whom he reads. The killing
.nzen men before breakfast sort
-flg pals upon him very quickly.
av read and even enjoy Que or two
Looks, but before long he comes
= youclusion that such things con-
zone,
Tie tastes of the boys of this
rIrY ever ran in the direction of the
Is, aimed type of fiction they have
Hgad.
tie American boy-and l believe
to be the greatest boy in the world
ants examples of success. The av-
e youth, as | know and like him,
very little pocket money. OF
Ise there are exceptions, but l do
write the exceptions. The fellow
q pocketbook is not his ideal hero.
The boy of whom l write must earn
greater part of what he has to
ed. He has some aid from his par
, 9at he must get for himself those
lsald and one things dear to the
tlful heart. The canoe and the ri
te boat and the bicycle he must
by his own effort. And when he
DIS Of another boy situated like him,
who conquers all the difficulties
/ ne Iii the way and gets what he
ita he is gratified as we'll as in
'sted, for he knows that he himself
I'd lave done the same thing. Some
ts he resolves that he will do it,"
'r story of the manner in which
leS otis secured his start in life is a
mating tale for the future success
man of America.
/. was at the age of thirteen that,
& green little country boy, [ left my
De 1pon the Penobscot River in
h- and went to Boston. After Sc
Ing d position in a store at the sal
NJ >3.50a week, l was so delighted
A Tie prospect that | sent for my
sA to come to Boston and share
good luck.
j. cost me So a week to live. The
"a aaif dollar | thought very large