The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1868-12-29
WIN, Books we should Read.

The following facts and statements are
from lecture delivered at Normal,
Illinois, 10y DR.. J. ~. Gregory, Regent of
the Illinois Industrial University:
The Aston Library in New York con-
tanned, in 1860, 100000 volumes. If one
were able to read one volume day it
would take him 90 years to finish the Ii
brary. The Imperial Library Of Paris con-
;ans Los, 900 volumes. Germany alone
produces 10000 books annually. In 1864,
1853 books were issued in Great Britain,
and 2,12s in America, exclusive of pam
phlets. Only 30l Of these American books
were reprints. Probably 30O0Onew books
arc annually produced in tho whole world.
There are in the United States some
5000 newspapers, of which $50 are dailes.
80 vast Is the world of literature, and so
vain the attempt for one individual to EN-.
deavor to read the nerest fraction of 1t.
Tho variety Of books Is as remarkable Us
their number. There are the same types
Of books US Of men. Many Of the second
class books contain only the drippings of
other mems minds" calf-skin without,
and calf unskinned Within" There are
books which teach and books which move;
belligerent books, books, often vainly
seeking to explode some venerable truth
books like the Bible, the eternal source of
light, or a. transltory rs the meteor
scolding books, like those of Gail Hamil
ton, etc.
Amid this multitude of new books .he
young reader stands perpleXed, and needs
some help ia the selection of reading
matter
What are the essential qualities of
good book? l. \ good style, clear and
easily understood. Emerson and Carlyle
were censurcd for their unnecessary OBJ
scurity Of style, and Tuppgr's Proyerbial
Philosophy was characterized n II literary
''old clothes shop Gillian, Headley,
aud the slovenlv humoristS Of the present
day, with their fantastic false spelling,
were severely commented upon. What
B. needed in books Is vitality vigor. There
are words which are half a., There
are books which arc freight a-ylinships
on the ocean oiminl.
.. TUihf1heSg, rot only In facts, but
in their grouping. \ book may contain
thousand truths, and set bc false in its
general drift. Two authors may make
the same events teach entirely different
lessons Witness Alison and Lamartine.
The popular humorlsts, particularly Dick
ems, We're criticised FOL making simple
things grotesquc, and for what the lecturer
allied their "cheap humor.'
3. Iholc,omc and gcnid spirt. Some
books are like foul dens or caves peopled
ny spectres. Others like u spring walk in
he meadows. Shelly's poetry leaves The
readers mind like the authors, beclouded
and unhappy. The poetry of Cowper Oh
the other hand, is sweet and pure, and
leaves the reader better and healthier for
the reading.
To answer the question, How to read?
il is necessary to inquire, What ito se rad
JorS
Readers may be divided into three
classes:
/. Professional readers, like the clergy |
man and lawyer. For such no rule is re-
CURED, rs necessity will devise methods |
.uted to individual cases
=. Those who read for Improvement
). Those who read for amusement.
There Is class of readers which remind ].
one of railroad ear, skimming swiftly .
over many subjects, but whom pebble |
can throw of the track. They read with |
no concentration ofmind, and carry moth
ing away but dust
Next In folly are the conscientious
readers, who assign themselves a definite
ask and plod YEARLY on-the eye reading
the mind sleeping AS sensible would II
he TO Ait down to read Webster's Una.
bridged through by course.
!. Read the thing that you already know
most about The process may be illus.
irated by the rolling of snow balls. If one
continues To roll single ball il will can.
stantly increase in bulk until it grows to a
great size, and even lakes up no small nor
ton of the solid earth. This is reading with
purpose. Too many readers are like those
who are constantly rolling little suow balls
and then throwing them away
2. Read as yon would paint picture
Sketch AN outline first, and never read at
random.
> blooms for Rent Houses Wanted
Lands and Lot. for S,lp ar Ln,sn- tho tho, /