I really felt most delighted at the thought of the new magazine and
want to send an article, but can’t seem to find time to write it.
Perhaps it will answer if I just tell you what is being done in Boston
Libraries and Settlements by Mr. Cronan and myself, and let you choose
such items as seem of interest.
The Library classes are held in the afternoon. On Saturday from three
to four Mr. Cronan and I tell stories in the Central Library. On Monday
I go to Brighton; Tuesday to Jamaica Plain; Wednesday to South Boston;
Thursday the West End; Friday Shawmut Ave. Branch. All these are
Branches of the Central Library. The ages of the children are from ten
to fourteen. The attendance from one to two hundred.
The first part of the hour is devoted to telling the story of some book
which the children have not read and which would be a valuable book
for them to know. As the boys greatly outnumber the girls, the book is
chosen which is likely to appeal to them. I have told in “continued
story” form each book lasting from four to six periods of story telling
the following:
The Talisman
Oliver Twist
Spenser’s “Faerie Queen”
Water Babies
Robin Hood
King Arthur and His Knights
The Rhinegold
Siegfried
Treasure Island
Captains Courageous
Peter Pan
The Bluebird
Jean Valjean
The Odyssey
Finn and his Mighty Deeds
The Christmas Carol
Konigs Kinder, etc.
The last twenty minutes of the hour is usually devoted to some story of
fun or fancy—a fairy tale—or Brer’ Rabbit’s pranks. In the evening
similar work is done in Social Settlements with groups of boys from
twelve to fourteen years of age. At Denison House we have ninety-six
boys of Syrian and Irish nationality. There are groups in the Ruggles
Street Neighborhood House—the “South End Industrial School,” Jamaica
Plain Neighborhood House, South End House and Lincoln House.
In the summer story telling groups are held on the roof gardens of the
Settlement House or in the yard where we sit on the grass and tell
stories in the twilight—often to groups of one hundred and fifty
children.
The accompanying newspaper clippings about my work may be of interest: