The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-08-15
For.the CouRrER.
Letters to Young Men.
BIZ /" UNCLE JOHN.

| W AVuAS AOAs
BIZ "uNcLE JOHN.
Dear. Young Friends
The great chan.
mel through (which the stream of
Knowledge flows forward in our
country, is the PRINTING PREss. In
the shape Of books, news papers, and
other periodicals, it is brought to our
doors asking of every person caro-
full and, candid perusal. The three
great characteristics Of our country
are free schools, free pulpit, and
free prcss. With these, in full action,
our dearest rights as citizens ofa free
country will always be in safe keep
ing. Reading,therefore, should form
a prominent part in the hours alot-
ted to the acquisition Of knowledge.
To read well is al. accomplishment
to which every young person should
aspire, and one that comparatively
few have hitherto attained. Besides
correct pronunciation and scrupu-
lous regard to the punctuation, it is
necessary to enter into tie spirit of
the article being read, a thing. that
cannot be secured without the exer.
KstN.r 4 9 j q = d
else Of thought while engaged'in read;
ing. One ofthe most distinguished
men; OF the nineteenth century re-
marked to the writer that it was not
whatpeopleread that benefited them,
out ,ohat they remembered. To. read
understandingly and so as to make
-s...-r- I'm 7ression upon the
mind requires elaboration. Passing
rapidly over the pages of book is
very common error. However i'm
portant it may be to know hop to
read, it is Of still greater Importance
to kno,c sohdt is ,coyth readino.
1t is possible to waste the precious
moments Of which life is made, while
engaged in reading, and a. class Of
books may be read which would bs
much worse than absolute idleness.--
Every young man should try to have
access to some reliable, high toned
NEWSPAPER, to keep himself posted.
in reference to the current events Of
the day. There are number Of lit
erary periodicals which afford much
matter that is worth reading. But
a large proportion of periodical pub
lications flooding the country are not
only worthless, but absolutely per.
nicious. All the injurious reading
is not fiction, and all fiction is not in.
furious. As a general rule. however,
it is aafer and more. profitable for
young persons to make their read-
ing largely historical and bicgraph.
ical. Histories that have been re-
Gently written, other things being
equal, are greatly to, be preferred.--.
They contain more Of the spirit or
the age in which we live, and:conse-
quently are more practical. There
arc, however, some ancient histories
that are indispensable in respectable
historical course. Perhapsthe reader
will be astonished to fnd the Bible in
trodnced to his attentionin this conneo
ton. Nevertheless {Aside from all relii-
gious considerations it standsat the
head of all historical and biographi-
cal reading. It is tho Oldest history
in this world, and gives the only sat
isfactory account Of the origin Of tho
earth or anything that is found upon
it. There is ono fact in reference to
the Bible as a book Of history and
biography not generally known to
the young Almost all our really
great men, whether at the bar on
the bench, as physicians, editors, an
thors, poets or Statesmen, have been
constant and attentive readers oft,
Many never became christians, but
they were indebted to the Bible for
correct mode ofthonght; knowledge.
OF the origin Of fittings; system Of
high toned morality; An even handed
justice; an expanded philanthropy
and richness OF diction which they
could not have obtained from any
other source. Tho young man who
fails to make himself acquainted with
the history and biography found in
that Book, looses fund of informa-
ton. that would be benefit to him
IN whatever legitimate path Of life hs
may select to pnrsne.
Of course there is 4 class of reading
that is especially adapted to 5 par
ticular calling, end whena young man
has marked out his course he should.
besides his general reading, give di-
rect attention to such, books as win
aid him in attaining tho mark which
he has set as his ann in tho great life.
struggle IN which hc is called to act.
Anectionately, IoANNrs.