The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-20

equipped with libraries, but there are
comparatively few country schools
that have this much needed depart
ment.
! ject at all, will agree that the school
library is a very important feature,
but still we seem to neglect to install
them in our schools. 1t seems to me
that it is an open injustice to the
children to deny them the advantages
Of an improvemnt which can so east
ly be obtained for them. No truly
public-minded man would refuse to
subscribe to so good a cause.
One of the foremost of the vastly
important problems of the day in
America, is how best to direct the lit
erary thoughts of the children into
the correct channel, to introduce
them to the best that there is in lit
erature, and to develop their tastes
so that they will abhor the cheap
common today. We cannot introduce
them to the best, unless we have that
best to introduce to them.
There should be standard reading
books and reference books within
easy reach of every school boy and
school girl. No teacher can give
perfect school course without the aid
Of a good library. The reading of
good books is in itself an education.
Carlyle says:
I'VE learn to read in various Ian
guages. in various sciences: we learn
the alphabet and letters of all man.
ner Of books; but the place we are
to get knowledge. even theoretical
knowledge, Is the books themselves!
The true university Of these
days is a collection of books"
The class reading texts of the day
draw from the vast field Of literature.
suitable for the young folk. but they
cannot begin to cover that field. And
then there Is a feeling Of incomplete
ness when one reads a small selection
from a larger whole. I would not be
| understood to say that the reading
texts should be abandoned, but 1 do
contend that they should be largely
complemented with the reading Of
whole works of standard authors, at
least from the fourth grade up.
1t is sad fact that a great many,
believe 1 would be safe in saying a
| majority Of our country lads and
lasses are permitted to take an entire
course in the rural schools, without
| having the great door of literature
pulled open for them. They are car
| ried to the portals, and allowed to
glance in, but there Is very little ef-
fort made to help them enter into
that interesting and instructive field.
or course some Of the more ambitious
are going to squeeze through anyhow,
If shadow Of a chance presents it.
self for them to get the books, put
a great many unfortunates will pass
on. and be content with their news
papers, and magazine short stories
These later are, of course excellent
in their places, but they cannot and do
not. pretend to be a substitute for the
standard works.
We are all crying out educate the
farmer" Then why not aid in that
education by giving him good, read
able literature. See that he has ac-
cess to the works of such men as
Shakespeare, Tennyson, Longfellow,
Scott and other writer's Of that class,
and see that there is also a good mix
ture of agricultural books in his lib
rary.
Teachers, get behind the patrons of
your schools and insist that they fur
J nish this very important part OF your
| school equipment. Fellow country
men let's get together, and give the
| SChOol-children of today that which
they have right to expect of us
l.. w. WARREN
NoVpSVillp = q July X 1917