Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
CHOOSING T7EIR BOQHS
FOR Il QUIET HOL72.

disappointed look on hts face that he had
not found what he Was looking irnr. -Etar.
ing that he might be disappointed,
won't to him and inquired his trouble.
90 Cowboys he said.
What about Them I asked.
''-'I cant find no hook about cowboys.
hn complained yearnjEsly.
Come with ms I .coexed. and I'll $50
Il we can't find you a book about COW
hUyB.'
'''At that Grne there YVES no particular
d,Eaud for cowhoy stories. and cnnss-
qunrItty knew for q fact that there must
ba many OF them about I trrk tbs lad
fy the hand ard showed him Inherent
hooks telling of the Wild life OF the rang
erE, thu pleasures and dangers of rcptng
steers, tbs starnpedes and al the rest of
t.. But he didn't seem to TO sRdThes. He
kept looking around for something csc.
Say, TEACHER he said finally, amt
yoa got no book here that tells how to be
q cowboyT
well, I'm Wiling to confess that was
fa1rly sturhdsd with surprise explained
AFTER awhile that in spite OF the pleasure
6-rivsd from reading cowboy tales there
Uas nothing pleasant in the reality. I
told him II was no: nice life for little
boy.
He listened attentively to all that I
saio and walked away after thanking me
politely fer what I had done for him.
But I am afraid that no never felt the
Same respect for the library after that.
TT. assistant smiled as she recalled the
incident.
.Of course, ny explanation Of the life
was inadequate" she laughed. ''as know
about as little about cowboys as the boy
did"
The Kinds Of Books.
A small, thin. freckled-faced boy march
ed up to the desk and demanded a copy
Of popular dime novel.
Il haven't that said the assistant,
but there are some very nice stories of
adventure that know you would like to
see"
The hard young man held communion
with himself minute and finally agreed
with great condescension to see what
other books were at hand. Five minutes
afterward he was buried In one of George
A. Hcntys historical stories. apparently
satisfied to remain where he was in
definitely.
That's strange thing about children"
remarked the assistant. their minds are
so easily bent There are certain books
that we keep out Of the children's library
and the one he mentioned Is among them.
"As the twig is bent so Is the tree In
clined. 1t seems strange that parents will
allow young children to read indiscrimi-
nately when with a little care they can
make the childish hours Of reading so
'Stor1es of an abnormal character. even
when written especially for children. are
not allowed on the library shelves
A high pitched voice rang out from the
quiet room:
Teacher, te-e-e-e-eacher,' came the
wall II can't find Alice in Wonderland"
The assistant wandered back to where
the disconsolate reader. little girl about
ten years. was sitting and handed her the
much desired volume. With q little cry
Of Joy the youngster carried the book to
the back part Of the room and began
reading 1t.
THAT is another strange thing about
the children" said the assistant cor
rather not so strange as a proof Of the
force of habit. Nearly all of the tots
who visit here call me teacher They
are all public school children and conse-
quently have gotten into the habit OF
associating desks and the Ike with the
one word teacher. Frequently when they
speak to me they will hold their hands
as though in a classroom. This illus
trates better than anything else the ne
cessity of being careful in choosing the
material to be read by a child. Nothing
is capable of doing more good and moth
ing can work more evil.
THE fairy tales and the beautiful
stories Of King Arthur, the works OF