The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-09
Worlds Great Literary Bibles on u. S. List

CA certificate, bearing the seal Of
the United States Bureau of Educa-
ton. signed by the Commissioner Of
Education. will be awarded to each
person who gives satisfactory evil
dence Of having read all the books in
the accompanying list. You are in
vited to join the great national read
ing circle, making your own selection
from the reading courses provided).
Among the books of the world a few
are so preeminent for content and
style that they have been called "The
Literary Bibles" These are the Iliad
and the Odyssey of Homer, the Divine
Comedy of Dante, the greater dramas
of Shakespeare, and Goethe's Faust.
Each Of these Is the embodiment and
revelation of the ideals of a race, an
age. or, civilization.
They came out of the hearts and
minds of the people for whom their
authors were only spokesman. They
are therefore simple. fundamental,
and comprehensive. They appeal to
the hearts and grip the minds Of all
people everywhere, young or old,
learned and unlearned, Of whatever
race or creed. They are human books
and take firm hold on the human life
which we all live. which few under
stand, but which in all its phases has
! interest without end"
They are broad-minded books. Their
authors saw life steadily and saw It
whole. Kings and priests to God and
humanity. they interpreted for ma
| the eternal mysteries. Prophetic men.
they stood on the mountain tops and
caught the glow of the ever-dawning
new day. Finely organized men, they
| felt the heart throb and pulse beat of
the human race; they understood the
hopes and fears and aspirations of
humanity better than most, and they
! have set these to the music of rhythmic
winged words.
These books should be read by all
who would know the worlds literature
and life. The United States Bureau of
Education has therefore chosen them
| for its first course in reading, and in
vites all young men and women to
join this. its first national reading
circle. the members Of which will
undertake to read each of these books.
at least twice within the next three
years from the time of joining the
circle.
Certificate Will Be Given.
To each person who gives satisfac-
eNluCuCe VI udEluS Iciu IWlCC oil
the books on tho list a certificate will
be awarded bearing the seal of the
United States Bureau of Education
All young men and women who want
to know the best there is in the litera
ture of the world end to gain the In.
spiration it gives are invited to join
this national reading circle, and it is
so hoped that many thousands will dc
so.
Charles Alphonso Smith. professor
Of English in the University Of Vir
ginia; Charles Foster Smith, profes
sor of Greek in the University Of Wis
consin; Richard Burton, professor OF
English literature in the University OF
Minnesota, and William Lyon Phelps
professor of English literature in Yale
university, have assisted the bureau
Of education in directing this course
of reading.
: In writing about this course refer
to 1t as United States Bureau of Ed
J ucation. Homo Education Division
; Reading Course No. L." or "Ths
, Worlds Greatest Literary Bibles"
: Communications should be address
: ed to Home Education Division, Blu
: rcau of Education Division, Bureau o.
Education, Washington, D. c. Mis-:
Ellen c. Lombard is, director Of thu
; Home Education Division.