Decided I should sort the pile of children’s books under (yes Marica, on the floor) the nightstand and find them a respectable place to reside. And, there it was. What a susprise just after reading Marica’s post about Christmas Stories Every Child Should Know. She mentioned the series had 6 volumes. Wonder if this is one. So, of course, becoming sidetracked from the original task I had started, I began to peruse the book. Good grief. Look at the contents. For a child? They must have had high expectations of children in 1908.
Now I’m intrigued. I turn to the first story. Really? For Children? I can’t think of a child today (with the probable exception of Marica’s grandson) who could understand the first sentence. I’m guessing there aren’t too many adults who could comprehend the verbiage in this child’s book.
I dont think I’ve seen a ‘children’s’ book written at this level. From the images on the cover it looks to be geared towards little children. However, the vocabulary would probably challenge today’s high-school students. Should be interesting reading tonight.
This is bigger than I even imagined, but I’m having trouble tracking down a complete list of the Every Child offerings. I did find this which was too good to pass up.
Operas
EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TEXT AND MUSIC OF SOME OF THE
MOST FAMOUS MASTERPIECES
Operas. It’s at PG if anyone is interested.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28711/28711-h/28711-h.htm
Beautiful book. Would be nice in my collection. The author is rather snobbish or rather, I’m actually ignorant about what makes an Opera great. I just enjoy what I enjoy. And, I DO enjoy performances of Verdi’s IL Trovatore. I wait in anticipation for the Anvil Chorus.
Opera has never been my thing, though I do have a fair number of books on it.
If you haven’t read a few of the synopsis’ of the operas, you should. I think they were the prelude to the soap opera. Hmmm 🤔 Hence the name ‘Soap Opera’?
They were melodramas supported by sellers of various cleaning product. “Soap Opera” was a straight description.
Yeah. I know. Actually, that was a rhetorical statement.
And, Gilbert and Sullivan are great fun!
This is great. I will do some more research on the Every Child series I have,
Meanwhile, take a look at the last Horizon post, and the entry on the childhoods of geniuses. I should have featured the quote more prominently. I think that explains where we are regarding language and vocabulary.
We talked about this very thing, too when we read The Water-babies.
I remember a study from 20 or so years ago. The objective was to determine why Japanese children (both in Japan and American children of Japanese descent) excelled in academics. Apparently one aspect of the family life of the average Japanese family was every evening the whole family gathered around the kitchen/dining table. Mother prepared dinner, father read the paper or had work from the office to attend to and the children did school work. The family interacted and the parents could monitor or assist in the children’s studies. I recall my mother saying, she liked children until they went to school and were influenced by the other children.
I am glad I have such a good collection of old (and newer) textbooks because it really documents the path to Idiocracy. Can you imagine trying to raise a family in a more traditional way today? Lord help ’em.