Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-14

Dear Sir: I have been a regular
reader of your column ever since you
started it, and have enjoyed it very
much, indeed. but your article last night
about boys books appealed to me par
ticularly.
II agree with you that boys should
try to keep their books until they are
grown. would like very much to have
my library now, because have a cou-
pie of boys coming along who I know
would enjoy them. had lot of books
with the Henty series predominating.
The only books have left are Tom
Sawyer which my mother gave me
when I was 6; 'Huckleberry Finn and
The Prince and the Pauper' My
boys have read them, and I believe 1
value those three books more than any
have accumulated since.
What particularly pleased me in
your article was your reference to the
Henty books. don't believe there ever
has been such an interesting and in
structive writer of boys books as G. A.
Henty 1 think l read every one he
ever wrote-at least, if did not, it was
not my falkland 1 find that the
knowledge of history and campaigns
that absorbed has been very helpful to
me since 1 have been grown.
Judging by the books my youngsters
have now, the writers of today cannot
compare with Henty. I also have read
we're fine. 1 am going to try and get
hold of the Henty books and some
others and turn them over to my young
ones, so that they will know what real
adventure stories are like.
There are many others that know
I could go over with you, and am sure
that we would find lot in common, but
the time does not permit. / felt that l
had to drop you line, however, to let
you know that you have struck very
responsive chord in your article last
such interesting articles as those on
books. lawns, gardens, etc, and wish you
continued success with them. Very
truly yours, &c. E. r."
George Alfred Aenty was not the man
to sit back in his easy chair and write
about lands he had never visited or
describe actions he had never seen.
His active life as a war correspond
ent. which led him into some of the
most stirring events in European his
tory, gave him the actual background
for his vivid tales which at all times
have real history in their making.
At one time there was tendency
to belittle Henty on the ground that
his historical facts we're inaccurate.
His description of the battle of Water
loo. in particular, was criticized.
We can recall that as a child we
personally compared his figures, details
of combatants and so on, with those
given in Bourienne and other historians
of the time, and came to the conclu-
sion that Henty was perhaps as correct
as any of them.
We believe that this is the Judgment
Of most persons today. 1t is realized
that in the vast scope covered by some
80 novels there could be no such thing
as absolute and universal accuracy.
The difficulties of the historian are
many. Henty made no claim to be an
historian merely. but teller of tales
for boys; in this most worthy endeavor
there are many to feel, almost 80 years
after his death. that he succeeded be-
yond expectation.
Born in 1882, he had a good educa-
ton, and enlisted in the purveyors'
department (quartermaster) during the
famous Crimean War. Returning to
England. he became a reporter for the
London Standard.
In those days men were not assigned
as war correspondents, but volunteered
for the service. Henty's restless spirit
sent him as a special correspondent
through the Austro-Italian War of
1866. He served with Garibaldi in the