Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-07-08
TELL WHAT THEY
THINK OF BOOKS
10000 in Reading Course Give
Their Opinions.
WOULD INTEREST AUTHORS
Federal Bureau of Education Gets Re-
ports From Americans Who Are
Pursuing the Home Reading Course
Interesting Comments on the
Classics-Divergence of Opinion
Over "Alice in Wonderland"

If the shade of Shakespeare. of Ho-
mer or Of any of the other lmmortals
ever wants to know what the twenti-
eth century thinks of his works he
can find out by referring to the filed
reports of l2,0H average Americans
who are pursuing the home reading
courses of the federal bureau of edu-
cation.
There are II of these courses, but
fully threefOurths of the govern
ment's readers are registered for the
course in classical books. This facf
might pleasantly thrill the authors OF
the classics. for if they keep up with
the times they must notice the dust
is more apt to gather Oh their immor-
tai works than on the novels of Rob-
ert W. Chambers and Ethel NJ. Dell.
The immortals would doubtless he
pleased with the comments on their
art. Most of the readers record their
impressions in terms fowery and fiat
tering and in the respectful tone pre-
scribed for one who speaks of 1.-THE
classics"
Think Ancient Poet Vague.
Now and again. however. more
daring mortal departs from adjectives
and superlatives to Insert an original
idea into a report. Such one is the
young woman who thinks the last
chapter of Homer's Had must have
been lost before 1t got to the printer,
because the fate of Troy and that of
Priam are only vaguely explained.
Ii is hard to say what Shakespeare
would think Of the reader who thinks
II interesting to compare the insanity
of Hamlet with that of Ophelia. Per-
haps he would say carelessly; "WeIl,
perhaps did mean Hamlet to he era
", but forget now. You see I-or
was 1t Bacon?-have written so many
plays"
Most impressions inspired by the
classics are monOtonOuSly favorahfe.
None of the readers seems to be por-
ing oyer antique literature for the I'M
holy JOY of unburdening a phiistinr
soul in scathing report. The home
reading division would certainly NOT
accept any report written In SANDER
Gus vein. On the other hand, 1t does
feel that the American public is prom"
to put on fixed attitude of mind. n
sort of pious prejudice, when 1t opens
a classic. This precludes any unbl-
ased or original thinking.
Open Mind Recommended.
IF people would only take up these
books as if ;hey had never heard OF
them!" said Miss Ellen Lombard, di.
rector of home reading. IF the read.
er would come to Shakespeare and
Milton with an open mind, he would
begin to like them for the qualities
which appeal to him and not spenA
his time trying to see what other pc"
pie have found"
Still, Miss Lombard believes peopl"
are getting a great deal Oat of the
courses. that they read thoughtfully
and are sincere in their, conventional
admiration. All are reading the rec.
commended lists, because II will add t.
their knowledge and enjoyment. Thos"
who send in reports do so because II
is required, If they are to receive Il
certificate from the bureau on com.
pletion Of the course. Many more out,
side of the 10000 now registered as
trying for certificates send for the out
lines and read without making re-
ports.
Some of the governments readers
are children as young as nine or ten
years of age. Others are more than
seventy. Some are college graduates
and many more never reached high
school. The children's reports are es-
pecially interesting. They are not
yet overawed by the fact that "Ivan-
hoe" or "The Merchant Of Venice" are
on the immortal list and they sar
what they think in emphatic terms.
They All Look for Morals.
The greatest Emergencies of opn.
ion seem to be over "Alice i'm Wonder
land" which is on the list of books
for girls. One girl of thirteen thinks
the book Is clever. but very odd and
queer Another learned from 1t that
when people are out in the open air
they have good dreams" A girl of
around ten thinks Alice good enough
book for young children who like fairy
tales, but that 1t is not interesting for
older children; while fourth gathers
q moral from Alice's adventures with
magic bottles and cakes, and says ut
teaches me not to be curious and TO
think before doing things"
The boys and girls almost invariably
twist moral out of story and hold 1t
UP as their justification for the books
existence. "Eyangeline" teaches a boy
Of thirteen that people ought TO be all
kind to one another" A girl says Of
Little Women: at has many things
in 1t a girl could learn. | learned to be
patient with children, and also
learned many good morals" The oft
en- repeated opinion about Little
Women" is that sit Is a good book for
girls to read" A few boys and girls
frankly say they do not like book
A.aI~ i'll