(By James F. Knapp, Scout Exe.)

Character is the product of the leisure hours. "Show me how you spend your leisure time and I will tell you what you are", said a Wise Man. That indefinable something that we call "Character" is developed in many ways and there is no more efficient way than thru good books. The kind of books a boy reads is of vastly more importance that the kind of food he eats or the style of his clothes. The boy or young man who wants to arrive – to really get somewhere cannot afford to waste his time reading anything but the best books. There are more good books than any one can think of reading in a life time. Why waste time on the trash? Read books of adventure? Sure. Detective stories? Yes! But only the best ones.

Many boys and young men do not appreciate "Real Adventure" because they are "fed up" on adventure of the "Reel" variety. As a boy in high school I read and re-read "The Conquest of Peru" and "The Conquest of Mexico" by Prescott – two books which contain more real adventure on one page than a whole set of "Tom Swift" of the "Alger Books". Then there’s Parkman. What is there in the deluge of fiction today that can compare with the magic pages of his story of "France in the New World" for real romance and high adventure? Read the story of the "Red Napoleon" as the great chief of the Northwest Indians was called, in Parkman’s "Conspiracy of Pontiac."

This is Library Week in this city. By a happy co-incident is (sic) is also "Boy Scout Anniversary Week". Among the first to recognize the need for proper selection of reading for boys, the Boy Scouts of America has consistently conducted a campaign of education along the line of proper reading for the growing boy and the young man. Since my coming to this city I am very happy to say that the Public Library have materially assisted me in this matter, making use of the approved list of books for boys edited by the Library Commission of the Boy Scouts of America. It is the duty of parents to see to it that the boys use the Library and that the Librarian be consulted on questions pertaining to the boys reading. Why should parents of boys commit the unpardonable offense of wasting their boys time by placing in his hands books of a negative value? The library is full of good books for free circulation and both boys and parents should make use of it.

Boy Scouts, will find the Library contains a splendid assortment of books of special interest to them. A new shelf of the kind of real books boys like to read will be ready for circulation this week.

Some of the new boys books which are now on display at the library and which will circulate after Thursday, the 10th.

At the Sign of the Two Heroes; by Adair Aldon.

Last of the Chiefs; by J. A. Altsheler.

Under Boy Scout Colors; by J. B. Ames.

Paul and the Printing Press; by S.W. Bassett.

American Boy’s Book of Signs, Signals and Symbols; by Dan Beard.

Boy Scouts of Woodcraft Camp; by T. W. Burgess.

Boy Scout Crusoes; by E. D. Burritt.

Boy Scouts of Bob’s Hill; by C. P. Burton.

Boy Scouts at Sea; by A. A.Carey

Boy Scouts Hike Book; by Cave.

Group Contests for the Playground and School; by W. J. Cromie

Adventures of Arnold Adair, American Ace; by L. L. Driggs.

Billy Topsail, M.D.; by Norman Duncan

Field, Forest and Farm; by J. H. Fabre

Secret of Every Day Things; by J. H. Fabre

Boy’s Book of Scouts; by P. K. Firzhugh.

Jack, the Young Ranchman; by G. B. Grinnell

Off Side; by William Heyliger.

Shawnee’s Warning; by Dietrich Lange.

Marty Lends a Hand; by H. S. Latham.

Up the Mazaruni for Diamonds; by W. J. Lavarre.

Boy Scout Treasure Hunters; by C. H. Lerrigo.

Take it From Dad; by G. G. Livermore.

Michael, Brother of Jerry; by Jack London.

Jerry of the Islands; by Jack London.

Boy Scouts of the Lighthouse Troop; by F. M. McLane.

Boy Scouts Courageous; by F. K Mathiews.

Boy Scouts Book of Stories; by F. K. Mathiews

Book of Forestry; by Moon.

Boy’s Life of Lafayette; by Helen Nicolay

Great Locomotive Chase; by William Pittinger.

Stolen Treasure; by Howard Pyle.

Boy Scouts of Black Eagle Patch by L. W. Quirk.

Boy Scouts of Lakeville High; by L.W. Quirk.

Boy Scouts on Crusade; by L. W. Quirk

Crooked Trails and Straight; by W. M. Raine.

With Carson and Fremont; by E. L. Sabin.

Rising Wolf and the White Blackfoot; by J. W. Schultz.

Two Little Savages; by E. T. Tomlinson

Gabriel and the Hour Book; by Evalee, Steen.

Boy Officers of 1812; by E. T. Tomlinson

Scouting with Daniel Boone; by E. T. Tomlinson.

Ragged Inlet Guards; by Dillon Wallace.

Troop One of the Laborador; by Dillon Wallace.

Taken from Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Tuesday, February 8, 1921.