Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

martial blood: Bennett and Pyle. with
thei- adventure stories; these are but
few OF the familiar authors who smile
henfghnly down from the walls and well
come the little reader to choose and be
amused for a short time.
Remarkable Circulation.
The circulation for the small number OF
books is remarkable. There are 1900
members Of the children's library. and the
books taken out in a month have been
known to exceed the total number In
stock. One month II OnO books were taken
out and returned. Few of the books are
lost and a very small number are in
jured materially. Willie occasionally dog
ears the leaves as his little hands turn
the pages and Moses sometimes smudges
them with his tiny grimy paws. The
children are careful. though, and the rate
of damage is probably not higher than it
is In the department intended for grown
ups.
The books are divided into fiction and
fact The books of fact are instructive
works on travel and the like. The fiction,
besides the fairy tales. consists OF the
writings of Louisa Alcott twho Is loved
now as she was thirty years ago.. Ralph
Henry Barbour and the Ike.
DO you think that the works of Lon
don and Seton-Thompson are harmful TO
chldren%' she was asked.
tIle aSSlStdlt Ieplleu, tHeTe iS do-
solutely nothing about the books that
could be called abnormal. They are like
the fairy stories. They represent animals
possessed with the feelings. emotions and
reasoning powers Of men,
But" persisted the interrogation, don't
you think that children are given a wrong
idea of animal life from the books?
why, no. said the assistant. you see
they nearly always appreciate the fact
that the animals are given the emotions
nd
consequently accept the story on its face
as pleasing fiction.
THE great object of this library" she
continued lis to nculcate IN the chill
dren's minds an interest in subjects that
they will come TO understand as they
grow older We cannot teach them every
thing in a day, but by their reading they
will famiilarize themselves with subjects
and gain an interest that will lead TO in
vestgatioD.
Wanted Real Animal Book.
And as if in proof Of her theory lit
tie boy walked up and asked her If she
could get him a real animal book.
What kind she asked smilingly. 4
mean what author.
None" replied the little boy. serious
". II want TO find out about animals
There it is she remarked, as the boy
after getting his book returned to his
seat. THAT little chap started on his Jack
London some time ago. Now he is in
terested in animals and proposes TO study
them.
..NYho can tell? Maybe some day he
will become great naturalist"
with this the conversation assumed
retrospective turn and the interrogation
apoiogized and numbered off to talk with
the children
for the average man Of affairs, the well
regulated citizen, who rises at and Is
in bed by 10 to remember the happy time
of make believe" He does not recollect
the rainy day when one OF mother
skirts, wrapped around a broom. was the
good fairy ard sister was the dragon
who had to be killed with fathers cane
a proceeding, by the way, whlch par
alyzed father on his return nome ia, tL.a.
evening. He does not remember the time
that the rocking chair was a morse anu
the curtain pole lance. the brave kAisht
fitting dangerously while searching the
paror for monsters and WITCHES ana good
fairies in need Of rescue.
The little boy and the little girl are in
these .'make-believe" times and their eyes
brighten as they read OF val1rous deeds
and they sigh for coat of mail and a
lance that they might also emulate their
Gee said one little fellow as he
looked up excitedly from his book"
think of one Teller KILN seven giants
with one sword. Wisht l could do that
Yep" murmured his companion regret
fully. IAN think OF the fun OF rescuin the
princess. Gee. that must have been great.
Wish l could do that
And so they all talk. Some Of them
are inclined to believe that the days are
not yet gone and speak as though they ex-
pected before many days to kill a dragon
all by themselves. Happy days OF child
hood and delusion.
Who does not wish that he were living
them again?