Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-01-13

~l1sr OF the nature ss0sate Written
for children OF this age.
From 10 90 Is girls siways wan, 10
read Miss Aicott's books and Kate
Douglass Virgins Rsoeoca and
Penelope stories; while the boys
revei in ARABIAN Nights. p J. Fsnni-
more cooper's novels, sseyenson's
Treasure Ialand," "Boys OF si,"
John Burroughs' .squIrrs j. and Other
Fur Bearers" Hans Brsnker." r +.
HAle's 80 without = Country"
BAyari TayIor's "Boys OF Other
Countries" and Ia ChAillu's Land OF
the Midnight sun"
Aud now when we can escape for a
little while from the routin. OF duties
and &c; vacation from ourselves. ss
t. were. there ara the novels for Us
These should be read witn dsscrinina-
ton and Judgment. There are many
bad novels which ought never 10 De
Ia the hands Of decent men and
women, there are vulgar, trashy ones
wnich no In eliigent person can
afford 20 read, and even the best
novels ought not TO he read too COZ.
/ Einuonsly or out OF proportion TO
other sind= of literature.
Boo.s OF travel are among our best
reading. What is more delightful for
instance than an evening spent in
reading some of S,oddard's lectures
aloud? Biography has been called a
/ bridge between fiction and the most
I serious forms of reading Il Is mid
way between tbs philosophy of h'e
/ an @ the story OF life. Oae cannot
I read the story of the life OF Washing
+ ton or l. ncoln without being coz
I hrmed ia the feeling that en- srActer
[ counts for more than anything else,
and that it Is industry, Intelligence
I and steady will, rather than fate,
/ destiny, fortune or accident, that
/ decides wheiher man snail succeed
or fail No. all biography deals with
the heroic, much of IL deals with the
morbid side of life; with those who
overcame great obstacles, lived pure
lives, and have been sell deny ing,
energetic and full OF good works.
| The stories of our poets, painters,
religious teachers, explorers, dis
coverers, engineers and reformers
should be familiar ones In every
home.
To return to the reading OF novels,
IL should be stimulating, not relax
ing, aiding one 10 concentration OF
thought. In order to be well read
one must of course be more or less
fs miliar with the standard English
novels, these of Geo. Eliot, Dickens,
Tbackeray and Scott among others.
There has arisen in our own country
within recent years galaxy of nov
elists, all doing thorough, conscien-
tious work; writing BOOKS that, wni.e
they entertain, teach in many way.
and leave one with much to ponder
upon. Henry Van Dykes steries
The Other Wise Man." The Blu,
Flower" Little Rivers" and many
others, all ring true. James Ian,
Allen, one of our most delightful
, writer's, seems to Guido himself eaci
time he presents a new book, Ieavins
one anxious to see what ne will d,
next. Margaret Deland, who la
been delighting Us for years past viii
! her 'Old Chester Tales" In her lates
book, The Awakening OF Helen
Richie" has written a masterpiece
There Il much to be gained from
] Winston Churchilrs books aside from
!. the interest of the story, which j
n great. Edith Wharton, in her aHous
4 OF Mir.h" and .The Fruit OF tn
b Tree" has been doing with her pc
what soma OF our abiest and mos
Q high minded statesmen have bee
doing In business and public affsirs
o striking at the roots of form of cor
q ruption which always accompanie
d great and sudden prosperity. Will
: these stories do not make the pleas
e ATTEST reading. stu there is no doub
z that she ia an artist of conscience an
n .'paints the thing as she sees 1t.
e Many others might be mentioned i
8 this connection as writers of storie
:, tina. are interesting and In a wa
~ helpful.
Q We can scarcely do better in choos
e ing our fiction than TO measure IL b
the standard set mp by DR.. Henri
d Van Dyke. He Gays: II do not as
i my novelist TO define and discuss hi
70 doctfinal position or TO tell me {
i what religious denomination he be
! longs. ask him only TO sho'
IS me good as good, and evil =
e evil. To quicken my love for thos
n who do their best, and deeren ~
2, scorn for those who do their wors
% To give me a warmer sympathy wit