The Washington herald., 1912-11-06
Washington Library Has Put the Ban of
Disappropal on Many Children's Books
D. FRANCES snAFFER

"hen the statement was read awhile
ago that omcers Of the public library In
Washington had decided that the stories
written for children . generation or %
ago were purposeless and trSshy It seem
ed sort Of q pity to put the ban Of
disapproval upon many books that for
years and years. have fascinated old
fashioned hearts.
II the later critics are right and some
Of the books are useless, others plainly
bad In effect. then they must 90 to the
waste barrel without . word Of protest.
but the little folk Of other years liked
them mighty well.
There are the Oliver Optic stories. with
all the impossible young heroes that %
thrilled >boyish hearts and filed boyish
purposeless and ready to be thrown
away. And the Jack Ranger. and the
boy Hunter series must 30 with them.
tosether with . lot Of others that boys
once-upon-a-time deyoured and that par
ents considered quite harmless and &C.
ceptable.
EAJsyeA 0lA-fashienel Tales.
Come years ago the presses were not
quite % active as they arc to-day IN the
work Of turning out Juvenile literature.
ono OoVAD tuoI b8ll1IIco p8lCut4 ouo
pleased the young folk were very much
read. Many grown-ups to-day remem:
ber how they delighted to follow the
fortunes Of the little maid In the Elsie"
series and how they went with her from
childhood to womanhood. enjoying every
step of the way.
The stories were perfectly healthy in
tone and the little women who read
them remembered them for many Q day.
-. A. A.,
usefulness. for the library od1cials pro-
ncunce them much too '.goody- -goody"
In their effect upon girl readers. and
when the present supply is all thumbed
and reGd to pieces. Elsie Dinsmore will
pass into oblivion. % tar as that library
10 concerned.
And that Is to be the fate Of the
'Pansy'' books Il was only year or
%. ago that . white-haired woman, who
had read the series from beginning to
end. during all the yeafs they had rum
was asking for the last Of an, because
her interest, aroused long ago, had
never abated and they were always sure
to be $50 true and wholesome" But
the 'Pansy" books are to 30 with the
rest, condemned on the Same charge OF
tending to egoody-goodyism" among
girls.~ d
But Louisa NJ. Aicott, who long has
held high court in the hearts OF the
young, II net to be dethroned- Little
from her youth th-inspired pen are to re-
main. 10 delight and influence the pres
ent and mayhap the coming generation.
One hopes they never win grow old.
Kats Douglas Wiggfn. Of later-day
fams. ID also Represented by her
charming .'Rebecca'' and some Of the
other quaint little heroines that are 20 |
dear to older readers ~ to the young. |
ADprovea Aufhers.
And the committee. Of course. approves
Of Robert Louis Stevenson. Ernest
Thompson setoa. Rudyard Kipling.
Frank r.. Stockton, and others thas, We
stin take for granted.
II the disca3aed books xeally are |
weak and purpooelses and serve no good
II IN among their youthful readerA
then those who cared about them long \
no wfn have to Sigh q BIT for old
sake and hope. thst' Tie new
may develop In the young folk of TO.
aAy en- apeesciatioa oe ths really sood
Tw L certainty u true, q thS ubrsry |
pne1Als lsay. that boys ana siris vhol
reed ne trashy ,cr -thei
mediocs0 % right on = The sauae GA /
lrac3D whan ehAy r6AcA en no Aharpl
benks may sppesssnt nt<hlst but idie
hours q enAertn1pmeqt u teal. .ftaenAs. |
, ~ = HsqtDl elAk1slint - eulture /
~ e1anins hSt1k p1e1sute
Ard soy t4ae ~ ee.saey. ssapa, sAsl
~ again. tAers ar nong f6)k oeh6e fh&ni
|lefqk1. o0elAle Nho skedDA lQu1k wsllI |
S1th)a The eesssasSf ~ hsgDs xlsE -
~ M o1l1oton. ~ : :. Aisss 6 4
Il WuD q - Hfioo1 H,x6nl