Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-14
..nooKs AND now TO READ THEM"


AS per ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Dr. Dung, pastor
of the Elm Street Church, delivered q lee
ture upon the above named subject, al
Masonic Hall, for the benefit Of the OFph
ans Home.
The subject chos sn was a very interest
ing enc, and was treated in very able anC
mastery manner.
He began by stating that he came to this
| city In 1866, and that one of the first dutie:
he was called upon to perform was tC
preach sermon at McKendree Church, fol
the benefit of the Protestant orphans; al
the close of the discourse, collection
amounting to about $500, was taken up
He had frequently visited the Home since
that time, and had always been interested
| in the institution, so when the ladies
called upon him and asked him tC
deliver a lecture fore the benefit
of the House, he could not refuse to do So
The ladies had not invited him to deliver
an Grafton, or an address, or speech, OF
an harangue--they invited him to deliver
lecture, and, conforming TO the custom Of
lecturers, be had brought his notes. He
did not propose to say anything about man
nerS, nor upon the subject of piety, mol
would he speak of the fashions, and edu-
While engaged in ministerial work in
Steward county in 1S47, he had been called
upon to visit a family in the backwoods, and
there he met young lady who was very
much interested in books. Her stock OF
reading matter was very limited indeed,
and the speaker told her that If she would
come 10 his house he would loan her
some books which would doubtless
Interest her. The offer was
eagerly accepted, and the young woman
rode some distance on horseback to get the
promised books. She was furnished with
an assortment Of both prose and poetical
works, expressing surprise at the time, to
find that so many books as the speaker pos
sessed, had been published. In less than
twelve months from that time, she was
sending contributions, in prose and poetry,
to the leading magazines of the North.
The lecturer was once riding In a public
hack, when he become engaged in CONVEX
sation with young gentleman who had
just graduated, and who talked very learn
edly Of subjects to be found in grammsrs,
in dictionaries and in theological works, but
he knew nothing of books of any other sort.
The speaker had requested him to read the
writings of the British esssyists. The re-
quest was complied with, taste for literary
matters cultivated, and to-day there is not
a more noted literary man on the continent
than the young man referred to.
These two Incidents in the lecturers own
experience, had determined him in his Sc
lection of q topic for bis lecture, and he had
chosen the subject, "Books, and how to
read them"
What We learn by conversation is very
little. Many important subjects can be uu-
derstood but imperfsctly, and many cannot
be understood at sill, without the aid OF
books.
A course of reading should exclude en-
tirely all gross novels, the books which are
pressed upon Us on the highways of travel
by those who seem 10 think that the per-
son who travels leaves morals, taste, and
even deCency behind. This class of books
never appeal to the thinking mind. The
works of Eugene Sue, Dumas, and other
writers of that class, are literary poison.
A course of reading should exclude ''use-
less" novels. Our sensibility to the suffer
ings and sorrows of those about US is dead
ened by our sympathies for the troubles of
the fictitious characteristic whom we can
reader no aid-to such an extent that We at
last come to view real suffering in a SINH
lar manner, and never do anything TO
alleviate II. The lecture had dem
onstrated this fact by going to a lady
friend-a confirmed novel resder-with
thrilling story of the destitute condition of
q poor family. As he told the story of their
the lady's sympathies were arous-
ed, and the tears stood on her cheeks 81
will gosnd relieve their distresses instantly"
said she. Calling several hours later to in
Iuire how the lady had found the destitute
iamily. "Why bless my soul, " she exclaim-
give yourself no concern. [ will |
attend to them" Calling The third time, |
le found that the whole matter had eScap- |
ID her mind and she had made no effort to |
AIRY out her good intentions, treating real /
suffering as she had been accustomed to |
reat that pictured in her novels, which was
orgotten with the turning OF leaf.
Our reading should not exclude fiction
ntirely. There are several gentlemen
bout Nashville to whom the speaker
would recommend one of I. S. ArthQr's
stories. Ifhe had daughter
cry anxious to marry, he would place the
Vicar of Wakefield" in her hands. In this
onnection, the lecturer mentioned "Iup-
er's Crock Of Gold" "Bunysn's Pilgrims
'rogress," and works of that character, Gs
eneticial to the reader.
CHOW To READ THEM
The Bible is to be selected first then, in
edition to publishers catalogues, notices
nd criticisms Of the press, secure the cOun-
81 of some competent and faithful friend,
Tho will exercise his judgment in helping
gu select your books.
The practice Of making scrap-books is a
'aste oftime, which, fpropaIly used would,
1 some cases, be sufficient to master the
ementary works on the arts and sciences.
. book should be read twice; if it is not
TOrth revising, it is not worth reading at all.
DR.. Dwight was out riding with young
ian who was disposed to occupy the time
18th his his own thoughts. The doctor
spped him on the head, and when the
Dung man demanded an explanation for
Ich treatment, told him he want d him
, keep his eyes open and see the beautiful
1untry and glorious scenery all around
lem. Ia reading books, We should keep
ur eyes open.