Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-09

that he weighs time TO the utmost
grain, will end with becoming little
better than one of his own vocabular
les, unless he gives somo hours of each
day 10 his family and the general in
terests of society.
Thus il is that any pursuit, though
in itself the most dignified, when il is
so followed as TO keep the mind always
bound TO it--always in harness--be.
comes, after awhile, slayish physical
habit. The mind then works mechan
ically and without judgment, and,
therefore, does much 20 no purpose,
rcaping in the end neither happiness
nor respect as The fruit OF It's labors.
Against this what better and more
perfect safeguard for the man of bust
ness than the habit of readingY
Thus far we seem TO have spoken
of reading as a pastime, a change, a
sort of soothing and healing medicine
for the mind. But il is more than
this; it is food 10 be taken, not excep-
tionally, like medicine, but daily and
regularly through life Nor does per-
sons relish for this food-tbat is, his
love of reading-depcnd wholly upon
an original taste for il, caused by some
peculiarity in his mental constitution I;
for such taste is sometimes lost by
neglect where IL once existed; while,
on the other hand, it has been acquired
almost involuntarily.
That reading expands and strength
ems the mindby the gradual absorption
of ideas, is fast too well understood
TO need any illustration here. But it
also gives a distaste for small things,
as the pretty gossip, mean jealousies,
and foolish disputes and squabbles
that disturb and belittle these minds
that are occupied with them for the
want of something of more con-
sequence.
The reading man should not, and
generally does not, read from motives
Of vanity, in order that his knowledge
may impress others with sense of
his superiority. He will wisely be
content TO keep his gains to himself
We hold that no one is obliged 10
mako any philanthropic display Of his
treasure, where, most probably, be
would not be understood, or only be
sneered at for his pains. There are
scholars and writers enough by pro.
fession ready TO enlighten the world
quite as fast as the world is willing to
bo enlightened. 1t is only for the
interior and visible benefit TO the mind
and happiness of the individual that
we arc now advocating the advantage
of habit of reading, and not that IL
will even help him TO practical sue
cess in life. Does any one doubt that
tho desultory reading of books will
hinder material success We suspect
that there are more reading men than
we know of--men, too, have sue
ceeded enviably in life, but who read
for their own private satisfaction.
Judioious, thoughtful reading makes a
man not only superior 10 his own
class, whatever that class may be, but
also superior TO many, and the equal
of others in classes above his own I;
and, in short, will 90 very far towards
making the eommonest man a gen
tleman.
Every man who has education
enough 10 read newspaper or the
Bible, may secure for himself all the
pleasure and advantage to be derived
from books. If he begins by reading
but little, ho will be interested and
entertained; If he continues the prac-
tice, he will become an intelligent or
well-informed man; and if he chance
10 persevere through aseries of years,
he win become almost learned man,
or, what is better than a learned man,
wise man, true philosopher, and
ono who is able TO discern the mutual
relations Of things, and judge of their
comparative values. Such a reading
man is more fortunate than a scholar,
FOR two reasons: first, he is in the
world, while the scholar is secluded
from IL; secondly, he is free to think
and interest himself about many diff.
fcrent things, while the scholar, TO be
complete master Of his special subject,
must confne his time and thoughts
almost exclusively to that subject.
Reading from sense OF duty and
not from inclination, would seem to
promise little benefit; for Shakespeare
has said, "No profit grows whore no
pleasures ta'en !" but ne also tells us
that "uso doth breed a habit in man"
So that If persons will compel them
selves regularly 10 do some one thing,
such is the force Of habit, that an In.
clination or expected repetition is
soon set up in the mind, in Just the
same that our artificial physical habits
are acquired In trying TO acquire an
appetite for reading, it is better at
FIRST even TO linger a long time over
one book or a part of a book, until
every word and shade of thonght is
made familiar, than rapidly TO turn
over page after page, of which no dis
tinot ideas are impressed on the mind.
When but little Of what is read is
clearly understood, but little will be
remembered.
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