COSY CORNER CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 49

COSY CORNER CLUB.

SECOND MEETING. June 12; "Some Suggestions fob a Children's Library."—Papers to be in by ,jjune 1. Supposing you were going to build up a small libiary for a family of children, what books or what kind of books would you like to include in the collection? This has proved to be a very interesting subject, and I have enjoyed reading through the papers extremely. All the suggestions were, naturally, on much the same lines — fairy tales, adventures, history, travel, Naturestudy, and standard works of fiction, the favourite authors including Scott, Dickens, and Thackeray (these figure in nearly every paper), Kipling, Fenimore Cooper, and R Ll Stevenson, and I am pleased to see that, Edith Howes also figures largely, showing, that her Nature stories are appreciated at their right value. The poets are not forgotten, nor is the Bible, and one or two mention "The Pilgrim's Progress"; but after I had read through the papers it occurred to me that one favourite of my own childhood had been omitted by everybody, and that is "iEsop's Fables." Does anybody ever read them now?

My own ideas on the subject are similar to all the others, except that I am rather doubtful about some of the nursery fairy tales, old friends as they are, being told to very young children. I have somewhere read the argument that fairy tales have an "immoral" effect on the youthful mind—that Jack the Giant-killer had no right to steal the giant's bags of gold, and so on. This seems a little far-fetched; but I do think it is a pity to put into small children's minds ideas of wolves and witches and giants and other non-existent terrors, as if there were not enough troubles coming to them after-

wards in life. Some of the fairy stories for older children are very beautiful, such as some of Hans Anders-en's and the Andrew Dan? fairy books, and they come under quite a different category. Another point I have never been able to make up my mind about —it is one that is not touched on in any of the papers —is the question of the advantage and disadvantage of giving children those abridged versions of classic works which are produced in such quantities nowadays. One can get "Stories from the Poets," from Homer to Tennyson, and even Scott and Dickens, "boiled down," as it were, for very youthful consumption, and certainly very attractively illustrated. Do these books spoil the appreciation of the real thing - later on? Or do they stimulate interest an 1 lend to the reading of much that would not have been attempted otherwise? It is a knotty qtiestion, especially as the answer depends a good deal upon the individual children. Perhaps some of the member's will take up the point at the discussion meeting later. I could say a good deal more on the subject of children's books, but must ruake way for the others. Before closing 1 must offer a warm welcome to Shasta on her reappearance —not the last, we will hope. You will all enjoy her paper. Last month's meeting seems to have been enjoyed by most of the members. Alpha writes: —"Last month's papers wore very interesting; I was pleased so many were sent in. Eve and Gabrielle's selected poems are beautiful, and most suitable to the present trying days. Both are new to me, and I am glad to know them." Dear Elizabeth, —I am indebted to Alpha for a copy of the C.C.C. syllabus, mid would like to be present at one or two ot the meetings if I may. I cm become the meekest of country mice, but the choosing of a children's library is an opportiinity not to be forgone. I do not approve of the goodygoody nor highly romantic sort of books'for children; the former arouse resentment in any normally naughty child, and the latter, with their over-coloured, unreal atmosphere, may do real harm by giving false ideas of life. I think young children's books should be about wholesome and natural children animals, fairies, and really-truly men and women, clearly printed and, if possible, illustrated. In each section I shall give a few titles to indicate the sort of books I prefer—titles selected from memory, and by no means containing all tha books that could be named for each successive book-shelf. The bottom shelf, within roach of the tiniest toddlev, holds rag-books, brightly coloured,

on velvety cloth, which in iisclf has a charm for little fingers. There- shall be an untoarab'e farmyard and a zoo, with wild animals in their natural surroundings—no Jumbo books, but just honest cart-horses and moo-cows and baa-lambs and roaring lions, such as any baby loves. For the next to the babie3 there are the bed-time books, of real and fairy stories, for mother to read aloud, each one complete, and short enough to bo read at a Bitting—" Cinderella" and "Red Riding Hood," "Puss in Boots" —al 1 the delightful old, old fairy tales that ai-e new to each new listener, sitting wide-eyed and wondering at mother'3 knee. Edith Howes'a "Fairy Rings" and "Favourite Rhyme 3," delightfully pictured by Frank Adams, "A Birdie's A B 0" and "One, Two, Bucklo My Shoe" may keep them company and be prepaied for any .amount of rough usage by the little ones just learning to read. Then, too, wo must have Peter Pari, the little boy who never grew up, with pictures by A. Rhackhana; and some of the quaintly-garbed elephsnts and cats which we rejected for the toddlers. Children who aro fond of animals and fond, also, of dressing up fbiJ a deal of charm in these pictured animals. The next shelf in the l ibx-ary is for those young barbarians, the public school boys and girls, and for them wo must have action and adventure. Here I wculd jilaco "Robi.i.ion Crusoe," "Arabian Nights," "Swis3 Family Robinson," some bound volumes of "Chums" and "The Girl's Own Paper," "The Wonder-book of Ships," and "Lives of Great Men," such as Abraham Lincoln and David Livingstone. Children are natural hero-worshirii'tis, and for purposes of hero-worship a live man has a groat appeal, particularly if our flock happens to contain that hard-headed little per- j son who doesn't believe in fairy tales. The j girls must have "Tne Seven Little Australians," "Daddy Longlegs," "Rebecca of >.

Sunny Brook Farm," "Pollyanna," and "Little Women." Nature-books may begin with Kipling's "Jungle Books" and GuthrieSmith's books about New Zealand native birds. The top shelf, for the boys and girls in .heir 'teems, is one about which opinions are most likely to differ. My preference is for a liberal selection, as in my unregenerate youth I read everything I could get possession of, from "The Lady of the Lake" to "D&adwood Dick," and seemingly it did me no harm. I do not, therefore, raise hands of horror when I see a school-miss reading Charles Garvice. The taste for sticky sweets is usually outgrown in early youth. If it :e now—well, I know of a most wise and learned man who finds relaxation in the works of the same author. It is a truism <hat there is no accounting for tastes. Pot the +oo slielf I should choose, first, Sir Walter Scott'and then Dickens, then a sucof books like "Westward Ho," "Silas Warner," and "Treasure Island." Of living writers Sir Eider i.iagga.rd's "King Solomons Mines" and Sir Co nan Doyle's "White Company" would be. the forerunner of lati Hay's "The Right Stuff" and Jeffrey Farnol's '"The Broad Highway." From the outdoor men I should have Jack Loudon's "Call of the Wild," Stewart Edward White's "Silent. Places," James Oliver Garwood's "Kazan the Wolf Dcg," and Rex Beach's "The Silver Horde." "Barlasch of the Guard" and "The Last of the Mohicans" should be included for the boys, and "Pride unci Prejudice." "Cranford," and "Our Village" in the hope that the frfrk might discover «thsir delicate clurm. To foster a love of poetry, the purest of reading pleasures, wo would require an anthology, with selection.? from Tennyson. Keats, Shelley, Wordsworth, Stevenson, Kipling, and Newbolt, among others. Finally there shculd be a good handbook on health, «,id one each dealing with gardening, carpentry, j.cedlework, and the care of pets. Furnished with the above library, I think any family would be able to pass a wet holiday pleasantly.—Yours truly, SHASTA. I am extremely to hear from you again, my dear Shasta, and to learn some(hiiiT of v.hat t<iii have been doing this last year or two. Your paper, too, is splendid, and I like your notion of baring +he librarv arranged with the right books within reach of the different ag<?s. I hope wo shall have the pleasive of hearing from you egain this cession. Dear Elizabeth.—What better foundation con we have for.;our ycung people'j library

than the Bible ?It is whilst wo are youngthat we learn to lovo it and to seek light and life eternal from its pages. What fascination there is for little children in the Bible stories. Another good book is the "Story of Jesus," by Mrs G. El. Morton; whilst the many illustrations in "Sweet Stories of Old" make it a general favourite with the littlo ones. How they lovo to crowd round mother whilst she reads to them from the immortal "Pilgrim's Progress." It is just as well to have one of the "Worker's Testaments" (as used by the Chapman-Alexander mission) on the list; the special messages in largo print maka the way of salvation so plain. I very often think of the saying that Scotch people are noted for their dirty Bibles and their clean hcaithstones. What an honour it is to have a well-used Bible 1 And now for Btories, etc; we will give the "Girl's Own Annual," a volume beloved alike by young and old, first place for girls, also the "Boy's Own Annual" fox tho boys. Whilst boys and. girls both delight in Ralph Connor's interesting books, amongst which are "The Man from Glengarry," "Glengarry Days," "Tho Prospector," "The Pilot of Swan Creek," "The Doctor of Crow's Nest," "The Sky Pilot, a Tale of the Foothills," " Gwen," etc. Allen Riaine's books are also good, such as "'The Welsh Witch," "By Berwen Banks," "Neither Storehouse nor Barn," etc. "The Dog Crusoe" delights girls and boys, so does "Down the Mississippi" and "Bravo Daeds of British Boys." Ethel Turner is a general favourite with the young folks. "Seven Little Australians," "The Faatj-ly at Misrule," etc., are all delightful reading, and are stories of Australian life. "In His Steps; or, What Would Jesus Do?" should find a place in every library. So should "Stepping HeavenWard," by Miss Prentiss. It will bear being read and reread, something fresh and helpful being found in its pages at every time of reading. The "Life of Frances Ridley

Havexgal," by bor sister, is a book for the older girls. What girl does not love the bright stories of Mrs George de Home Vaizey? amongst which are "Pixie O'Shaughnessy," "More About Pixie," "The Love Affairs of Pixie," "Peggy Saville," "More About Peggy," etc. I must be sure and not forget to add a stamp album. Everyone who has a stamp collector as a friend will know what keen interest is taken in stampcollecting. FAITH. You mention some very good story-books, Faith. I have enjoyed reading Mrs de Home Vaizey's books myself—her girls and boys are so .delightfully natural and full of life." Dear Elizabeth, —I will begin by defining the kind of books I should choose for children. First, as a premise, they must be such as the children will read with pleasure. Here one will be guided by memory of one's own youthful days, and by observation of childron, with particular regard to the capacities and tastes of these in view. Secondly, a large number of the books should supply food for the imaginative faculties. Fairy stories for younger children, romances, suitable historical novels, .and poetry for older ones rank chief as typea of books appealing to the imagination. Thirdly, the books should have permanent value, so that a child will bo mentally richer throughout life for having read them. I think these three headings will include all the qualities that I deem most essential in children's books Except, of course, that the books must be morally wholesome and, if possible, morally bracing and inspiring. I did not begin with this most important qualification, since few people are likely to neglect it, and because books written for children are, as a rule, unexceptionable in moral tone, the only partial exception I know of being a of rather morbid or "goody" stories, now gone out of fashion. As for books not written specially for children, see that they are sound in x'rinciple and tone, and even if they sometimes touch on matters not generally deemed suitable t bring before children, the voung reader will take no harm. Scott, Dickens, and many more of our classic novel'sts of last century may be read throughout by the youngest child capable of taking pleasure in them and do only good. The problem novel of to-day is a totally different matter. Witfe regard both to imaginative stimulus and permanent literary value the greater number of ordinary children's stories about children rank low (many American stories are particularly defective from the point of view of language training); hence, thougli many are

very good in their way, I would not usually select ihcm for children in whom I was interested. In iny case, children are certain to read enough of them. Speaking for myself, though 1 had plenty of children's books and was very fond of many of them, the books that most interested me were, with one or two exceptions, "groA-n-up" ones. I believe intelligeut. children, if given the choice, very often prefer books that may seem too advanced for them. These exercise thair growing faculties, while to read perpetually about children like themselves, living much as they do, can havo iittle mental value. Then, surely, we should take advantage of the groat rotentiveness of memory in early years to let children in their early reading gain knowledge and ideas that will be of inestimable value to them through life. The child who reads widely on the lines here indicated becomes wiihout effort familiarised with th« world's heritage of fairy lore and heroio legend, and with much of the best English literature; he unconsciously learns to appreciate literary form, and acquires much historical and general knowledge. He thus absorbs without effort literary anud general knowledge, which children who do not read musk laboriously "swot up" at school and college or remain ignorant of, to their great loss. Within the past few years many head teachers of High Schools have lamented the want of literary and general knowledge shown by boys and girls coming under their care, and have urged the importance of good reading at home. So I am adding my word. I will now give a list, beginning with the less advanced, of books equally suitable for boya and girls.' I don't suppose boys would often condescend to purely girls' books; .but girls, I know, are often fonds of boys'. As a, little gixl I enjoyed 'Tom Brown's Schooldays" and sonio other boys' books as much as any boy could do. Grimm's "Fairy Tales," Hans Andersen's "Fairy Tales," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Alice Through the Looking Glass," Mrs Moiesworth's "Fairy Tales," Mrs Gatty's "Parables from Nature," Kingsley's "Water-babies," ".ZEsop's Fables," "The Swiss Family Robinson," 'Gulliver's Travels" (a family » edition), "Robinson Crusoe," Hawthorne's "Tanglewood Tales" and Kingsley's "Heroes" (both books dealing with Greek mythology and heroio legend), "Tom Brown's Schooldays," Lamb's "Tales from Shakespeare," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Don Quixote," "The Last ol the Mohicans," and one or two more of Fenimore Cooper's, Harrison Ainsworth'a "Tower of London." Dickens and Scott ad lib., and Kingsley's "Hereward the Wake" and "Westward Ho," and Bulwer Lytton'a hisotrical novels. These are all old booka. There are plenty of good modern ones to select from: Edith Howes's "Sun-babies" and its companions, Ethel Turner's stories (though these can scarcely count as universal children's classics), Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Books" and other fairy stories, Stevenson's "Treasure Island," and, indeed, most of his stories, Barrie's "Peter Pan" and ita companions, and very many stories of adventure. Then there are many good children's annuals for readers of various ages. "The Children's Encyclopedia" is specially valuable, as giving young people scientific knowledge in attractive form. As for poetry, there is Stevenson's "Garden of Verse" for younger children, and many good collections adapted to different ages, and I would certainly give Scott's poems—" The Lady of the Lake," "The Lay of the Last Minstrel," and "Marmion" —to children showing any appreciation of -poetry; also Macaulay's "Lays of Ancient Rome." One book now neglected should certainly be popular in a Scotch community—Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," a child's history of Scotland. I read it with great pleasure in early childhood. I should think Wilson's "Tales ,of the Borders" is another attractive Scotch book, but I have never become acquainted with it. Of course, my list does not by any means aim at being 1 exhaustive, and I may have inadvertently omitted several old favourites, while I do not claim to be thoroughly versed in juvenile literature of to-day. One needs to keep one's eyes open for the new, while not neglecting the old—especia-lly the old which forms part of the mental heritage of our people. Waiting with interest for other members' suggestions.—l am, etc., ALPHA, I think myself that I would include a certain number of children's stories pure and simple in any collection I was making, Alpha. It seems as if some stories about "children like themselves" is a necessary antidote to too much fairy lore, legend, and adventure, or grown-up books, particularly with children who happen to have a vivid imagination. Still, as you say. children probably come across and read sir:ii s'ory books an way, and it would depend upon circumstances whether one thouffh! it. necessary to include them in one's "library" cr not. Dear Elizabeth, —The formation of a library must be the careful work of many years. It is not the quantity, bu- the quality, that should be the end in view, in every home where there are children certain standard works will always hold pride of place, irrel- - of the individual ta«tes of the readers —as, for instance, "Robinson Crusoe" and "Little Women"; but, apart from these, each child should have books to suit his particular inclinations. For very young children simple stories of adventure, historical and fairy tales make pleasant reading, and a collection of Bible stories told in a manner suitable for a child's ability to understand. There is nothing so exasperating ad trying to read a book you can't understand, and a great many authors write stories, suitable for only very small children, in language that only a. fairly well educated boy or girl could understand. I have recollections of a small mite laboriously spelling over words that would have been a severe test for a Standard VI child, and the story wes of the "fairy Prince and Princess." In the realm of Nature there are so many more wonderful happenings than those of the Sleeping Beauties and the Ugly Ducklings that those who do not care for "unreal" books may still give their children a great deal of pleasure in a world of romance. The young folk of New Zealand are greatly indebted to Edith Howes for her portraying of old Dame Nature and her curious ways of going to work. Given a lead, a child will soon begin to investigate for himself, and this is the real object of a good book—"to open the door for a fuller investigation." Historical works should occupy a place on the shelves —not dry, matter-of-fact histories,but those which are well illustrated and give the histories of the peoples of a country and the progress they have made under each ruler. A well-illustrated book is always an attraction. In this respect it would be aa well to give a child a chance to learn about other countries as well as his own. Geographical works of an interesting nature will also have to have a place, and a globe and good atlas are indispensable. It is a dull child who does not respond to the pleasure of travelling around and across the globe, touching at the different ports en route, learning a little about the inhabitants, their products, the different countries' climates, the plant and animal life of each one, and the chief sources of wealth. One could go on adding to the list and still find that thoro was more to be learnt. These booka are for children who are too young to have