Should Australian Girls read novels?

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 20 March 1914, Page 4

Should Australian Girls read novels?

Next to Air erica, the Australian public as a whole—workers, middle-class, and well-to-do — consumes a greater quantity of reading matter per year than any other peojile under the sun. So says a writer in the March issue of “ Everylady’s Journal.” Analysing further, the writer states that the Australian girl, compared with her English sister, has a remarkably wide knowledge, if not of literature, at least of books. And it is on the quality of these books, and the question of whether or not the quantity should be limited, that this article turns. The question was put to a number of leading public men, and these are, in effect, some of the replies received : The Hon. P. M. Glynn, Minister for External Affairs, thinks that the young girl should be kept away from books that obtrude, in a fetching garb, the seamy side of life, but that literature like that of Scott, where a healthy mind reflects itself on every page, is the stimulant required for the developing mind. Sir Josiah Symon, K.C., thinks that girls should be allowed the free run of libraries, and no restriction should be placed on their readings. “ Let them read where and what they will,” he says. “ Ban a book, and you shroud it in mystery and arouse curiosity.” The Premier of Victoria, Mr Watt, on the other hand, says: “ From the point of view of the girl alone, I am of opinion that no young girl should be allowed the free run of any library. Mental indigestion is sure to follow, and the consequent ailments may be just as awful as thosepdire ills which the patent medicine advertisements say follow upon ordinary common or garden indigestion." Mr Watt adds a list of books that he would recommend for girls’ reading. Sir Langdon Bonython. of Adelaide, would rather give a girl the free run of libraries than a boy. Girls, as a rule, do not look for harm, and read things without comprehending or applyS ing them. However, says Sir i Langdon, the advent of a certain j type of popular fiction calls for ) more supervision than formerly, and, adds Sir Langdon himself: ” I think that such control as is j exercised should be suggestive rather than prohibitive. Encourage a taste for sound reading and the rest will follow.” Mr Frank Tate, Director of Education, and Mr Paris Nesbitt, K.C., also give their opinions and the symposium is given added value by the list of books for girls that are suggested. It is an article that every parent should read. In the same issue of “Everylady’s Journal” are many other attractions and fashion designs that make it an excellent sixpenn’orth for every woman.

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