The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-07
A Taste for Reading.

A Taste for Reading.
We cannot linger in the beautiful creations
of inventive genius, or pursue the splendid dis
coveries of modern science, without new sense
of the capacities and dignity of human nature,
which naturally leads to sterner selt-respect,
to manlier resolves and higher aspirations. We
cannot read the ways of God to man as revealed
in the history of nations, Of sublime virtues as
exempiifed in the lives of great and good men,
without falling into that mood of thoughtful
admiration, which, though it be but transient
glow. is a purifying and elevating influence
While it lasts. The study of history is especial
" valuable as an antedote to self-exaggeration.
It teaches lessons of humility, patience, and
submission. When we read OF realms smltten
with the scourge of famine or pestllence, or
strewn with the bloody ashes of war; OF grass
growing in the streets of great cities; OF ships
n1ottine at the wharves of fathers burying
their sons of strong men begging their bread
of fields untitled, and silent workshops, and
despairing CONFERENCE.-The hear voice OF
rebnke to our own clamorous sorrows and
peevish complaints. We learn that pain and
suffering and disappointment are part OF coos
providence, and that no contract was ever yet
made with man by which virtue should secure
to him temporal happiness.
Tn books. be it remembered, we have the best
products of the best minds. We should, any OF
Us esteem it as great; privilege to pass an
evening with Shakespeare or Bacon, were such
thing possible. But, were we admitted TO the
presence of one of those illustrious men, we
might find him touched with intirmlty, or op-
pressed with WEAKNESS, or darkened with the
shadow of recent trouble, or absorbed by oD-
trusive and tyrannous thoughts Tous the ora
Gle might be dumb, and the light eclipsed. But,
when we take down one OF their volumes, we
run no such risk. Here we have their best
thoughts, embalmed in their best WORDS, I'M
mortal flowers of poetry, wet with Castalians
| dews. and the golden fruit of wisdom that had
long ripened on the bough before it was gath
cred. Here we find the growth OF the choicest
seasons of the mind when mortal cares were
subdued and the soul stripped OF its v vanltes
and its passions lay bare to the finest etfluences
of truth and beauty. We may be sure that
Shakespeare never out-talked his Hamlet, nor
Bacon his Essays. Great writers are indeed
best known through their books: How little,
for instance, do we know of the life OF Shak'
speare: but how much do we know OF hlm
For the knowledge that comes from DOCKS
would claim no more than it Is fully entltleo 70.
I am well aware that there is no lnevltaple
connection between intellectual cultivation, on
the one hand, and individual virtue, or social
well-being, on the other" "Ihe tree OF knoWi. M
edge is not the tree of ife." L admit 5nat
genius and learning are sometimes FOUND IN
combination with GROSS vices, and moi 9aile.
quently with contemplate weakness; ana !naI
community at once cultivated and corruptlC u Is
no overstatement to say, that other tnlhgs De.
ing equal, the man who has the greatest amount
of intellectual resources is in the least danger
from inferior temptations,-if for no other
reason. because he has fewer idle moments.
The ruin of most men dates from some vacant
honr Occupation is the armor OF the soul,
and the train of Idleness is borne up by all the
vices. LII ,lo
I remember a satirical poem, in which the
Devil is represented as fishing for men, ana
adapting his bats to the taste and temperament
of Ills prev but the idler, he sale, pleased him
most. because he bit the naked hook. Io
Young man away from home, friendless ana
forlorn in great city, the hours OF peril al are
those between sunset and Dednme 1or tIe
moon and stars see more OF evil IN Single
hour than the sun in his whole days circuit;
The poets visions of evening are alkcompact OF
tender and soothing images; 1t orlngs t1e
arms the OK to his stall, and the weary laborer
to his rest. But the gentle-hearted youth who
is thrown upon the rocks of pitiless city, and
stands "homeless amid thousand homes, )" the
approach % of evening brings with it an aching
sense of Loneliness and desolation, which comes
down upon the spirit like darkness upon the
earth. In this mood his best impulses become
snare to him and he is led astray because
he is social, affectionate, sympathetic and and
warm-hearted. If there be young man, thus
circumstanced, let me say to him, that DO Oooks
are the friends of the friendless, and that
library is the home of the homeless: a taste
reading will always carry you into o T ess
With whine men who viii instruct you by their wis
dom, and charm you by wit; who will soothe
YOU when fretted, refresh you when weary,
counsel you when perplexed, and sympathlze
with you at all times-George s. :HsIl'ara.