Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-20
THE DAILY CHIT-CHAT.
By Ruth Cameron.

Two women were talking about reading
poetry.
Said one, II can read poetry with an
intellectual appreciation, but don't really
enjoy it as you do. And even the liking
have was acquired, and acquired with
difficulty I remember I used to hate
poetry. in school and wonder why people
didn't say what they had to say in good,
straight prose. instead of rhyming it and
singsonging it. How is it that you are SO
|. fond of poetry?"
Answered the other, Because Eye al
ways heard it since was baby Be-
fore l could talk mother used to read
and repeat poetry to me. And as soon as
1 could talk at all father taught me
scraps Of poetry-not silly rhymes-but
| beautiful bits, like The world is so full
of a number of things. I'm sure We
should all be as happy as kings Often
didn't understand the things at the
time, but the meaning came to me after.
ward, and I always liked the sound"
The ability to really enjoy good poetry
is undoubtedly rare in this prosaic cen
fury
Culture seekers often deliberately ac-
quire it. But everyday folks more often
regard poetry to the end Of their lives
as a foolish way Of saying in rhyme and
singsong what could be quite as well said
in straight prose.
Surely, then, any child owes his parents
a debt of gratitude II they have given
him the precious possession OF lifelong
enjoyment of poetry by the simple method
of reading and repeating good poetry
to him in his childhood.
The wonder to me is that more parents
do not do this.
Before a child can talk he understands
"a great deal of what is said to him.
Every one who has ever had anything to
one who will not say anything but papa
and mamma" and 'all gone or some
thing like that. where his eyes, nose or
his toes are and see how promptly he
points them out.
Well, then, why not occasionally, when
you are cuddling. rocking or playing with
him, read or repeat some good poetry
to him? He may not understand 1t at
ALL But, being child, untramelled by
the grownup's need OF seeing common
sense in everything, he will surely enjoy
the music And the chances are that he
will understand some Of 1t and make up
childish pictures to fit the words. :,
What shall you reaa arasn Wei eli 1 there
Eugene Fields poems and some Of James
Whitcomb Riley's for the very little ones.
Then as the child grows older he ought
to appreciate Scotts poems. John Gil
Story" Longfellows ''Hiawatha," THE
Courtship of Miles Standish.'' Paul Re-
vere's Ride Whittier's Maud Muller"
Barbara F'rietchie." and even some Of
Shakespeare's sonnets.
Surely all of these lave either music
or story enough to hold even very young
ears.
Personally, 1 think we insult our chill
dren's brains and comprehensions by the
weak mental pabulum in the way of
stories which we give them. think the
child who hears great and beautiful
things will soon come to vaguely appre-
ciate part, if not all. of their meaning.
Perhaps the little ones may not care
for some of these poems at first. 1ut
remember that with childhood the more
familiar a tale the better loved 1t is
persevere, and I'm sure the liking will
come
And some day a man or woman who
is reading and delighting In some beauti-
full poem will pause to thank you for
his power of enjoyment.