Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-05-27
rur LOVE OF READING.

Cratic lullus, 10 SoASN
the wealthy is with us happily ditfused
among the whole people /; our common
school system gives every child the
power of pursuing this enjoyment, and
the abundance and cheapness OF our
literature place it within the reach Of
all. Indeed, so great is the flood Of
reading matter on all kinds Of subjects
and of every variety Of character, that
there Is much danger Of being v
whelmed by the quantity and Of max
ING indiscriminate and unwise selec-
lions. There are q few who can devote
a very large proportion Of their time
TO this occupation. The students
course is marked out for him ; those
engaged in literary or professional
life. of necessity direct their reading
mainly into channels which are to per-
feet them in their various vacations;
but to the large majority Of people
engaged in busy, practical life, reading
must necessarily be in the main a re-
creation. If the true meaning Of
recreation were always recognized,
and not, as Is commonly the case, sunk
into that Of mere amusement, reading
would maintain more dignity. To re-
create the tired faculties, to awaken
those that have lain dormant, to devel-
ope the intellectual and moral nature,
to excite and satisfy the thirst for
truth, are the objects which should In
spire us in the choice and method Of
our reading. Not that amusement Is
by any means to be despiSed. The
days toll Of the busy worker reason
ably causes him to look for the refresh
ment which an evenings amusement
can bestow, and he is happy who pos
sesses the taste to discover and relish
this element in the proper newspaper,
magazine or book. But amusement Is
only a single element Of true recrea-
ton, and is not to be COMPOUNDED with
or mistaken for it. Those whose only
object in reading Is to pass away an
idle hour, Or to please themselves with
the fancy that they are usefully em-
ployed, neither appreciate its real
value o derive from it any perma-
nent or material advantage. There
are some profuse readers who have no
settled purpose in their reading. They
deyour whatever chance throws in
their way, sometimes to the neglect Of
pressing duty, and the ideal world in
which they lingcr aimlessly, units
them for the real world Of action.
Others read from vanity, desiring to
make Il subsequent display Of their ac-
quirements, and others again from the
force of habit. Butler says, that "of
those who read with curiosity to see
what is said on any subject, but very
few have any real curiosity to see what
is true" This, after all, must be the
great and ruling motive Of all our
reading, If it is to have any elevating
influence OF our minds, or any prac-
teal bearing on II lives. We must
not ~passiyely imbibe the knowledge or
sentiments that offer themselves with
such profuSion to our thoughts, rs 4
sponge absorbs the water that sur
rounds it, but rather sift and study out
the good, wise and true, rejecting the
false, weak and impure, and exercis-
ing our best judgment upon all We
read, so rs to determine how far it be
conclusive. lie who reads in this way
may not read much, but what lie does
thus weigh and accept will become
part Of himself, and will lead to posi-
tive progress in mind, elevation In
character, and improvement in life.
The habit of reading extensively with
out reflection weakens the mental
powers, and impairs the force Of the
mind. Just as the physical nature
must not only passively receive food,
but actively digest and assimilate it
before 1t can nourish or strengthen the
frame, so the mind, if 1t Is to grow
and develop, must not only read but
reflect, not only receive material but
work it up into shape and form. And
u undigested food disorders and weak
ens the whole body, $ % crude and un-
organized knowledge enfeebles the
mental nature. If our reading is
prompted by an earnest desire to dis
cover truth, it will guide us not only in
Il method, but in our selections. The
springs to which we resort for our
reading should be only the purest and
sweetest. Whether 1t be the discus
sion of cherished opinions, the develop
ments Of science, the history of the
past, the news Of the day, the poem,
or the work Of fiction, we may safely
adopt 1t as an unvarying rule, to read
mono but the very best. The best
works are easily discoverable the
world presents them in the volumes it
has allowed to live while 50 many
spring up and die for want Of root.
Time is too short and books too many
to disregard the law Of literature. All
our reading should lead to a nobler
life In some direction, or It falls short
of its purpose. He whose reading is
governed by love OF truth, beauty and
goodness, and 4 desire to make them
part Of himself, will rise from the
perusal OF every volume better fitted
to act his part in society, and to live n
worthy life.