The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-23
Y * for Winter Nights.
by rESRY WARD BKEcHER.


The long winter nights are coming.
and those Who have some thirst for
knowledge will be pondering what they
shall read; whether to spend money for
sprees or fer books, for useless physical
lndulgences or for concerts, lectures,
and other l1eans of promoting sound
Information and intelligence. A few
hints on the subject of reading may be
timely.
To the question, what shall we read a
it is impossible to return 4 very definite
answer. 1t depends on what things are
within your reaeh-on yonr health, your
education, your occupation. To keep up
with the worlds current events, every
one should read one or more good news
papers. \ good family journal, ii within
reach, should be carefully read.
History, biography and travels should
of course he part OF every ones read
ing. But in this article we do not so
much wish to point out the classes OF
works to De read as to make some sug-
gestions as to method
l. Every man should strive to own q
good, full dictiOnary-say Webster's un-
abridged; a good general atlas-say Col
toms; an clopedia-AppletOn's Is
best for American readers; a good gazet-
teer-fOr instance, Lippincott's. These
should be OUWed, if possible, at once;
otherwise, let one save money by every
means, and procure them as soon as possi-
Ole. II one has fair wages, and has the
courage TO live within his means, and
TO save every month, then let him run
IN debt for them.
y COOL debt is often like an anchor,
and holds an honest man steady. 1t
Will help man to save, if he has before
his eyes the end to be gained, and much
money will be thus invested which
might otherwise run down ones throat,
or be fooled away in trivial sums. But
these books are foundation books, and
ought TO be within reach. To borrow
them il much like borrowing 4 candle,
tea-cup, or 4 bed. They are things
which every man should have as near
TO him rs a mechanic has his tools.
Now, with this stock in trade come
some suggestions about reading. Never
read anything without going over It af-
/ terward in your mind to see If YOU can
/ state to yourself the substance of what
/ you have read. 1t would be well, when
I it can be done, to repeat to some one the
information which you obtained. 1t
will tend to fix attention while reading,
Twill prevent that smooth, dreamy way
of sliding over Sebjects with a vague
general impression only.
Never suffer q word 10 pass, the mean
ing Of which is not clear to you. No
matter how often you have to pause, 90
right to the dictionary, and find out the
history Of the word. Do not ask your
next neighbOr. By looking it up your
self your attention will be so specially
directed to it that you will not be likely
to forget it. In this way ones yocabu-
| larry Will be increased with wonderful
rapidity. \ word once conquered be-
comes ever after your faithful servant.
Do not pass by a name, or a place,
without finding out about it in your
gazetteer, or biographical dictionary,
which, by the by, should be added to the
list of fundamental books. Go to the
atlas for every geographical fact. Read
with your map open when you are upon
historical subjects. Associate your
knowledge with the topography OF the
NcOuntry to which it belongs.
/ Do not spare trouble. Do not be to
/ lazy t. take down your feet AMI stretch
out your arm for the book OF reference.
Aftera short experience of such thorough
I reading, ones self-respect will be in
creased aud he will experience so much
pleasure IN this course that he will heed
no exhort ion.
Often veey plain men, who read to
themselves, are very faulty In their pro-
nlulcidtiOH Therefore, as much as
you can, n aloud, and go to your die
tiOnary ana gazetteer whenever q new,
Fdoubtful or ifiicult word comes before
you.
One worl 5 to the expense of such
books as | have mentioned. The whole
number may be-had for something over
/ SlO0-say Sl2j. Now tens of thousands
Of mechanics smoke away as much as
/ this every year, or drink it up.
/ Buying books is double Investment.
/ tits both inside and outside property
/ Books have a cash value; but the culti-
vatiOn of mind which they induce is be-
yond all priee.--NelV York Ledger.