Evening star., 1915-08-14
UNCLE SANS READING
CIRCLE.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

III By Frederic J. Haskin. HI
Feeling that something should be done
to raise the standard of literary taste
throughout the United States. the gov
ernment has appointed itself the faculty
Of correspondence college, with the seat
of, learning in Washington, and DR.. P. P.
Claxton, chief of the bureau of education
Of the Department of the Interior. as
professor of literature. With this for a
nucleus Uncle Sam has plunged head
long into the business of teaching his
nieces and nephews what to read just as
if he didn't have enough other kinds of
work on his hands.
The only fee charged for admission to
this new school is interest in the courses
and application to the work assigned.
One does not even have to go to school.
The school comes to him. The United
States mail carries the voice of the
teacher from Washington as far as
Alaska. the Philippines or the Panama
Canal Zone. Every one is eligible for
membership in Uncle Sans great uni
versity, and a two-cent stamp is the
only card of admission necessary If
you haven't the stamp. postal caro-
will do. Once Uncle Sam knows that
you wish to take his course in literature
he will take care of the rest of it, In
lieu of degrees. certificates of merit,
signed by DR.. ClaXton, will be awarded
to all who graduate" and the university
Of the people will find its reward in, the
increased interest in good literature
which is expected to ensue.
For years it has been admitted that
the literary taste of the average citizen
Of the United States was capable of i'm
provement; that trashy novels had ap-
propriated much of the field which just
ly belonged to the more solid reading
upon which a taste for good literature
must be grounded. and that the average
American was prone to read hundred
society stories or sex novels to one OF
the better class of books. But even those
who drew attention to this condition
could suggest no remedy therefor.
It remained for the government to
deal with it from the standpoint of
national prob
Dealt With as plem.
a National Problem. CLAYTON n r. chief
the idea of inaugurating a series of
to all who cared to follow them. In
addition, the government undertakes
to follow up these courses with ques-
tions relative to the books read, that
it may be sure that the best points
have been brought out and that the
student has not merely glanced over
the volumes in cursory manner Ger
tificates of merit are given to all who
successfully complete the program of
study and write an essay. as prescribed,
upon a book designated by 1.-The
faculty"
The governmental course in litera-
ture, as outlined at present, is divided
into ten parts:
The great literary Bibles.
A reading course for parents.
Masterpieces of the worlds literature.
Miscellaneous reading for boys
Thirty books of great fiction.
Some of the worlds heroes.
American literature.
Biography,
History
In this manner it is planned to cover
practically all phases of the subject.
commencing with the books which are
generally conceded to form the bull
warks of iterature-"great literary
gradually working down through the
various subdivisions. 1t is the aim of
the government to make these courses
so complete that any one who con-
scientiously follows them will have a
full knowledge of what is best in the
libraries of the world. In this manner
it will be possible for the inhabitants
of the most out-of-the-way sections Of
the country to be as we'll versed in the
literature of the world as are those
more fortunate persons who have easy
access to the great libraries.
The books recommended for study by
the government may be obtained from
be sent by mail. For the benefit Of
those who do not know where to apply,
the government will undertake to
secure the volumes desired and ship
them on to the student. Uncle Sam is
most patient when dealing with the
betterment of his people.
The books selected to form the first
section of this study of literature are
the ' 1liad" and "odyssey" OF Homer.
Merehant ns of Weniee Hamiet Macs
BETH "Othello.' and Goethe's Faust"
Each Of these books, in the opinion
of Dr.. Claxton, is the embodiment and
revelation of
Appeal to Heart the ideals of
and Grip the Mind. o. fa'e' - civi,;zs. nh hse
ton. They came out of the hearts and
minds Of the people, for whom their
authors were only the spokemen. They
are therefore simple, fundamental, COM
prehensive. They appeal to the hearts
and grip the minds of all people. every
where, young or old, learned or igno-
rant, of whatever race or creed. They
are broad-minded catholic books Their
authors saw life steadily and saw it
whole.
These books, he says, should be read
by all who would know the worlds
best literature and life. The United
States bureau of education has, there
fore, chosen them for it's first course
in reading and 1t invites all serious
minded men and women to join this,
members of which will undertake to
read each of these books at least twice
within the next three years.
"Mas sterpieces of the worlds litera
ture." intended as a supplementary
course for those who have read the
literary Bibles" includes the Books
of Job. Isaiah and Deuteronomy,
Aeschylus' "Prometheus Bound,' Virgils
"Aeneid," the "Nibelungenlied." Don
Quixote" several of the plays of Moliere
and Miton's Paradise Lost" The wide
ferent periods covered by them will, in
the opinion of the officials of the
bureau of education. broaden the minds
and freshen the outlook of all who
read them with care and attention.