The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-08

SERIOUS RETINgELCES.
Dir. Schombers to Il i;dy.---On rcadii


Conformably to your desire, and my pro-
mise, present you with a few thoughts
on method of reading; which you would
have had sooner, only that you gave me
leave to set them down at my leisure hours. |
lfmy remarks should answer your expecta
tions; if they should conducc to the spend |
ing your time in more profitable and a"
grccable manner, than most of your sex gen
orally spend theirs; it will give me a plea
sure equal at least to that which you will re-
ccivc.
1t is to be wished that the female part Of
the human creation, on whom Nature has
poured so many charms with SO lavish
hand. would pay some regard to the cult
walton Of their minds and the improvement
Of their Understandings. This might easi-
ly be accomplished. Would they bestow
fourth part ofthc time, in reading proper
books, which they throw away on the triiles
and gewgaws Of dress, it would perfectly
| answer the purpose. Net that am against
the ladies adorning their persons: but let it
be done with reason and good sense, net
caprice and humour; for there is good sense
in dress as in all things else. Strange doc
trinc to some! but | am sure madam, you
know there is; YOU practise it.
The most important rule to be laid down
to any one who reads for improvement, is,
never to read but with attention.
As akssruse learning is not necessary for
the accomplishment of one OF your SEX
small degree of it will suffice. The subjects
which would particularly recommend to
you will throw under the following heads
history, morality, and poetry. The first
employs the memory; the second, the
Judgment and the third, the imagination.
Whenever you undertake to read history,
make a small abstract of the memorable
events, and set down in what year they hap-
pencd. Ifyou entertain yourself with the
life of a famous person, do the same with
respect to his most remarkable actions; ad-
ding the year and the place Of his birth and
death. You will find this method great
help to your memory, as it will leal you to
remember what YOU do not write down, ny
a sort of chain that links the Whole history
together.
Books on morality deserve all exact read
ing. There are none in our language moro
lrsefui and entertaining than the Spectators
Tatlers and Guardians. They are the stan
t.ards Of the English tongue; and, as such
they should be read over and over aGa'h
for as We impercepti5ly slide into the man
ners and habits of those persons, with whom
we most frequently converse: SO, reading
being as it were, a silent conversations ,"
;nseusibly wpte and talk in the style OF TIL
authors. whom we have most frequently Iea'
and who have left the deepest impression
on our mind. Now, in order to retain VIVA
vou read on the various subjects that ial
nnder the head Of morality, would aaNis
YOU to mark with pencil whatever you M
particularly worth remembering. ii a pas
sage should strike you, marx 1t N tNe ma
Gin; if an expression, draw Inc uhaei II
# a whole paperin the aforementioned oook'
or auy others which are written IN thc s1'i'
,oo.e and unconnected manner, make Il
..tc,;sk over the first line. BY these NEAR
yor will select the most valuable part
. Which by being distinguished from the res
will. on repeated reading, sink deeper
your memory. ,...:,
The last article is poetry. To distnguis
r,od noetry from bad, turn it out OF vef'
into prose, and see whether the thought
,.t,ra, and the words are adapted TO !
or whether they are not too big and son'''
;nc or too low and mean for the sense whic
they would convey. This RUE wiii pfeVe
Won from being imposed on by Donioast al
rr.tia, which, with many, pass tor suoli'r'
smo,,h verses that run off the ear with
;.as, cadence and harmonious turn very
tn ;muosc nonsense Oh the worid' ana a
like vour fine dressed beaux' who pass
g.. gentlemen. Divest both OF their on
,vard ornaments, and people are surpriS
,hsv could have been so easily deludet'
have now. madam. given you few rule
&c. could have added more; but these VIII
ho cuff cept to enable you to read without ou
tbeping your memory. and yet wi'h aro'''
m; ,,;ow besides that of barely killing time'