Part IIIDevoted to the Interests of Children
CHAPTER LXIFOR PARENTS
The Science of Rearing Children
The new Encyclopaedia Britannica is full of encouragement for parents who are tempted to feel that the proper care and training of a child require almost superhuman skill and energy. Many of the fears and doubts by which they are beset rest upon vague traditions, handed down from a day when a child’s health was threatened by more dangers and greater dangers than now, and when much less was known than is known to-day about the training of a child. Statistics are dull things, as a rule, but it would be difficult to find pleasanter reading than the statistical tables which show how much the modern progress of science has done for children. And these figures, in many Britannica articles on various diseases and localities, by showing how much safer children’s lives are than they used to be, also indicate adecrease of children’s sufferingand anincrease of children’s happinesswhich cannot be expressed in numbers. Sheer ignorance caused much of the pain that children used to suffer and also much of the neglect that led to bodily and mental deficiency in later life. There is still room for improvement; but it is no exaggeration to say that the child of the average American mechanic is more intelligently cared for than was, a hundred years ago, the heir to a European kingdom.
Every branch of science has contributed to these improved conditions. Medical and surgical research have no doubt been the great factors, as disease and deformity were the worst evils; but the child’s mind has been as carefully studied as its body. Here, again, figures cannot tell the whole story. They can show the universal benefits of our public school system, but they cannot show how greatly the children of well-read and thoughtful parents benefit by home influences intelligently exerted. That element of education begins as soon as a child is born, and it is based upon such observation of its individual needs as only a parent’s affection and sympathy can achieve. And in this part of the parent’s task, as in the case of the child’s health, it is essential to be guided by specialists of the highest authority, such as those who wrote for the Britannica the articles of which a brief account is given in this chapter.
The child’s individuality, physical and mental, is largely inherited.
What is Known about Heredity
The vast subject of heredity has indeed not yet been reduced to an exact science, but the newest theories advanced by Weismann, Hertwig, and others, with such confirmation as has already been obtained, are clearly set forth in Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell’s articleHeredity(Vol. 13, p. 350). As for our knowledge of the physiological process of heredity, the foundation may be said to have been laid by the labours of the Austrian monk Mendel, and biologists are rapidly extending his work in various directions. What has been done in the past thirteen years since scientists rediscovered Mendel’s work is described inMendelism(Vol. 18, p. 115), by R. C. Punnett, professor of biology, Cambridge University. There is no subject of greater interest or fascination before the world to-day, and there is no better or simpler introduction to it than ProfessorPunnett’s able article. As he says, “Increased knowledge of our heredity means increased power of control over the living thing.” We know very little as yet, but that little “offers the hope of a great extension at no very distant time. If this hope is borne out, if it is shown that the qualities of man, his body and his intellect, his immunities and his diseases, even his very virtues and vices, are dependent upon the ascertainable presence or absence of definite unit-characters whose mode of transmission follows fixed laws, and if also man decides that his life shall be ordered in the light of this knowledge, it is obvious that the social system will have to undergo considerable changes.”
The relations between parent and offspring are also dealt with inReproduction(Vol. 23, p. 116), by Dr. Mitchell; and those who wish to study the development of the organism will find such information inEmbryology(Vol. 9, p. 314), by Adam Sedgwick, who is professor of zoology at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. This masterly account is supplemented by a section (p. 329) on thePhysiology of Developmentby Dr. Hans A. E. Driesch, of Heidelberg University.
The New-Born Child
The articleInfancy(Vol. 14, p. 513), by Dr. Harriet Hennessy, is devoted to the care of the child during its first year. The first bath, care of the eyes, clothing, increase of weight, etc., are thoroughly discussed, and the directions for artificial feeding contain tables of milk-dilution and of the amounts to be given. InChild(Vol. 6, p. 136) will be found a valuable table of average heights and weights of children from the ages of one to fifteen, and a full bibliography of works relating to child-study.
The main points to be considered for each sex in the difficult period between childhood and maturity are concisely set forth inAdolescence(Vol. 1, p. 210). An ideal system of child raising is outlined, dealing with hygiene, clothing, and moral and physical training. See alsoGymnastics and Gymnasium(Vol. 12, p. 752), by R. J. McNeill.
The Vital Question of Food
Parents must have a thorough and clear understanding of the question of bodily nourishment. This is most imperative. It means sound bodies for the children, their good health in after years, their efficiency and success in life. On this point the new Britannica provides information of a character that for authoritativeness and completeness can nowhere else be matched.
The important matter of feeding a family is treated at great length inDietetics(Vol. 8, p. 214), by the late Prof. W. O. Atwater of Wesleyan University, known the world over as an authority on this subject, and R. D. Milner, formerly assistant in the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The article gives information as to the composition and nutritive values of foods and their adaptation to the use of people in health. There are tables of food composition, of the digestibility of nutrients, of the quantities of available nutrients, etc. The hygienic and pecuniary economy of food are discussed in such a way as to be of real service. For those who desire further information on the subject of food assimilation reference may be made toNutrition(Vol. 19, p. 920), by Dr. D. Noel Paton, professor of physiology, University of Glasgow, and Dr. E. P. Cathcart, lecturer in chemical physiology in the same institution.
Maintenance of Health
In regard to the maintenance of general health of children without reference to specific ailments there is a vast fund of information to be extracted by consulting the new Britannica. The titles of a few of the articles will sufficiently indicate information to which every parentshould have constant access:Antiseptics(Vol. 2, p. 146);Disinfectants(Vol. 8, p. 312);Carbolic Acid,Pharmacology and Therapeutics, (Vol. 5, p. 305);Salicylic Acid,Medicine and Therapeutics(Vol. 24, p. 70);Emetics(Vol. 9, p. 336);Aconite,Therapeutics(Vol. 1, p. 152);Colchicum,Pharmacology(Vol. 6, p. 662);Phenacetin(Vol. 21, p. 363);Pepsin(Vol. 21, p. 130);Rhubarb(Vol. 23, p. 273);Senna(Vol. 24, p. 646);Poison, with list of poisons and antidotes (Vol. 21, p. 893);Haemorrhage, how to tell the different kinds (Vol. 12, p. 805);Wound, nature of bruises and treatment (Vol. 28, p. 837);Burns and Scalds(Vol. 4, p. 860);Sunstroke, nature of heat prostration (Vol. 26, p. 110); nature and treatment of frost-bite,Mortification(Vol. 18, p. 878);Ulcer(Vol. 27, p. 565);Chilblains(Vol. 6, p. 134);Eczema(Vol. 8 p. 920); relief from choking,Oesophagus(Vol. 20, p. 14);Bone,Fractures, special fractures in the young (Vol. 4, p. 201);Drowning and Life Saving(Vol. 8, p. 592);Sleep, amount of sleep necessary at different ages (Vol. 25, p. 238);Diseases of Vision(Vol. 28, p. 142); with its special section (p. 144) on the care of the eyesight of children;Blindness,Causes and Prevention(Vol. 4, p. 60), by Sir F. J. Campbell, principal, Royal Normal College for the Blind, London;Shock, injuries and accidents (Vol. 24, p. 991). There is a section onAction of Baths on the Human System, inBaths and Bathing(Vol. 3, p. 518), telling of the effects of cold, tepid, warm, hot, and very hot baths.
Parents will be most grateful to the Britannica for the complete descriptions of infantile diseases, dealing with symptoms and principles of cure and treatment.
Treatment of Infantile Diseases
The British Medical Journalcommenting on the nature of the medical section of the new Britannica has said that it is “an admirable example of the kind of exposition which will enable the head of a family, without embarrassing him with technical details, to deal with a situation with which he may be confronted at any moment.” Realizing the great necessity for a popular yet authentic discussion of diseases, the editors have produced a work which has received the highest approval of the medical world for its quality of practical usefulness.
In the first place, parents should devote much study to Sir T. Lauder Brunton’s most clear and able discussion ofTherapeutics(Vol. 26, p. 793), dealing in a general manner with the means employed to treat disease. Here we learn about the action of microbes, the nature of inflammation and fever (which are protective processes calculated to defend the organism against the attacks of microbes but which often become injurious), about defensive measures and principles of cure, proper nutrition and elimination, flatulence, constipation, etc. It is also important to know something about the action of drugs, and this is fully explained inPharmacology(Vol. 21, p. 350), by Dr. Ralph Stockman, of Glasgow University, while Dr. H. L. Hennessy in the same article (p. 352) explains the terms used in the classification of drugs.
Before describing the material devoted to the special diseases of children, it is well to remind parents of a valuable illustrated article onParasitic Diseases(Vol. 20, p. 770), by Dr. G. Sims Woodhead, professor of pathology in Cambridge University. It is about the length of 52 pages in this Guide. The information as to the origin of various diseases, of those which are due to vegetable and those due to animal parasites, of the infective diseases in which no organism yet discovered has surely been connected with the malady (as is the case with scarlet fever), and of infective diseases, such as measles, mumps, and whooping-cough, not yet traced to microorganisms,will prove of the highest interest because the facts related have a most important influence upon present methods of treatment.
Diseases most Common to Childhood
Croup(Vol. 7, p. 511) is a concise account of spasmodic croup—so terrifying to all parents. The treatment is carefully described. The same is true ofTonsillitis(Vol. 27, p. 11). For other common throat diseases seeBronchitis(Vol. 4, p. 634);Respiratory System,Pathology of(Vol. 23, p. 195) by Dr. Thomas Harris, a noted authority, and Dr. Harriet Hennessy, andLaryngitis(Vol. 16, p. 228), which fully describes the paroxysmal laryngitis so peculiarly fatal to infants. In all these articles reference is made to adenoids as a contributing cause of the maladies described. There is a separate account of these recently discovered troublesome growths,Adenoids(Vol. 1, p. 191), and of the comparatively simple operation for their removal, by Dr. Edmund Owen, consulting surgeon to the Children’s Hospital, London.
The great attention which, in recent years, has been paid toDiphtheria(Vol. 8, p. 290) has produced most striking results. We know its cause and nature, we understand the conditions which influence its prevalence; and a “specific” cure in an antitoxin has been found. Specialists now trace to diphtheria many of the serious cases which would formerly have been thought due to other diseases, and especially to croup.
Whooping Cough(Vol. 28, p. 616) is one of the most common diseases of infancy, but, except in the most extreme cases, does not require the regular attendance of a physician. The malady has three recognized stages, in the second of which complications are apt to arise which may become a source of danger greater than the malady itself. Parents should also understand the curious structural changes in the lungs which sometimes remain after the disease has run its course.
Of all the diseases of earlier childhood,Measles(Vol. 17, p. 947) is the most prevalent, and its spread is largely due to the fact that its initial symptoms are slight and not easily recognizable. The proper understanding of these is, therefore, most necessary, as well as a thorough appreciation of possible complications and their consequences. The best mode of treatment is also indicated in this article. There are several well-marked varieties ofScarlet Fever(Vol. 24, p. 303) of which the chief are simple scarlatina, septic scarlatina, and malignant scarlatina; and the complications and effects of the disease are among the most important features which should be understood. The list of infantile diseases is too long for specific description, but parents can appreciate the value and significance of this valuable department of the work by referring to such articles asMumps(Vol. 18, p. 968);Dysentery(Vol. 8, p. 785);Cholera(Vol. 6, p. 262), with a special section on children’s simple cholera; see alsoDigestive Organs,General and Local Diseases(Vol. 8, p. 262) by Dr. A. L. Gillespie, lecturer on modern gastric methods, Edinburgh Post-Graduate School, andMeningitis,Cerebro-Spinal(Vol. 18, p. 130), with an account of the new and successful serum treatment.
Mental Training
In planning the groundwork of education, parents should have a clear idea of the principles of modern instruction. Here the Britannica again comes to their assistance. The biographies ofPestalozzi(Vol. 21, p. 284) and ofFroebel(Vol. 11, p. 238) describe the insistence of these leaders on the need of educating a child through his own activity, and the results they obtained by this method. Further elaboration of the subject is given inEducation,Theory(Vol. 8, p. 951), by JamesWelton, professor of education in the University of Leeds, to which article there are added detailed accounts of national systems of education. An interesting supplementary article isSchools(Vol. 24, p. 359), by A. F. Leach, describing the stages of experiment by which our modern idea of a school has been developed. There is an admirably instructive article,Technical Education(Vol. 26, p. 487), by Sir Philip Magnus, formerly member of the Royal Commission of Technical Instruction.
Assistance at Home in School Education
The new Britannica performs a service of the greatest importance in responding to the opening mind of the child. Children are the greatest of question askers, and the Britannica is the best question answerer ever devised. They want to know about the races of men, the different animals and plants they see; in fact, almost every object that comes under their observation. The inestimable advantage of answering an inquiry fully and correctly and not in an offhand manner is too obvious to need mention.Let your young children see you go to your Britannica for information and as soon as they are old enough they will naturally do the same, and then the volumes will be performing their most efficient work in the household.
For helping children with their school “themes” and “compositions,” for elucidation or amplification of any topic that comes up in the course of their studies, there is no medium so useful as the new Britannica—the most exhaustive compendium of knowledge which has ever been devised, with its elaborate index of 500,000 alphabetical references, giving instant access to every fact in the whole work. Of equal assistance will be its employment in connection with Sunday School lessons; for the accounts of the Bible and its separate books, giving the latest results of Biblical criticism, are the product of the highest learning of the age.
The World of Nature
For the instruction of children about the history of mankind, the nature of the universe, the animal, plant, and mineral world, the new Britannica offers a complete fund of necessary knowledge. There are 277 astronomical articles, including biographies; 889 zoological articles; 675 on plants; 380 on minerals and rocks. The classified subject-list in the Index Volume places the whole of this material immediately before the eye.
The articlesAnthropology(Vol. 2, p. 108), by Dr. Edward B. Tylor of Oxford University, dean of living anthropologists, andEthnology and Ethnography(Vol. 9, p. 849) describe the races of mankind, man’s place in nature, the origin of man, and his antiquity. The main articleZoology(Vol. 28, p. 1022), by Sir Edwin Ray Lankester, of London University, is an introduction to knowledge of the whole of the animal world, which is amplified, with minute details, in separate accounts of all members of the animal kingdom.Zoological Distribution(Vol. 28, p. 1002), by the noted naturalist, Richard Lydekker, is a mine of information about the distribution of living animals and their forerunners on the surface of the globe. Articles of great importance areBotany(Vol. 4, p. 299), by Dr. A. B. Rendle of the British Museum, and the great articlePlants(Vol. 21, p. 728), in the various sections of which the whole story of the vegetable world is told by eight famous specialists. There are, of course, separate articles on all plants. We also recommend to parents a careful study of the section (Vol. 23, p. 120) ofReproduction,Reproduction of Plants, by Dr. S. H. Vines, andPollination(Vol. 22, p. 2), from which they can give their children much necessary instruction. Such a course is now strongly advised by educators and authorities in child-study as the bestmethod of preparing the mind for a healthy, sane knowledge of sex matters in later years.
What Happens on the Earth and in the Air
All the facts about the earth’s surface will be found inGeography, in the sectionPrinciples of Geography(Vol. 11, p. 630), by Dr. H. R. Mill, formerly president of the Royal Meteorological Society; and see alsoOcean and Oceanography(Vol. 19, p. 967), by Dr. Otto Krümmel, professor of geography, University of Kiel, and Dr. H. R. Mill. Everything about the weather, storms, etc., may be learned fromMeteorology(Vol. 18, p. 264), by Dr. Cleveland Abbe, professor of meteorology in the U. S. Weather Bureau; and fromAtmospheric Electricity(Vol. 2, p. 860), by Dr. Charles Chree of the National Physical Laboratory, England.
Clouds always appeal strongly to a child’s imagination. The articleCloud(Vol. 6, p. 557), by A. W. Clayden, author ofCloud Studies, has beautiful illustrations of cloud forms, with explanations.
Lord Rayleigh, a winner of the Nobel prize and one of the most distinguished of living scientists, in the articleSky(Vol. 25, p. 202) explains why the blue of the sky varies as it does.
Parents will find a great deal to tell their children about phenomena of nature in such articles asEarthquake(Vol. 8, p. 817), by F. W. Rudler, formerly president of the Geologists’ Association, England, and Dr. John Milne, author ofEarthquakes; andVolcano(Vol. 28, p. 178), by F. W. Rudler. Glaciers and their effects are described inGlacier(Vol. 12, p. 60), by E. C. Spicer.
In teaching rudimentary things about the heavens, it is well to note thatConstellation(Vol. 7, p. 11), by Charles Everitt, contains star-maps by which the positions may easily be recognized. After readingStar(Vol. 25, p. 784), by A. S. Eddington, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, many wonders of the heavens about the number of the stars, their distances, the variable and double stars, etc., may be told the child. The same is true of the articlesPlanet(Vol. 21, p. 714), by Dr. Simon Newcomb, director of the American Nautical Almanac and professor of mathematics in the Navy, and of the separate accounts of all the different planets;Comet(Vol. 6, p. 759), by Dr. Newcomb; andNebula(Vol. 19, p. 332), by A. S. Eddington, etc. These are all very fully illustrated. Ideas as to the structure of the universe, the origin of the solar system, etc., will be found inNebular Theory(Vol. 19, p. 333), by Sir Robert S. Ball, professor of astronomy, Cambridge University.
The Training of the Hand
A great many children show a liking for the mechanical arts and are curious about processes of manufacture. Parents will find in the new Britannica complete information about the marvelous things ingenious machines do and how they do them; for example,Spinning(Vol. 25, p. 685), by T. W. Fox, professor of textiles in the University of Manchester;Cotton-Spinning Machinery(Vol. 7, p. 301), also by Professor Fox;Weaving(Vol. 28, p. 440), by Professor Fox, with illustrations;Hosiery(Vol. 13, p. 788), by Thomas Brown, of the Incorporated Weaving, Dyeing and Printing College, Glasgow;Carpet(Vol. 5, p. 392), by A. S. Cole, assistant secretary for art, Board of Education, England;Silk(Vol. 25, p. 96), by Frank Warner, president of the Silk Association of Great Britain and Ireland; Richard Snow, examiner in silk throwing and spinning for the City and Guilds of London Institute, and Arthur Mellor;Flour and Flour Manufacture(Vol. 10, p. 548), by G. F. Zimmer, author ofMechanical Handling of Material;Rope and Rope Making(Vol. 23, p. 713), by Thomas Woodhouse, head of the weaving and textile department, Technical College, Dundee;Sugar,Sugar Manufacture(Vol. 26, p. 35), by A. Chapman, designer and constructor of sugar machinery, and Valentine W. Chapman.
The Foundation of Good Taste
An important service to education is rendered by the Britannica in the way that it supplements and extends education received in the school. There, far too often children learn little or nothing of the world of art, of the beautiful creations of the human intellect by means of which, even before the dawn of history, men attempted to express in concrete form their sense of beauty. It is surely most desirable for children to have an idea, at least, of principles and styles of architecture; of ancient and modern painting and sculpture—to know the chief characteristics of schools of art; to have a little knowledge of musical forms, of what a symphony, a concerto, a sonata, an opera, are; to be able to recognize a piece of Dresden, Sèvres, Italian faience, Copenhagen, or Wedgwood ware when they see it; to know the different periods and styles of furniture; to tell Bohemian from Venetian glass; to be familiar with lovely textiles and fabrics and to appreciate their true value. Such knowledge is the foundation of good taste. It serves to arouse appreciation of, and respect for, the objects with which a child is surrounded, and leads to delightful interests, recreations and occupations in later years. There are few better and more constant uses to which the Britannica can be put than the systematic education of children in matters of general culture and refined taste.
Knowledge of the Fine Arts
A list of articles to serve this purpose would be too long to give here. They are easily found by means of other chapters in this Guide. But special mention may be made ofArchitecture(Vol. 2, p. 369), by R. Phené Spiers, master of the architectural school, Royal Academy, London, by John Bilson, of the University of Manchester, and others;Painting(Vol. 20, p. 459), by Prof. G. B. Brown of Edinburgh University; L. Bénédite, keeper of the Luxembourg Gallery, Paris; Richard Muther, professor of modern art, Breslau University; and John C. Van Dyke, professor of history of art, Rutgers College;Sculpture(Vol. 24 p. 488), by Marion H. Spielmann, formerly editor,Magazine of Art, P. G. Konody, art critic of theObserver, L. Bénédite, and Dr. J. H. Middleton, Slade professor of fine art, Cambridge University;Ceramics(Vol. 5, p. 703), by Hon. William Burton, chairman, Joint Committee of Pottery Manufacturers of Great Britain, R. L. Hobson of the British Museum, and other authorities;Glass(Vol. 12, p. 86), by Alexander Nesbitt, H. J. Powell, author ofGlass Making, and Dr. W. Rosenhain of the National Physical Laboratory, England;Lace(Vol. 16, p. 37), by A. S. Cole, author ofEmbroidery and Lace;Furniture(Vol. 11, p. 363), by J. Penderel-Brodhurst. All of these articles are superbly illustrated, and this feature alone would give them a direct educational value for young people.
The Best Picture-Book in the World
In fact, the new Britannica may be said to be the greatest and most varied picture book in existence. There are 7,000 text illustrations and 450 full-page plates. This suggests at once a special use for the work in making children familiar, by purely pictorial means, with objects they should learn to recognize. When a child asks for a description of some object whose name has aroused his curiosity, it is safe to say that an accurate picture of it will be found in the new Britannica. Suppose that he has heard of a dirigible balloon and wants to know how it differs from the ordinary balloon which he has seen. The index will guide his instructor to the articleAeronautics(Vol. 1, p.260), with two full-page plates of dirigible balloons. A child can learn to distinguish the breeds of domestic animals from the illustrations alone. Thirst for mechanical knowledge may be satisfied by such articles asSteam Engine(Vol. 25, p. 818), with about 70 illustrations, by Prof. J. A. Ewing, of Cambridge University;Watch(Vol. 28, p. 362), by Lord Grimthorpe and Sir H. H. Cunynghame;Lighthouse(Vol. 16, p. 627), by W. T. Douglass and N. G. Gedye;Telephone(Vol. 26, p. 547), by Emile Garcke; andLock(Vol. 16, p. 841), by A. B. Chatwood—all fully illustrated.
Sport and Recreation
The new Britannica is an exhaustive and practical compendium of sports, games, and recreations of all kinds. Part 6 of this Guide contains a survey of this department in the book. There are over 260 articles on sports and games alone, and they describe clearly how each is played, and also give expert advice. There is also much that is extremely interesting in the historical development of pastimes, a knowledge of which heightens the interest and pleasure of those who participate in them; and parents can be of real assistance to their children in instructing them about their sports, and by acquiring this information themselves can give sympathetic appreciation to the children’s amusements. Among the noteworthy contributions on sports and games there areChildren’s Games(Vol. 6, p. 141), an article for parents by Alice B. Gomme, an expert on this subject;Games, Classical(Vol. 11, p. 443), an account which every boy will read with pleasure, by Francis Storr, editor of theJournal of Education, London;Athletic Sports(Vol. 2, p. 846);Base-Ball(Vol. 3, p. 458), by Edward Breck;Basket-Ball(Vol. 3, p. 483),Football(Vol. 10, p. 617), of which the American section is written by Walter Camp, the football expert;Kite-flying(Vol. 15, p. 839), by Major-Gen. Baden Powell;Marbles(Vol. 17, p. 679), by W. E. Garrett Fisher;Lawn Tennis(Vol. 16, p. 300), by R. J. McNeill;Swimming(Vol. 26, p. 231), by William Henry, founder and chief secretary of the Royal Life Saving Society;Skating(Vol. 25, p. 166), andCoasting(Vol. 6, p. 603).
Diverting Occupations
Recreation in the form of diverting occupations is sometimes more attractive to children, especially to those of a practical turn of mind, than sports and games. It is often difficult for parents to encourage these inclinations, since they themselves may not be familiar with the subjects for which their children show a special aptitude, and a real talent may thus fail to be cultivated. As soon as any particular bent in the child is discovered, a parent ought to consider it a duty to learn to help the boy or girl.
The new Encyclopaedia Britannica will, on all subjects of diverting occupations, prove of immense practical assistance to parents. They will find all that they need to know to help their children under such headings asPhotography(Vol. 21, p. 485), by Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, formerly president of the Royal Photographic Society, James Waterhouse also a former president of the same society, who writes on photographic apparatus, and A. H. Hinton, author ofPractical Pictorial Photography, etc.;Bee,Bee Keeping(Vol. 3, p. 628), by W. B. Carr, formerly editor of theBee-Keeper’s Record; the articleAviary, on the keeping of birds (Vol. 3, p. 60), by David Seth-Smith, formerly president of the Avicultural Society;Poultry and Poultry Farming(Vol. 22, p. 213), by Lewis Wright, author ofThe Practical Poultry-Keeper;Basket,Basket Making(Vol. 3, p. 481);Horticulture(Vol. 13, p. 741), by M. T. Masters, late editor ofThe Gardener’s Chronicle, W. R. W. Williams, superintendent of London County Council Botany Centre, John Weathers, author ofPractical Guide to Garden Plants,Prof. Liberty Hyde Bailey, director of the College of Agriculture, Cornell University, and Peter Henderson;Carpentry(Vol. 5, p. 386), by James Bartlett, lecturer on construction, at Kings College, London;Conjuring(Vol. 6, p. 943), by John Algernon Clarke, G. Faur, and John Nevil Maskelyne.
Importance of Correct First Impressions
When a stick of hot glass is drawn out, no matter how far it is stretched, the slender stick retains the original shape of the piece—square, round or oval. In the same way, a child’s mind retains in after life the shaping originally given to it. Everyone knows from personal experience how difficult it is to rid the mind of a wrong impression received in childhood. The editors of the new Britannica feel that they have solved a great problem in making a work of the mostaccurateandauthoritativecharacterinteresting to children, for they have received much valuable testimony that this end has been attained. Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president-emeritus of Harvard University, was an early subscriber for two sets for the use of his grandchildren. He said that he found the work “altogether admirable; and my grandchildren, who are at the most inquisitive ages, are of the same opinion.” Professor W. G. Hale, of the University of Chicago, wrote, “My children feel the same fascination in it that I do.” Judge J. P. Gorter, of the Baltimore Supreme Court, has expressed his opinion that “every family with growing children seeking information should have this invaluable work in the library.” The owner of the new Britannica should constantly encourage his children to go to the volumes for further information on topics included in the course of the day’s studies at school. It will not take long to make them realize that the volumes open an inexhaustible mine of knowledge, and answer any question as to which curiosity has been aroused. With a little help from you, at the beginning, they will soon learn to use the Britannica for themselves.
The Britannica Interesting to Children
The love of reading is quickly developed in children. Some are attracted to history, to the lives of great men, to exploration and to adventure; others become more interested in the world of nature; still others have a natural bent toward science and the mechanical arts. Whatever the inclination may be, the Britannica stands at the child’s service, giving to him the true facts in such a way that he can easily understand them.
The following suggestions will help children to pursue their favourite lines of reading. They may like to begin with the heroes of myth and history. Andrew Lang contributes a most comprehensive article onMythology(Vol. 19, p. 128). The classified subject-list in Vol. 29 (Index) indicates nearly 500 separate articles on the gods and mythological beings of ancient Greece and Rome, Asia,Egypt, Europe and America. The central hero of medieval romance,Arthur(Vol. 2, p. 681), is described by Miss Jessie L. Weston, author ofArthurian Romances. The famous deeds of theCid(Vol. 6, p. 361), the foremost man of Spain’s heroic period, are related by H. E. Watts, the well-known translator ofDon Quixote.Roland, Legend of(Vol. 23, p. 464), tells another stirring story.
Heroes and Heroines of History, Romance and Adventure
The Romance of the Middle Ages
Heroes of Later Times
Famous Women of History
Of peculiar interest to children are such articles asCyrus (The Great), (Vol. 7, p. 706), by Dr. Eduard Meyer, professor of ancient history, University of Berlin, author of the world-famousHistory of Antiquity;Alexander III (The Great), (Vol. 1, p. 545), by the noted Hellenist, Edwyn R. Bevan;Caesar, Julius(Vol. 4, p. 938), by Henry Stuart Jones, of Oxford University;Hannibal(Vol. 12, p. 920), by M. O. B. Caspari, of London University;Theodoric(Vol. 26, p. 768), the great ruler of the Gothic nation, by Theodore Hodgkin, author ofItaly and her Invaders;Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire (Vol. 5, p. 891), by Arthur W. Holland;Charles Martel(Vol. 5, p. 942), a great type of courage and activity, by Christian Pfister, professor at the Sorbonne, Paris;Alfred the Great(Vol. 1, p. 582), by Rev. Charles Plummer, author ofThe Life and Times of Alfred the Great;Crusades(Vol. 7, p. 524), by Ernest Barker, of Oxford University, a narrative with all the action and interest of the best tales for children;Templars(Vol. 26, p. 591), by W. Alison Phillips, author ofModern Europe, etc.;Louis IX(Saint) (Vol. 17, p. 37), by Prof. James T. Shotwell, of Columbia University;Conradin(Vol. 6, p. 968), the pathetic life of this marvelous boy who perished at the age of seventeen;Hundred Years’ War(Vol. 13, p. 893), by Jules Viard, archivist of the National Archives, Paris;Froissart, Jean(Vol. 11, p. 242), a notable biography, by Sir Walter Besant;Charles V(Vol. 5, p. 899), by Edward Armstrong, author ofThe Emperor Charles V, etc.;Cromwell, Oliver(Vol. 7, p. 487), by Philip Chesney Yorke, of Oxford, Capt. C. F. Atkinson, and R. J. McNeill;Gustavus Adolphus(Vol. 12, p. 735), by R. Nisbet Bain, author ofScandinavia, etc.;Marlborough(Vol. 17, p. 737), by Dr. W. P. Courtney;Frederick II (The Great)(Vol. 11, p. 52), by James Sime, author ofHistory of Germany, and W. Alison Phillips;Napoleon I(Vol. 19, p. 190), by J. Holland Rose;Nelson(Vol. 19, p. 352), by David Hannay, author ofShort History of the Royal Navy;Wellington(Vol. 28, p. 507);Washington, George(Vol. 28, p. 344), by Dr. William MacDonald, professor of American History in Brown University;Lincoln, Abraham(Vol. 16, p. 703), by John G. Nicolay, private secretary to President Lincoln, and Charles C. Whinery, assistant editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica;Grant, Ulysses S.(Vol. 12, p. 355), by Capt. C. F. Atkinson, and John Fiske, author ofThe American Revolution;Lee, Robert E.(Vol. 16, p. 362);Boadicea(Vol. 4, p. 94), by Dr. F. J. Haverfield, professor of ancient history, Oxford University;Matilda (The Great Countess)(Vol. 17, p. 888), by Prof. Carlton H. Hayes, of Columbia University;Joan of Arc(Vol. 15, p. 420), by Prof. J. T. Shotwell, of Columbia University;Isabella(Vol. 14, p. 859);Elizabeth, Queen of England(Vol. 9, p. 282), by A. F. Pollard, professor of English history, London University;Mary, Queen of Scots(Vol. 17, p. 817), by Algernon C. Swinburne, the great poet, author ofMary Stuart, etc.;Catherine de’ Medici(Vol. 5, p. 528);Victoria, Queen(Vol. 28, p. 28), by Hugh Chisholm, editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The biographies are not dry outlines of the subjects’ lives, but narratives of a thoroughly interesting and often most entertaining nature. There has been a generous amount of space alloted the biographical articles in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The article on Napoleon I is equivalent to 60 pages of this Guide; that of George Washington to 13 pages; of Abraham Lincoln to 23 pages; of Queen Victoria 23 pages. Such length provides space for the picturesque details which make the articles especially appropriate for children, and will establish a taste for this kind of reading in later years.
Readings in Natural History
Many children show a bent for knowledge of the world of nature, and to them the new Britannica will prove a faithful, constant companion. Their pleasure in going to the encyclopaedia will be heightened by the many beautiful pictures they will find in it. The articles on the domestic animals not only relate in simple, readable fashion the very interesting facts about their history and development, but are splendidly illustrated with pictures of the different breeds so that by this means alone anyone may learn to distinguish them.Cat(Vol. 5, p. 487), is by Richard Lydekker, the noted naturalist;Cattle(Vol. 5, p. 539) is by Dr. William Fream, author ofHandbook of Agriculture, and Robert Wallace, professor of agriculture, Edinburgh University;Dog(Vol. 8, p. 374) is by Walter Baxendale, kennel editor ofThe Field, and Dr. F. Chalmers Mitchell;Horse(Vol. 13, p. 712) is by Sir William Henry Flower, the noted biologist, author ofThe Horse, a Study in Natural History, Richard Lydekker, E. D. Brickwood, Dr. William Fream and Robert Wallace;Pig(Vol. 21, p. 594) is by Robert Wallace, andSheep(Vol. 24, p. 817) is by Dr. Fream and Professor Wallace.
In too many books for children about the habits of wild animals, the facts of nature are grossly distorted with the idea of impressing the imagination. We are all familiar with the recent spirited controversy over “nature fakers” and the reaction to more sober statement which it brought about. It is the truth about the animal world that is wanted; for it is quite wonderful and fascinating enough as it is. And the new Britannica supplies this need in a most satisfactory and thorough manner. Children never tire of natural history, and parents may be assured that the information in the entertaining articles by noted naturalists, in the pages of the Britannica, is of the most reliable and accurate character.
The Habits and Doings of Clever Animals
Nothing, for instance, could be more absorbing to the average school-child than the articleAnt(Vol. 2, p. 85), by Prof. George H. Carpenter of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, who wrote the well-known bookInsects; their Structure and Life.Here he tells how colonies of ants are founded, and how they live, and how they receive other insects as guests in order to obtain the food they desire, and how some species make slaves of other species. Numerous examples of their sense and intelligence are given, and the question as to whether their actions are rational or instinctive is discussed in the light of the most recent knowledge. The story of theBee(Vol. 3, p. 625), also by Professor Carpenter, is equally wonderful, for we learn all about the solitary and social bees, the social organization of the hive, and how the worker bees are victimized. Both of these articles are fully illustrated.Spiders(Vol. 25, p. 663), by R. I. Pocock, superintendent of the Zoological Gardens, London, is another example of the adaptability of the Britannica to children’s reading. The accounts of their webs, nests andmodes of catching prey hold the attention throughout.
A great deal of the most curious and recent knowledge of the animal kingdom is related in supplementary articles such asColours of Animals(Vol. 6, p. 731), by Dr. E. B. Poulton, Hope professor of zoology at Oxford, author ofThe Colours of Animals, andMimicry(Vol. 18, p. 495), by R. I. Pocock. The latter tells how animals protect themselves from their enemies by resemblance to other animals or objects.
Knowledge about Plants and Animals
Space will not permit further specific mention. The life-story of the entire animal kingdom, detailed information about plants and flowers are to be found in the pages of the new Britannica. The accurate and beautiful illustrations and the text, written in every case by naturalists of acknowledged reputation, and written always in the clearest language, help to give the work its unique position as the greatest source of authoritative and easily comprehended knowledge.
Marvelous Machines
Children delight in machinery and what it accomplishes, and the Britannica tells about this with great thoroughness in its complete section dealing with processes of manufacture. A number of the articles on this subject have been suggested in the last chapter as suitable for parents who wish to interest their children in the industrial world, and the list may be further extended for the benefit of older children by including such articles asTextile Printing(Vol. 26, p. 694), by Dr. Edmund Knecht, of Manchester University;Finishing(Vol. 10, p. 378) also by Professor Knecht;Wool, Worsted and Woollen Manufactures(Vol. 28, p. 805), by Aldred F. Barker, professor of textile industries, Bradford Technical College;Typography,Modern Practical Typography(Vol. 27, p. 542), by John Southward, author ofPractical Printing, and H. M. Ross;Printing(Vol. 22, p. 350), by C. T. Jacobi, managing director of the Chiswick Press, London;Dredge and Dredging(Vol. 8, p. 562), by Walter Hunter, a noted consulting engineer;Reaping(Vol. 22, p. 944), by Primrose McConnell, author ofDiary of a Working Farmer, etc.
Boys with a practical, mechanical turn of mind will delight in such articles asBridges(Vol. 4, p. 533), by Prof. W. C. Unwin, with many illustrations;Motor Vehicles(Vol. 18, p. 914), by the late C. S. Rolls, a pioneer of motoring, and Edward S. Smith;Flight and Flying,Artificial Flight(Vol. 10, p. 510), which describes, with many pictures, flying machines from the earliest types to the latest, andCycling(Vol. 7, p. 682), an historical and pictorial account of the velocipede and bicycle. Nothing could be more interesting and instructive thanShip(Vol. 24, p. 860), of which the historical part is by Rev. Edmond Warre, formerly head master of Eton College, and the account of modern ships by Sir Philip Watts, who designed the “Dreadnought” and the “Mauretania.” It is a real story, equivalent in length to 190 pages of this Guide, with nearly 130 illustrations of all sorts of craft including modern warships, ocean liners and vessels for inland navigation. UnderRailways(Vol. 22, p. 819) there is an equally good history of the railway by H. M. Ross, editor ofThe Times Engineering Supplement, and others.