Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-03-26
44liscellanu.
For the Bellows Falls Times
The Use and Misuse of Reading,

A certain good man used to thank God
in his prayers for books. 1t was well,
and imitable. For they are, when right
ly chosen, one of the richest blessings
that we can enjoy. In them we find re-
corded for our instruction, the experience,
history and workings of the wisest and
noblest and most thoughtful minds. Their
battles and communings with self and
the world. Their hopes and aspirations,
and their plans and methods for acquir-
ing their realization. Their defeats and
their victories. All these we find preserv-
ed in books for our awakening and di-
rective instruction. Thus not alone and
unadvised by the experience Of others as
the ancients were, do we have to battle
through all of ife's difficulties. For
strong and brave have been the life pion-
eers that have gone before US, hewing and
marking out the smoothest paths, station
ing signs, directions, and warning for
those that may come after them. Truly
as has been said the man of to-day is,
with all the experience and accumula-
tive wisdom of the past, for his support
and teacher. A concentrated Methuse-
lah.
What he lacks in years, he more than
gains in richness of opportunities and
privileges, and these are garnered and
perpetuated to great extent by books.
The use then of reading we would make
threefold in result.
l. 1t is source of useful and impor-
tant information. The mental, moral
and social experience and wisdom of uet-
eraas In life's service is spread out before
us. The lives in miniature Of men who
lived, fought and died upon life's arena,
are given for our study and guidance.
The arms with which they fought
The way in which they thought. The les
sons they were taught, are all given us
as guides for use. Reading is the sun
that warns the dormant, latent powers
within us into growing life.
2. And thus it makes us grow and
think. This is one of the prime objects
OF reading, and one test of a proper book
to read. Does it exercise the power OF
the mind 4? Does it demand close appli-
cation and stretch or short strong tug
of thought to compass the authors mean
ing and idea If so, it nnakos you grow.
it makes you stronger in mental muscle.
To think is to grow. The more one thinks
the more he becomes. The more dill
gently and energetically he exercises his
mind, the more does the confines of his
being, widen out to enclose the fallow
ground of what he is capable of being.
A man is just the size of his thoughts.
No more. No less. Books when right
ly chosen are the occasions, the stimulus
to thought. They quicken it, spur it on,
attract it, command it, turn it now to the
right, now to the left, now forward, now
back upon itself. Thus they are
the drill master of the mind Or force,
and direct it that it shall become its
own. Thoughts upon the page awaken
kindred ones within the mind. As the
sun quickens into growth the germ al
ready in the seed, so does reading devel
ope the innate thought germs Of the
mind.
What man is, was once latent, poten
tial power stored upin his nature. Wha
he shall be, will be developed from thu
riches of the same fountain.
That which most quickens into actor
this latent power of the mind, is associa
ton with other men and minds through
personal contact or books.
| Thus books are not only sources o.
knowledge, but they are also through thi
knowledge, the occasion the spring 0
thought.
3. And as a man thinks so is he, S
will he act. Through books we commun
with the strongest, finest, noblest minds
They here give us their best thoughts
their most lofty emotions and aspirations
For it is in the retirement of quiet cor
temptation and thought, that the min
stretches its boldest wing into the realm
of truth and grandeur.
The contact Of minds high and nobl
in thought, and act, kindles kindred pun
poses in our own. Thus it is truthful
proverb which says, tell me what maj
reads and l will tell you what he is, an
what he will do.
Such are some of the uses of reading
But its misuses are no less plain and cal
no less for notice. The misuses of read
ing are becoming more evident each day
as reading matter becomes more multi
piled and multiform in quantity and qual
ity.
OF these misuses only two may be nc
ted:
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