Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-21
BooKLEss HOUSES.

" inrm Judgments Of men from little
things aboat their houses, Of which the
owner perhaps never thinks.
La early years when travelling where inns
we're scarce, and N some places unknown,
and every settlers house was a house OF
'EntertaiHmenf, it was matter of some
importance and some experience to select
wisely where yoH would put up. And We
always looked for flowers If there we're no
trees for shade 10 patch Of flowers Id the
yard. we were suspicious of the place But,
10 matter how rude the cabin, or rough the
surroundings, five saw that the window held
a Little trough for flowers, and that some
vines tWined about strings let down from
the caves, We were confident that there was
some taste and earefulness in the log cabin.
Ia a new country, where people have to tug
for living no one viii take the trouble 20
rear flowers unless the love Of them IS pretty
strong, and this taste biossonninp out of plaia
anu uneuluyateo people Is itself ike a clump
Of harebeils growing out OF the seams OF a
rock. We were seldom misled. a path
Of flowers came to signify kind people, clean
beds and good bread
Bat IN other states Of society other signs
are mere significant Flowers about a rich
man 5 house may signify only that be has q
good gardener, or that he has a refined
nelghborss and does what be sees them do.
But men are not accustomed to buy books
unless they want them. If on visiting the
dwelling Of man of slender means, we find
that he contents himself with cheap carpets
and very plain furniture, ID order that he
may purchase books, be rises at once IN our
esteem. Books are not made for furniture,
but there is nothing else that 50 beautifully
furnishes a house. The plaiBest row of
books that cloth or paper ever cover, Is more
significant of refinement than the most elab-
orately carved etdgsrs sideboard
Give Us house furnished with books ra-
ther than furniturel Both, If you can, but
books az aBy rate To spend several days in
= friend house, and hunger for something
20 read. while 20 are treading on costly car
pets, aud sitting upon luxurious chairs, and
/ sleeping upon down, Is as if one were bri-
biRg your body for the sake Of cheating
yCue mind
i il net piliable to see man growing
4 rich, augEleneing the comforts Of home, and
liaviahIHg money IN ostentatI0ns upholstery,
/ upoa the table, apOR everything but what
I the s3ul needs2 We know Of many and many
/ 4 rich man s house where il would not be
safe 60 ask for the c0mmouest English
classics 4 few garish annuals on the
table a tew pictorial mOastrosIties, the
I latest sensational novel, and that Is all
No poets, 10 essayists, 20 historians,
\ 40 travels OF biographies. no curious le-
/ gendary lore. But the wall paper cost five
! shiiiDgs yard, and the carpets ten.
Books are the windows through which
( the soul looks out. a house without books
Is ike room without windows. No man
/ has a right to bring up his children with
{ out surrounding them With books, if be has
+ the means 10 buy them. IL Is wrong TO
I his family. Children learn to read BY being
( In the presence Of books The love of kaoRl-
aliss comes ,ziEh reading and grows upon
/ t. And the love Of knowledge in a young
/ ualnd Is almost warrant against tho iutc-
4. .rlor excitement Of passions and vices.
Let us piEy these poor rich men who live
barrenly in great, bookless houses! Let Us
congratulate the poor that in our day books
are so cheap that a man may every year add
q hundred volumes TO Lis library for the
price Of what his tobacco and his beer would
cost hin. Among the earliest ambitions to
be excited IN clerks, workmeB, journey
men, and, indeed, among all that are sSrug-
Cling Up ia life from nothing to something,
Is that Of owning, and constantly adding to,
library Of coed books. 4 little library
growing larger every year IS an honorable
part of young man history.
IGis q man duty to have books. 4 Il
bFary is not a luxury bur one of the neceS-
saries Of life EpisC0paitGH.