FAVOURITE BOOKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 9

FAVOURITE BOOKS.

From time to time eminent modern authors arc moved to inform us what books are being read nowadays >ajh a leading article in the London Daily iel<graph of September 26 last}. The general tenor of their statements is that nothing which was written more than oO years a-ro is of much importance to the present generation. When Lord Birkenhead happens to remark that he has read Scott many times, and goes on reading him, we hear comical murmurs of amazement and horror. But those who prefer to term their opinions on evidence are well aware that this advertised inability of modern voting people to read old books is a fond thing vainly imagined. Whenever reliable statistics about the reading of the rising generation appear we find that the favourites of the past are still in favour, and, apart from the great writers, the sort of book which youth used 'to like it likes fitill General taste is much more stable than the inventors and followers of literary fashions choose to believe. There has just been a test of the children of Bethnal Green. The Libraries Committee of that borough has been working to encourage its young people to read better books. In the course of its endeavours it set an examination paper, which was taken by some 600 boys and girls—rather more girls than boys. They were asked, of course, who was their favourite author. Shakespeare was easily at the top of the poll, with 64 votes to Dickens's 24. Tests ot this kind must be accepted critically. Children, and especially girls, tend to answer such questions by declaring not their real opinion, but what they suppose ought to be their opinion. A libraries committee, however, can check the answers by tbc records of actual reading. In Bethnal Green they find that the vote for ShakeKiiearc goes with the popularity of Lamb’s ■‘Talcs from Shakespeare'’ and a modern ■‘Children’s Shakespeare.” The examination paper was also designed to be a test of the children’s genera i knowledge of books worth reading. It included questions as to the author ot “ Ivanhoe ” and “ Pride and Prejudice.” and “ Uncle Tom’s nbin.’ It asked about Man Friday and Christopher Robin, Portia and Red Riding Hood And 133 children out of 620 got full marks. We congratulate Bethnal Green. Its librarian has been working in the faith that if children can be interested in books while still at school they will grow up with a lov e of reading, and it is clear that he has worked on the right linos. The potentialities of usefulness in public libraries are not yet adequately understood save by a few devoted experts If we could teach and persuade a large ••art of the ronuiuinilv i<> ii>"k‘- i:.. . books, as books as now u.-od by welleiiiicatod peop’e. we should have add ;! much to the industrial ellieiency and to the fitness for civic responsibility of th“ nation. ff the majority were aware of the nleasure. the stimulus, and the solace to lie found in books we should bo a happier people.