San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-23
STORIES Of OLD
POPULAR At
+. /. PRESENT
Boys and Girls Still Show
Preference for Books
That Pleased Crandad.
By BESS CARROLL

year-olds graduate from high school
and toddling "juniors" wear long
trousers, did you think that Robinson
Crusoe had been given up to the can
nibals Of his desert island-complete
ly forgotten by little boys?
The real truth is that Robinson is
more popular today than he ever was
chiefly because there are more little
boys in the world than ever before.
The annual essay contest conducted
by the book department of Wolff and
Marx in conjunction with. Carnegie
Library has just closed. The subject
was "The Book 1 Like Best, and
Why" Boys and girls from 6 to Is
years were eligible, and three prizes to
each group-there were four age
DC tnt
OLD TALES POPULAR.
p; A notable fact was revealed by the
contest, which sharply showed the lit
crary taste of San Antonio boys and
girls-the same old tales that were ia
vorites when grandpa was a boy, are
the most popular stories now.
A dark old attic, brown with creepy
shadows and ragged trunks; n little
boy lying like puppy, his chin cup
ped n his hands; his eyes on the pages
of book, his mind onta desert island,
killing cannibais-
Most any man who was ever young
remembers that scene. He was the
little boy. The book was Swiss Fam
lily Robinson or Robinson Crusoe.
BOOKS REMAIN
Attics change and shadows come
and go, but the book is just the same
old story of adventure-of things that
never were and never will be; of men
who fight dragons and subdue ban
dts. Even though today little boys
know that there are no dragons-that
"savages" are learning to play golf.
Bravery and human qualities are
the things most admired in book
heroes, according to the judgment of
boys and girls who approved or GEN.
surcd their characters in the book con-
test.
Books appealing to the imagination
We're decidedly the most popular-only
one girl said that she liked her favorite
book because it portrays everyday
life so faithfully"
WIN ON STORY VALUES
Prize-winners won their awards on
the story value and the reasoning in
their essays. Bernard Roseman, win
ner of the first prize in group No.
1, is only s years old. He said: ~
like the story of Robinson Cruso
best because it is interesting and ex-
citing. The part that 1 like best is
when he saves Friday from being eaten
by the canibles."
One of the youthful writer's pitied a
poor book hero because he had to
study-poor boy"
Winners in the various groups. and
the books they named as their Ia
vorites are: Group 1, 80 years, Ber-
nard Roseman, first, Robinson
Crusoe," Elaine Brown, st. Anne's
school, "The Golden Fleece" second
prize.
GROUP WINNERS.
Second group. 1912 years, Robert
Adams, 10, Mckinley School, robin
Hood" Cresson Kearney, IL, Milan
School, "Dr. Doolittle,r second prize
Joseph Edward Burk, II, Robert Il
Green School, knowing insects
Through Stories" third.
Third group. 1915 years, Norman
Peterson, Is. Alamo Heights School
Red Rock" first; Lee Turner, Is
king Bear" second; Margaret Stay.
maker, IS, Westmoorland College
Little Women"
Fourth group, 1918 years. Frances
| Howell If Incornate Word CoIlppc
"a Tale Of Two Cities" Robert Lee
Rhea, IL, Main Avenue High School
THE Last Days of Pompeii;" Victory
Dudley, 16. st. Anne's School, "Tht
Frontier Boys of the Grand Canyon.
The prizes are: Three books fol
each first prize, two books to th'
second winner, and one book thirC
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