The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-02-19

There was q mania some years ago
for making out imaginary lists Of
five books one would like to take to
prison If doomed to that retreat.
Much pain was lavished on the SCI
leetions but it generally turned out
that after the Bible and Shakespeare
no two lists agreed. Warned by such
I approach with timidity the task Of
making choice Of the books best
suited for children.
To begin with a child should be
read to before it is old enough to rea J
and there is nothing better than the
Mother Goose Melodies Of Nursery
Rhyme Fame Some think she was
was an imaginary person; the truth
is, she is very real born, raised, ed
ucated in Boston, Mass. Her rhymes
are standard and have given children
benefit and pleasure everywhere.
Christine Terhune Herrick advises
the use of fairy tales for children be-
cause, as a rule, Americans are too
utilitarian in tendency, not taking
time to develope the imagination at
the same time the child is enjoying
the standarl fairy tales like Grimm
and Anderson, Hawthorne's Tangle-
wood Tales, etc.
We should fasten in him love for
the stories from the Had and the
Odyssey and for the old myths which
constitute part Of classical education.
< With these combine the fairy tales Of
science and history. As the child
grows older he win easily separate
tths stories that belong TO the realm
Of fiction from those that belong to
the kingdom Of fact.
Afterwards books Of adventure
such as Scott, Cooper, Robert Louis
Stevenson, but veto should be put
upon the stories Of phenomenal boys
who start out at sixteen or seventeen
with box of matches to sell ami be-
come Princes or Bank Presidents
within ten years such fiction tends
to give false and pernicious views Of
life.
Stirring ballads and other good
poetry should find q place in child's
library-srch couvse Of reading viii
give a child an Introduction to Eng
lish Literature which is Of more value
than any mere school training h
could have srcuired
Literature is not mere accomp
lishment to round off child's edu
cation it is the vital substance Of !
chilTs mind.
First Of all, we must read for tn
pleasure it gives US, SO would give
child no literature ! did not like my
self
1t would be we'll for all children t
read "The Seven Little Sisters VIII
\ on the Round Ball That Floats in tn
Air" by Jane Andrews-it is a boo
!. which has for the first time brough
home to multitudes Of young peocl
the fact that they are the citizens 0
not merely a nation but a planet.
: Then for classic there Il HaS
thorn's Wondcr Book. For poetry L
us choose our own believe ! Longfellel
and Bryant for bis fresh flavor .
outdoor poetry. Take Poe to civ
the Young Imagination wings and A
drieh to teach il how to manage then
Books Of personal history shoul
come in. such as the familiar letter
letters Of President John Adams an
his wifc Abigail Lives Of Washing
ton, Lincoln and Grant
Opinion is divided as to wnie
should have precedent, prose or po
try IN the youthful mind The rythl
Of verse is always attractive to chi
dren. Never did any history leaV
such an oluring impression on Il
minds Of children as the stol
of the planting Of liberty in Amer
ca as the Landing Of the Pilgri
Fathers by Felicia Hemans. No Of
who has read the wonderful story
verse has ceased to remember how
"The breaking waves dashed hit
"0n stern and rock bound coa'
"And the woods against a storm
sky
"Their giant branches tossed.
Who has forgotten The Moss Cove
ed Bucket" "The Battle Of Wats
loo," Gods First Temple IT
! Death Of the Flowers?"
Yes, | would give children poet
all they wished to read. II it contai
ed historical reference 50 much
better; if they 10 not understand
now, It can be digested later.
y What woman has not given SIN
,s and tear to the memory Of her O
childhood when she reads "Se'
Times One is Seven" Jean Ingelc