The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-29
Building the Home Library
By FRANK PARKER STOCKBHIDGE
ifc Association


ms o. gives cannot endure tho test ~
time. Docs a arcoud reading FI'r
fua eamr at'sfncfi0u ua tho iirst'
Tb,t fs , siuplo to.i. and tho bool,
thaf does nor mc,t 10 is not book
to tle TO- Tho foundations Of 90"
home library should hD buIt ot
books th1t reveal new truNl or new
hcluflts upon each suD.oHNe read
iue. revive dying faiths. f'IWul1io
tagging unthuslnsmH f'Ir nfrrHn Tor
COTTON emotions, inspire the weary
with new courage. couHol" me h'-
fonpod. chror the dcapondout re-
veal human nature anew in como
one OF iis myriad aspects and trnnt.
port the reader out ~ himself
i,hrthcr by Fclf-draWntiIIiIou lu
heroic roles 10 high adventure ON
pcrIlous sens or through tho portals
~ memory back Go the simpler,
happier days OF childhood.
Books chat Will do these things
nrp rf,pi literature. oNou though
they may bee mere collections nf
fairy tailed. For 90 DO thrs. things,
tp stand tho test of Euonosflte rc-
rD1dIurs from generation to Erurr-
alton 20 book must bo the wouS ~
% great artist; ana an great or'
whoihcr ot painting sculpture. music
tho old essentials ~ truth and
beauty IN somo new ana allurlng
manner. rho essentials must be
thcro-. essentials OF beauty essen
tlnls OF truth. And these essentials
must porvadc aud inspire the books
that are 90 form fha foundation OF
the homo library.
Inspiration the Test.
what are thcv, these underlying
qualities that make great literature
great? Such things Hs honor cnur-
age. love, devotion 10 duty. belief In
the elemental goodness of humanity.
faith Of God; justice ana mercy, no.
bility and sacrifice. virtue ana happi-
ness; without those cardinal elements
woven into tho very fabric OF the
work tho book Is not great literature.
n may serve as a decorative element
OF the suporetructure. but II has no
place among the foundation books
upon which we nre to build not only
our home library but the characters
OF our children.
Now we arc getting down 70 an
understanding. These are not schll-
drcn's books In the scuse In which
that term ~ commonly uscd--uot
many Of them, that but they
arc books that children viii read
eagerly. once they are given free
access TO them without being either
driven to them as Il task or forced
TO nsk permission and give reasons
before being allowed to read them.
Editions de luxe belong behind
locked doors; the home library
should he housed on open selves,
low enough for tho smallest liter
ntc member OF tho household 90
help himself at Will
Beauty IN Rocks
A book that is too precious for
everyday handling may be "a
thing of beauty and n JOY forever
TO It's puasessur, but II lacks the util-
quality that should govern
the selection OF the particular vol
umes with which the home library's
foundations are laid. Not that these
books should not bo henutlful; on
tho contrary. the book that Ia not
In itself n beautiful specimen of the
art OF the printer. illustrator and
hinder falls short of serving the
great ends of literature by so much
as its maker has overlooked his OPP
portunity to appeal 20 moro of the
senses than one. Modern Book
making has made great strides In
the direction of beauty. Artistic
and attractive bindings, oven In low
priced editions are tho rule rather
than tho exception. Great painters
no longer hesitate to contributV of
their art 10 the illustration Of the
masterpieces OF literature. 40 per-
fectly do modern reproductive pro-
cosscs transfer the spirit OF their
work 10 the printed page. At prices
that seem rldlculuusly low one may
buy splendid volumes Handsomely
printed from clear type on good
paper, books that will endure, both
as to their contents and their ply
steal selves. To serve the needs OF the
growing generation ana add to the
homo the other element without
which II falls short OF It's opportunity
and ,ts destiny.