Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-28
SAFEn-F|RST IDEA
IN BOOKS FOR BOYS
Public Libraries Here and
Elsewhere to Indicate
Right Reading.
MOVEMENT is AIMED
AT THRILLING STORIES
This Week to Be Devoted to Indi-
eating Literature Proper for High
Thinking and Right Living.

The Public Library Of the District of
Columbia and other libraries throughout
the country are cooperating in a move
ment initiated by the library commission
OF the Boy Scouts of America to observe
the week. beginning tomorrow as
'safety-first Book Week" The purpose
Is to call attention to the Importance Of
seeing that the right kind Of books arc
read by Boy Scouts and other young
boys.
Tho week Of November 2s-December
was selected as particularly suited for
this purpose. at a season when hundreds
of children's books are being purchased
Tor Christmas gifts. The plan has been
Endorsed by the American Booksellers
Association and the American Library
Association.
According to Frank X. Matthews, chief
scout librarian. great care should be ex-
ercised in buying books for young boys.
The nickel novel. which he declares was
put out of business by the motion pic
ture, he says has returned disguised in
book form and selling from Is to so
cents. MIR. Matthews says that all 20
and 30 cent books are not disguised
nickel novels. but there are enough to
make their broadcast distribution a
cause Of anxiety.
Catalogue Of Good Books.
In connection with the library commits
sion Of the Boy Scout organization the
Public Library of this city IS distribut-
ing carefully prepared catalogue CIV
ing lists Of books deemed desirable for
young boys An exhibit of the books
listed has been prepared at the library
and is to be on view. beginning tomor-
row morning. Miss Clara w. Herbert.
head of the childrens department. Is to
have charge of the exhibit
The exhibit is to include books for
girls and for young children. A num-
Der Of illustrated picture books also are
to be on display.
During safety first book week" mem
bers of the children's department staff
of the Public Library will be in at
tendance to answer questions daily.
from 2 until o'clock in the after
noon, from o'clock in the afternoon
until O'Clock at night on Friday, and
on Saturday from 10 o'clock in the
morning until 5 o'clock in the after
noon.
The library commission Of the Boy
Scouts of America consists of Frank
lin x. Matthews, chief scout librarian;
George F. Bowerman, librarian, Public
Library; Harrison w. Craver, librarian,
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pa /:
Claude G. Leland, superintendent, bu-
reau of libraries, board of education,
New York city. and Edward F. Stew
ems. librarian, Pratt Institute Free Lii
brary, Brooklyn, n. Y.
The catalogue of books prepared by
the commission deals with those tell
ing of heroes of adventure, of chivalry,
of daring. of humor, Of the nation, of
out of doors, of sports and of sue
of inf
what and how to do books. A brief
summary of each book Is given, as
well as the name of the publisher and
cost.
On the back of the catalogue the
names of three local establishments
having in stock the majority of the
books mentioned are given. The cata-
logue contains many illustrations
Matthews Tells His Notion.
Speaking Of the fight being waged by
the Boy Scouts Of America against the
modern thriller in disguise. Chief Scout
Librarian Matthews recently said
The chief fault of hundreds of these
books. which look respectable enough on
the outside, is their gross exaggeration,
which works on a boys mind in deadly
fashion. In our homes and schools and
other community agencies we instruct
anu u dill our cill!uTen IT. ways OF nigh
thinking and right living. and then, into
tire midst of it all, in a manner to which
the child is most susceptible in the form
of story, comes the iniquty of the dis
guised thriller, at least to nullify our
best efforts. if not actually to arrest the
fullest and highest development of the
child
Through the reading of these books.
with their gross exaggeration, ideals are
lowered high aspirations are throttled,
tastes of every sort are yitiated lam
guage is vulgarized. good manners coars-
ened. amusement standards lowered In
a word, the nobler mind the finer emo
tions. are scared as with n red-hot iron
That's why the Boy Scouts of America
through its library commission. is max
ing war on this horrible thing, first label
ing it so parents may know It, then point
Ing out the substitute which actually
benefits the boy. and at the same time de-
lights him as much as the viciously vulgar
book that is selling literally by millions
of copies in America today"