The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-14
Uncle Sans Reading Circle
BY Frederic j. Haskin.


the outlook of All who read them
with care and attention
In selecting the books which make
up the reading course for PARENTS
Uncle sam has solicited the assistance
of Miss Ellen C. Lombard. secretary
OF the home education division OF the.
bureau OF education. and an authority
urally fall under this part OF the
general course. The resultant list
includes many books which viii be OF
interest to all parents.
The volumes deal with practical
motherhood, marriage and the sex
problem. the development of children,
the care of babies, domestic economy
shelter, clothing domestic science
and a number OF bulletins issued by
with canning preserving and argicul-s
tural clubs.
But It is in the course that deals
with the worlds greatest fiction that
the most pronounced interest has been
shown. There are undoubtedly lots
of people interested in the problems
of parenthood and many others VINO
desire to ground themselves N the
literary classics, but the appeal OF
thes two courses Is far from being
universal. On the other hand, every
one likes q good story well told, and
the great majority of theetudents al
ready enrolled. in Uncle Sans uni
yersity have made anxious inquiries
concerning the sixth course the ifSt
of thirty volumes. Just compleleu'
Will doubtless lead to great demand
for these works at Libraries through
out the country.
One COULD not well imagine more
Catholic selection than that made by
the government officials. With the
possible exception OF detective stories
and problems of se1=which the gov
eminent probably thinks are well
covered in current magazines snd
novels-practica1ly every style OF nc
ton is included In the official list
with respect to time. the list ranges
from the Arabian Nights and Pilgrims
Progress to Joseph Vance" and a
Modern Instance" while the geogra-s
phical area covered is almost as
great.
sia,s contribution; Poland gives sien-
ksewioz with Fire sn1 SWORD, me me.
Three Muskteers, Les MiseraDies
and "Pere Goriot" are the representa-
tives of France; England's additions
TO the list include Adam Bede,
"Clarissa Harlowe,' David Copper
monde !" Iyanhoe,. Lorna Doone,
The ordeal of Richard Feyerel"
Pride and Prejudice Robinson
Crusoe," Tale of Two Cities" Clos
ter and the Hearth Vanity Far,
vicar Of Wakefield" and "Romola;"
while the United States is representa-
by kidnapped" THE Luck OF hosr-
cans" ..The Scarlet Letter, The
pilot and ssTreasure Island"
Reason for Shortage.
The comparative shortage of Amer
loan books on this list is explained
by the fact that an entire sub-d4vi-a
sion is devoted to American literature
this course including the study OF
such works as "The Autocrat of the
Breakfast Table" Ben Hur, fnel
Four Million" Tom Sawyer" Huek-I
leberry Finn. THE Man without
Country" THE Sketch Book and
Two Years Before the Mast"
Although Uncle Sans course in
literature has been formed only a
short time he has already enrolled
more than 1900 students and every
mail brings in tae names of Others
who wish 10 better their minds. Many
of these names incidentally are those
of school teachers who are glad TO
get this means of renewing their lit
erary knowledge, with the idea OF
passing it on to those under their care
This is taken as evidence that Uncle
Sans courses appeal to students as
well as those who are unfamiliar Win
literature.
does not improve greatly within the
next ten years. it VIII not pc the
governments fault