Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-02-25

acquired the reading habit early in
| life, and they find IL hard now to be-
come students.
Another thing that discourages
! parents is that the books they gem
orally buy are too difficult TO read. II
was the practice OF earlier authors TO
use big words, and most of the books
! in our home libraries are from these
writer's. No one enjoys a book through
which he must spell his way.
| May we offer a suggestion? Begin
with your children's books. Read the
school books and library books they
bring home. There is a double value
in this: First, 1t gives you closer COM
partnership with the thoughts of your
children; and second, these books are
full of good things put in plain and
interesting style for you. To know
well the best books for children is to
have a rather liberal education.
A few years ago there were prac-
tically no books for children. Today
writers are giving their best efforts to
produce choice story book, books of
travel, histories, books on science and
nature for children. These books, like
Mark Twain's "Prince and Pauper."
are written for children of all ages.
Parents will find them most delightful
and easy reading. Try any of these
volumes to prove what we say is
| true:
How the World is Fed-Frank G..
Carpenter. (Or any other of Mr.. Car
| penter's Geographical Readers).
The Fall Of the Year--Dallas Lore
Sharp. (Or any other of Mr.. Sharp's
nature books).
Lobo Rag and vixen-Ernest
Thompson Seton. Tor any of the
other animal books by Mr.. Seton).
Story of My Life-Helen Keller.
Up from Slavery-Booker T. Wash
ington.
Prince and Pauper-Mark Twain.
Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
Fox.
Get any Of these or some other
choice books in which boys and girls
delight and begin to enjoy II with
your children.
A good way to further this work is
to have more reading aloud around
the Preside. Among the best of the
good things that my mother gave to
me was this fine family custom of
sharing good books together. Hardly
an evening would pass without our
hearing her read some story or poem
or inspiring sentiment. My lasting
love for literature came first from
this fireside story hour. The early inn
pressions of a mothers gentle voice
reading some beautiful selection in
verse or prose are more lasting than
the after work in school, good as il
may be. No parent can afford not to
enjoy good books with his children.
| Parents need to become students for
other reasons also. The work Of the
world today is more than ever Deepen.
dent on education. No farmer can
hope to be most successful who is not
a student. Agriculture is science;
information and clear thought are re-
| quired to make it successful. The
farmer will find that the reading habit
means money to him. So, likewise,
will the tradesman, the man of bust
ness, and men in all other walks of
life. The well-informed man has al.
ways an added advantage.
But more than for mere money-mak-
ing should every person get the read
ing habit. Books are one of our chief
sources of pleasure. Through books
one can travel anywhere one pleases
One moment the reader may be with
Carpenter in Australia or in a flash
be with Peary at the North Pole
Space is overcome as by magic to him
that knows how to read Time, too
is overcome by books. One may sit
with Lincoln and listen to his clear
wise words, or with Shakespeare an
enjoy his flights of fancy. One maS
be with Moses at Sinai, and in twin.
king turn his pages and walk with the
Savior along the shores of Galilee
The power to read is fairy wand tC
him that possesses it. 1t broadens ant
cheers and enriches his life, adding
unto him pleasures and power beyonC
price.
Books are the inspiration of youth
the comfort of age. In their active
years men may feel less the need Of
books, but when old age creeps on us
and friends drop away, one by ore
the solace of good book is about the
only thing left to take their places.
, am reminded here of story told by
President G. H. Brimhall. He visited
once, he says, an aged man, who haC
been paralyzed in his lower limbs. The
old man had to sit in his invalid chair
and be wheeled about. But he KEEP
himself, as did Benjamin Franklin
alive through reading. The latest mag
azines and books were supplied him
When one came in, he always haC
; something to talk about.
! President Brimhall listened one da!
to him discussing wireless telegraphy
or soraa other recent invention. an(
then burst out in his characteristic
style: Father, you're dying in the
right way--feet first!
There Is no excuse for any man t
grow old mentally or spiritually. Our
bodies may weaken with the years
but even they may be kept alive thu
longer, barring accidents and uncon
trollable disease, by the person keep
ing his intellect and his soul active
Most of our American poets died ole
in years but young in spirit:
| II is never too late to cultivate hab
;ts of studv-to learn to love gooC