Casper Daily Tribune

The Rollo Books.

The recent death of Dr. Lyman Abbott recalls the fact that his father, Jacob Abbott, was the author, among other things, of the Rollo books. This statement will mean nothing to the present generation, but the Rollo books were standard juvenile literature in the best families a few decades ago.

A leading present day writer not long since had a father pathetic article in which he spoke of the books of his boyhood which had gotten away from him, and included in his list the Rollo books.

These books were hardly as racy as some of the literature which is affected by the youth of today, but they served to open up an unknown world to our fathers when they were lads.

There were no moving pictures then to reveal the customs and the scenery of other lands, and the adventures of Rollo set forth in what was then considered quite a diverting manner a great many facts about the world.

The Rollo books must be included with some which were not so mild and gentle in the factors which entered largely into the creation of the character of a former generation. Diamond Dick and his like were perhaps more popular than were the Rollo books, which partook a little too much of the character of Sunday school literature, and it is quite possible there is a more vivid memory of Diamond Dick than of Rollo, but there are many thousands of people who will recall that their only Sunday afternoon diversion was the reading of the travels of Rollo.

And Rollo was a very good companion for Sunday afternoon.