South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-20

n RI
yearly rational event--began
- on Nov 1G. Libraries through
out the country are observing the
week by special addresses TO moth
ers. by featuring lists OF suitable
books for children. thus emphasiz-
ing the Importance Of books on the
child mind and explaining just what
constitutes the best In juvenile liter
allure.
IL Is surprising that parents yet
do not realize the value OF a good
book in regard 20 the influence that
Do may make on the life OF a child
Their attitude IS usually such that
the book they purchase Is carelessly
acquired on TIE other hand. they
viii take infinite pains in selecting
a pretty toy that the child viii out
grow In The course Of few months.
Why this is 50. 1 am at a loss 20
understand. but Il is quite true
nevertheless. and possibly the rea-
son is that parents fail 90 grasp the
fact that the book they offer their
child Is so much knowledge stored
I'm the brain shaping, influencing
their very lives long after the title
OF the story has been forgotten.
II is the natural law Of the sub
conscious governing the conscious.
indelibly marking itself on the inn
questionable mind while the brain
of the adult reader il more or less
transitory.
I hold that there are classics for
the nursery as for the library. Chill
dren's books should be selected in
variety. Under the heading clas-
steal literature. one can find books
OF every sort and age. Unfortunate
~ the conception OF classical lit
erature has seemed forbidding by
the narrow construction Of the term
restricting its use TO works OF two
foreign nations.
The correct way 20 introduce the
child to the delights OF bookland is
surely the approach through fairy
land. Possibly you have heard, I
know 7 have, academic purists who
sOlemnly raise the objection that
the fairy tale familiarizes children
with what ds unreal and therefore
untrue.
Setting aside the fact that this
may be applied equally as well 20
the whole realm or imaginative lit
erature. I believe 80 TO be actually
false In the special facts OF the
case. Are not children surrounded
by wonders OF every sort? Is not
the world peopled with giants and
on every side Of them. life directed
by people who are twice their own
size?
Is Il not we who have forgotten
the realities OF childhood. not the
children who are misled by the rec
ords Of early racial experience?
There IS. I contend. a definite stage
Of child development 20 which the
fairy story belongs and no good Is
gained by its omission.
As the child grows older. he
should learn the records of the
events OF the ages and civilizations
other than our own. together with
the occurrences Of our own time.
happenings and circumstances with
in our own sphere OF living Elim-
mate the book that is written down
D. the child. instead. select the one
which is written recognizing the
needs OF q particular age and Is
presented with the motive OF rails
inE the reader % the standard OF
the writer's viewpoint.
To IS an essential part OF the up
bringing OF children that they should
grow up aware OF the immense
world OF human activity covered by
literature and that they should have
some idea 90 its historical develop
ment and that they should know
how % use the recorded experiences
Of the great masters OF life and
thought There is 80 much for the
child 70 learn on his frst lap on the
voyage Of life and good books help
where parents sometimes fail 20 lay
the foundations OF moral and spiri-
tual worth
Possibly the greatest problem OF
modern parents IS that difficult age
or adolescence w'heE the boy and
girl seem % have crept into & shell
Of reserve. making approach on any
subject a matter OF careful consld-
grafton. At that time. the right
books impress where words fail 20
drive home the message.
Too. girls and boys are forming
their ideals which eventually Will
govern their lives when parental
restriction IS q thing OF the past.
The girl Is forming her concrete
deal OF manhood and the boy is
vaguely visualizing his ideal OF
womanhood. Wise IS the parent
who uses the yardstick OF good lit
eracure for the Ievelling OF those
ideals
But do the young folk read good
books? Take any group OF girls
can they tell you anything OF Abce
Freeman Palmer or are they not
better versed in the career OF Theda
Bara? DO the boys know OF the
hne honor and delicate humor OF
Mark Twain or are not their ideas
o. humor shaped by-say. BY
Charlie Chaplin
Now don't preach % them the
gospel OF good literature. They viii
be bored Immediately. Simply get
out a copy Of any Of the fascinating
tales OF real men and women worth
knowing. ana soon your child will
share and appreciate the works OF
such writer's and be secretly delight
"a a. the subtle compliment YOU
have paid their taste
Don't preach, that Is always fatal
inst euggeef and Won will And