questionable amusements and worthy substitutes-第12节
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TO…DAY every one reads。 Go where you may； you will find the
paper； the magazine； the journal； printed letters； official reports；
exhaustive cyclopedias； universal histories； the ingenuous advertise…
ment； the voluminous calendar； the decorated symphony； printed
ideals； elaborate gaming rules； flaming bulletins； and latest of all；
we have begun to publish our communications on the waves of the
air。 In this hurly…burly of many books and much reading； it is no
mean problem to know why one should read； and what； and how；
and when。 Especially does this problem of general reading confront
the student； the lover of books； and those of the professions。 Essays
are to be read； the historical； the philosophical； and the scientific；
novels； the historical and the religious； books of devotion； books of
biography； of travel； of criticism； and of art。 What principles are to
guide one in his choice of reading； that he may select only the wisest；
purest； and helpfulest from all these classes of books？
WHY READ。
Read to acquire knowledge。 Knowledge is the perception of truth。
One arrives at knowledge by the assimilation of facts and principles；
or by the assimilation of truth itself。 Three sources of knowledge are
experience； conversation； and reading。 Experience leads one slowly
to knowledge； is limited entirely to the path over which one has passed；
and is a 〃dear teacher。〃 To acquire knowledge by conversation is to
put one at the mercy of his associates； making him dependent upon
their good favor； truthfulness； and learning。 But reading places one
in direct communication with the wisest and best persons of all time。
To acquire knowledge by reading is to defy time and space； persons
and circumstances； at least； in our day of many and inexpensive books。
Through books facts live； principles operate； justice acts； the light of
philosophy gleams； wit flashes； God speaks。 Every book…lover agrees
with Channing： 〃No matter how poor I am。。if the sacred writers will
enter and take up their abode under my roof； if Milton will cross my
threshold to sing to me of Paradise； and Shakespeare to open to me the
words of imagination and the workings of the human heart； and Franklin
to enrich me with his practical wisdom； I shall not pine for want of
intellectual companionship； and I may become a cultivated man； though
excluded from what is called the best society in the place where I live。〃
Kingsley says： 〃Except a living man； there is nothing more wonderful
Than a book！a message to us from the dead；from human souls whom
we never saw； who lived； perhaps； thousands of miles away； and yet
these； in those little sheets of paper； speak to us； amuse us； terrify us；
teach us； comfort us； open their hearts to us as brothers。。If they are
good and true； whether they are about religion or politics； farming；
trade； or medicine； they are the message of Christ； the Maker of all
things； the Teacher of all truth。〃 The wide range of truth secured through
reading acts in two ways upon the reader。 It spiritualizes his character；
and it makes him mighty in action。 Knowledge on almost any subject
has a marked tendency to sharpen one's wits； to refine his tastes； to
ennoble his spirit； to improve his judgement； to strengthen his will； to
subdue his baser passions； and to fill his soul with the breath of life。
It is only upon truth that the soul feeds； and by means of knowledge that
the character grows。 〃It cannot be that people should grow in grace；〃
writes John Wesley； 〃unless they give themselves to reading。 A reading
people will always be a knowing people。〃 Reading makes one mighty
in action when it gives one knowledge； since 〃knowledge is power；〃 and
since power has but one way of showing itself； and that is； in action。
Knowledge takes no note of hardships； ignores fatigue； laughs at
disappointment； and frowns upon despair。 It delves into the earth；
rides upon the air； defies the cold of the north； the heat of the south； it
stands upon the brink of the spitting volcano； circumnavigates the globe；
examines the heavens； and tries to understand God。 With but few
exceptions； master…minds and men of affairs have been incessant
readers。 Cicero； chief of Roman orators； whether at home or abroad；
in town or in the country； by day or by night； in youth or in old age； in
sorrow or in joy； was not without his books。 〃Petrarch； when his friend
the bishop； thinking that he was overworked； took away the key of his
library； was restless and miserable the first day； had a bad headache the
second； and was so ill by the third day that the bishop； in alarm； returned
the key and let his friend read as much as he liked。〃 Writes Frederick the
Great； 〃My latest passion will be for literature。〃 The poet； Milton； while
a child； read and studied until midnight。 John Ruskin read at four years
of age； was a book…worm at five； and wrote numerous poems and dramas
before he was ten。 Lord Macaulay read at three and began a compendium
of universal history at seven。 Although not a lover of books； George
Washington early read Matthew Hale and became a master in thought。
Benjamin Franklin would sit up all night at his books。 Thomas Jefferson
read fifteen hour a day。 Patrick Henry read for employment； and kept
store for pastime。 Daniel Webster was a devouring reader； and retained
all that he read。 At the age of fourteen he could repeat from memory all
of Watt's Hymns and Pope's 〃Essay on Man。〃 When but a youth； Henry
Clay read books of history and science and practiced giving their contents
before the trees； birds； and horses。 Says a biographer of Lincoln； 〃A book
was almost always his inseparable companion。〃
Then； read for enjoyment。 Fortunately； a habit so valuable as reading
may grow to become a pleasure。 So that as one is gathering useful
information and increasing in knowledge； he may have the keenest
enjoyment。 Such an one sings as he works。 He has learned to
convert drudgery into joy； duty has become delight。 But even for
such an one a portion of his reading should be purely for rest and
recreation。 If one has taught school all day； or set type； or managed
a home； or read history； or labored in the field； or been shopping；
heavy； solid reading may be out of the question； while under such
circumstances one would really enjoy a striking allegory or a well…
written novel。 Or； if one is limited in knowledge； or deficient in
literary taste so that he may find no interest in history； science；
philosophy； or religion； still he may enjoy thrilling books of travel；
of biography； or of entertaining story。 In this way all may enjoy
reading。 〃Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined
for a hard…working man； after his daily toil； or in its intervals； there
is nothing；〃 says Herschel； 〃like reading an interesting book。 It
calls for no bodily exercise； of which he has had enough or too much。
It relieves his home of its dullness and sameness； which； in nine cases
out of ten； is what drives him out to the alehouse； to his own ruin and
his family's。 It accompanies him to his next day's work； and； if the
book he has been reading be any thing above the very idlest and
lightest； gives him something to think of besides the mere mechanical
drudgery of his every…day occupation； something he can enjoy while
absent； and look forward with pleasure to return to。〃
WHAT TO READ。
First of all read something。 〃Southey tells us that； in his walk one
stormy day； he met an old woman； to whom； by way of greeting； he
made the rather obvious remark that it was dreadful weather。 She
answered； philosophically； that in her opinion； 'any weather was better
than none。'〃 And so we would say； excluding corrupt literature； any
reading is better than none！ In this day of multiplicity of books who
who never reads may not be an ignoramus nor a fool； but certainly he
robs the world of much that is useful in character； and deprives himself
of much that enriches his own soul。 Then one should select his books；
as he does his associates； and not attempt to read everything that comes
in his way。 No longer may one know even a little about every thing。
It might be a mark of credit rather than an embarrassment for one to
answer； 〃No；〃 to the question； 〃Have you read the latest book？〃 when
the fact is recalled that 30；000 novels have been published within the
past eighty years； and that five new ones are added to the list daily。
READ HISTORY。
One has characterized history as both the background and the key to
all knowledge。 No other class of reading so much as this helps one
to appreciate his own country； his own age； his own surroundings。
Extensive reading of history is a sure remedy for pessimism； prejudice；
and fanaticism。 In so far as history is an accurate account of the past；
it is a true prophecy of the future for the nation and for the individual。
Who reads history knows t
