Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-14
Books Most Readers
Like Best and Why---
Classics Neglected

The fact that people generally are
no longer reading the old classics.
by authors Who have gone down In
tho history OF literature, and are
looking toward the present writer's OF
light fiction and dovourIng their
stories. Is true with the readers OF
Marshalltown. according TO Miss
Callie Wieder. city librarian, Num-
bers OF clubs and school pupils, who
have the so-called classics on their
reading lists as part OF their study.
arc practically tho only ones who
take those cooks from tho library,
Among the works Of Scott which
are called for most are Tho Tails
man." "Ivanhoo" aud Rob Roy
'srhe Tale OF Two Cities" and "Dayid
Coopcrflold" are the most popular OF
Dickens novels. Vanity Fair T.
practically the only book OF Thack-
eray's that is ever called for but a
new book by Van Dyke, Tho Valley
Of Vision" is being read consider
ably.
School pupils are reading Hugo's
Les Miscrables," and arc enjoying
IT,, and among Poc's tales. THE Gold
Bug" and Tho Black Cat" arc In
constant circulation, Stevenson hns
always been favorite OF young
readers. especially boys. and his
Treasure Island" kidnapped" and
Black Arrow" are seldom on the
shelves OF the lIbrahy. Shakespeare
is read only by unwilling pupils and
members of clubs.
Cooper and Twain Read.
However two writer's, whose works
are considered classic, and whose
books are very frequently in cirCuln-
ton are Cooper and Mark Twain,
Misunderstanding Tales ana
"Huckleberrys Finn seem 10 be the
favorites.
The question then arises. II the
public Is not reading these books,
what are they reading? Tho ques-
ton is answered by Miss Wieder
with a glance over the cards from
books in circulation. People are
scrambling after stories by Zane
Grey. who is tho most popular OF
light fiction writer's, Harold Bell
Wright, Ethel NJ. Dell. Grace Rich
mond, Rex Beach and Mary Roberts
Rinehart. Anne Katherine Green.
Jack London. James Oliver Curwood
and Berta Ruck are also general
favorites.
The library board docs not buy the
books Of Robert Chambers, but II Il
did his mamie would head the list for
popularity.
War stories, which were 50 popu-
lar. not more than a year ago. are
now dead. eRaders no longer are
looking for books that are educa-
tional. but merely wish to be
amused and entertained.
Lincoln and Roosevelt Popular.
Books by young Spaniard. Blasco
Ibanez. who recently has sprung into
the limelight, and whose works are
predicted to go down in history, are
being read by n great many. But
now the interests Of those who are
searching for something really worth
while. is centered on books about
Lincoln and Roosevelt. The wide
spread interest In Lincoln probably
is caused by the recent success Oh
the historical drama, Abraham Lin
coIn," by Drinkwater. which has met
with such popular favor, first ir
London and then in New York City.
The Soul OF Ann Rutledge," by
Babcock and "a Man For the Ages"
by Bachelor. are being widely read.
The death OF Roosevelt is the
cause of the calls for books about
him. A biography of Roosevelt by
Thayer, and Roosevelt's letters to his
children, generally answer the calls
Of these readers.
Most people are laborlng under the
impression that the works of classic
writer's are moro for education than
for recreation. but they are both,
Some of the greatest stories of his
tory are made interesting by these
writer's.