The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-21
Latest Styles
Your Children
By Olive RUbeFtB Barton


 got rather impatient with the man or woman who says, "f never had an opportunity for on eduoa- tion," meaning that they have not had college advantages Just saying 50 ig all right, but 90 often they imply that it iB someone's fault that they can't quite forgive,
 We may co well Bay that no one will give uB Q drink when there ls Q spring Of feesh water right under our noses. Fifty years ago, or even less, the spring was often too far over the hill for tho individual to find e. but today, with the world surrounded by Q veFitable sec Of books, free for the asking, I cannot refrain from an- gweFing such Q complaint with, "Well, thereB the library You could very easily educate yourself"
 But to Do less caustlc. believe that many people are afraid of lIs braTies. They don't know how to to uso them or what Go ask for. Well, libraries have grown up. City libraries not only keep tho books but they have organized do. partments now to help the vague knowledge.soeker and suggest what he needs, as well as subjects he might Do interested in,
 Professional Work Is Difficult
 Of course, specialized subjects and highly professional work arc almost impossible to got alone wlth- out instructors. But there still arc history, geology, simple botany, natural.philosophy and natural. his- tory. All fascinating subjects and obtRinable in forms that tho novice may understand, Why, the very books published for children these days arc Q mine for tho adult. New good literature alone b 8 life study. And ono thoroughly ace quainted with English and Ameri. can classics ean well count himself educated. There ls nothing on earth easier to do.
 Two men met ono day. one said, I've forgotten more than you ever knew" And the other retorted, "Then we're both even," And for fact this is tho truth, So don't hold your head lower than your neighbor just because h0 weet to college. He has forgotten much that he learned. Go after him. Read, read and read Bomo more. And by- andsby you will Do telling him. think parents could impress this on their children who cannot be sent away to school. Self educa- ton is honorable and should be at- tempted.
 Example from Own Experience About Q year ago I picked up at Q book sale, on old English edl. ton Of Dickens "ChlldB History Of Epgland," On it's flyleaf iB written, ITO George from Grandfather, Christnas, I8TB," in an old.fashioned hand. Recently came across it in my shelves and decided to refresh my memory on ancient kings, To my utter ABtonishment found that I hadn't remembered ono thing. I had forgotten the order Of Alfred, Ed- ward tho Confessor, Canute and Harold, I had forgotten that tho Danes were as much Q part of Saxon civilization aS the Normans were later,
 I reread in one night moro than I had learned in months of school. And I pictured thRt little boy in 1878, when books wore scarce and colleges scarcer, learning ono branch Of history almost as thoroughly aB it could Do written, ft is not 6 child's book essentially but written 30 that . child can understand it. This is why l advise the soifstaught to get books that need no interpretation by an instructor.
 If John or Mary connot 90 to cole iege, or even finish high school. they need not feel that tho world hRs gone and loft them. There b tho library, and tho information dc. partment, Use them both.
 Copyright, ie30, NEA Service, Incl