The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1921-02-11
MANY CH1LDRENS
BOOKS DANGEROUS
Characters In Books Often Deyel.
op Wrong Element in Young
Boys and Girls.

Recently we had an article in The
Marietta Journal on the Importance
OF what children read. We wish now
to point out few Of the desirable
and undesirable elements which go
into juvenile books.
Remember that las we have said
before) every story cheap in quality,
whether high or low in, price, helps
make a cheap boy or girl, to lower
the moral tone, to coarsen the char
acter fiber and turn the child away
from what is true and worth while.
Remember also that many believe it
is OF more Importance what a child
loves when he leaves school, than
what ne has learned, because while
ne may forget what has learned,
what he loves he holds.'
High, ideals and moral tone are
necessary to good juvenile literature.
The moral tone is particularly signi-
ficant. In undesirable juveniles the
words of the book frequently say one
thing, while the lesson the story
teaches is entirely different. Good
ness often represented through
character without brains, beauty, or
any attractive quality, will be repel-
lent to child We must not forget
how plastic child's mind is and how
quick he Is to respond to outside in-
fluenbes. ]. y
Sincerity is necessary; the lack Of
it in book is an extremely danger
pus element. Mediocre books fire.
quently attempt to arouse in the,
reader emotions which the author
does not feel.
Juvenile books should be vigorous.
Children need strong, positive,
healthy books; not the colorless,
bloodless variety know as the Sweet
story"
Their plots should be logically de-
veloped. The abnormal and the i'm
possible give children false views of
life. When we make them believe
that the high lights of life are the
normal thing, we bring them an ex-
pectation which cannot be realized.
The realistic tale should adhere to
the laws of realistic narrative, and
the fairy tale to the laws of the fairy
world.
School stories should be something
besides pranks and escapades to make
the book worth while.
Distorted facts: This is an ex-
tremely bad element. The absolute
ly impossible is made possible. Only
a superman could accomplish what
the hero does. This gives children
false values and they crave impossi-
BILE excitements. Ruskin says "The
best romance becomes dangerous if
it makes ordinary life seem uninter-
esting or increases the morbid inter-
est in scenes in which we will never
he called, upon to act"
Dishonesty: The hero wins his
point often by lying evasion, or
smart trickery.
Disrespect: Youth comes into OPP
position with, and offers defiance to,
age. Age is wrong and youth
triumphs. Learning is ridiculed;
teachers ana professors are harsh.
unjust, cruel, and are justly exposed
by the young hero.
Bad English and Bad Manners:
These books are full of course prac-
tical jokes, hoydenish pranks, coarse
expressions and Objectionable slang.
No parent would seek the human
companionship for his child that he
offers them in books given them.
Cruelty: The humor frequently
rests upon someone's physical or
mental discomfort. This is the dan
ger in allowing children to read some
of the funny papers" If they get
much of it they grow to cruel and
unsympathetic maturity.
Introspectiorl and Self-Analysis:
This is the old Sunday school, type.
of book. The sensitive child suffers
torrents Of conscience over trivial
faults.
MerbiAness: Needless suffering,
Continued on Editorial Page.)--