The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-27
Girls Books Scarce.

0ttS BUNS SCGFSSs
Wholesome books for girls are not
nearly so available. OF course we begin
with Miss Alcctt's books, They are not
only the best books written especially for
girls, but they are the most popular a
happy combination not always found.
dney are the standards a new book
like Miss AlcottsY is it as good as
Little Women? are the questions the girls
ask. One blessed thing about children is
that they have more of that desire for
the latest book. which ,characterizes the
rest of US these days A child invariabIy
prefers an old book that looks as if other
children had read and liked 1t, to a new
book; and will often take an old book
which he has read and knows he likes in
preference to new one which does not
appeal TO him for some reason known
only to himself (and by him never d.
vulged).
so every generation of girls reads
Miss Alcott's books, and have, as 1
nave said, standard, not only of book,
but of natural, wholesome real girl life
After these come the stories of boarding
school and girls college life Jean Web
ster,s books for instance) of home and
FAMILY litei Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney and
Miss Carey might represent the authors
OF these; Kate Douglas Virgins books
Tor girls have quite charming literary
flavor unfortunately not often found in
those so-called girls books. would like
TO speak here of a couple of books for
girls written here in Salt Lake bv Miss
Emily Jacobs, whose sudden death last
fall was such a shock to her friends
THESE books, Joan Of Jimper Run, and it's
sequel, are excellent types of the books
OF this class, and have throughout them
very engaging touch of humor, a quail
lily toe, often lacking in books written
avowedly for the young.
1.-THE girl has too, her practical hooks
The American girls handybook. When
Mother Lets us Cook, What a Girl Can
Make and Do books to help her out i'm
almost any OF the vicissitudes of ordinary
girl life. But after reviewing the Whola
situation l am still of the opinion that
the girl has not been SO generously
treated as her brother in this matter Of
reading supply. This is perhaps the rea-
son that she takes to novel reading at a
much earlier AEGEAN undoubted fact.
The girls books to be avoided are those
Of stckly, sentimental character and
influence, creates a revolution
n her hitherto benighted neighborhood
Misguided parents, and in the end. by her
influence, creates q resolution
n her hirtherto benighted neighborhood |
The Elsie books are bright and shining |
Examples OF this class of literature. AS |
| rule the books, written about previous |
children, are better reading for adults |
nan children. This Is of course the CEN |
ury of the child. But let US conceal the |
act from him as long as we can.
AS for the third period, that between |
4 and the very indefinite time which Mr.. |
Iitchier calls maturity, stages of devel- |
'pment differ to such an extent that l /
hesitate to give an opinion. A child at /
his age is an individual hard to control /
n his reading habits. as in his other /
labits. l think myself that there is great /
LANCER TO a child's intellectual devotion |
nent in combining him too long to a diet |
f children's books. AS soon as a chfrd |
an appreciate real books, / believe he |
hould be provided with them And aft |
+ fortifying my position by a quotation |
rom the Nation on the subject, / will /
e handled, if at all-in the hands of the
nothers.
1.-THE Nation of December of last year,
n an article on Reading for Children
avs: Much nonsense has been put forth
bout the regulation of children's read
ne. This Is late day to attempt rigid