Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-02-12
Henry Ward Beecher on Reading.

To the question: What shall we read?
it is impossible to return a very definite
answer. 1t depends upon what things are
within your reach-on your health, your
education, your occupation. To keep up
with the worlds current events'eyery one
should read one or more good newspa-
pers. A good family journal, if within
reach, should be carefully read. History,
biography, and travels should of course
be u part of every ones reading. But in
this article we do not SO much wish to
point out the classes Of works to be read
rs to make some suggestions as to
method.
Every man should strive TO own q good,
fun dictionary, a good general atlas, an
encyclopedia, and good gazetteer. These
should be 0lrned if possible, at once; 9TH
erwise let one save money by every
means, and procure them as fast as posi-
bic. If 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.
A good debt is often like an anchor, and
holds an honest man steady. 1t will help
an honest man to save, if he has right be-
fore his eyes in the end to be gained, and
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 is much
like borrowing a candle, tcacup, or a
bed. They are things which every man
should haye as near to him rs mechanic
has his tools.
Now, with this stock in trade, come
read anything without going over il after
ward in your mind to see ifyou can state
to yourself the substance of what YOU have
read. 1t would be well, when it can Ce
done, to repeat to some one the iniJrma
ton which you obtain. 1t will tend to fix
attention while reading, win prevent that
smooth, dreamy way Of sliding over sub
jects with vague, general impression
only
Never suffer a word 10 pass, the mean
ing Of which is not clear to you, No mat.
ter how often you have to pause, go right
to the dictionary and find out the history
of the word Do not ask your neighbor
BY looking it up yourself your attention
will be specially directed 10 it, so that
you will not be likely to forget ii. In this
way ones vocabulary will he increased
WIN NPhN1Alhi ldHtNlt(- n NPlN 'hCt
conquered becomes ever after your faith
full servant
Donot pass 10y name or place with.
out finding out about it in your gazetteer
or biographical dictionary-whch, by
and by, should be added to the list of fun
damental books Go to the atlas for every
geographical fact Read with your map
open when you are upon historical sub
jects. Associate your knowledge with
the typography of the country to which it
belongs,
Do not spare trouble. DO not be too
lazy to take down your feet, and stretch
out your arm for the book of reference
After short experience of such thorough
reading ones self respectwiil be increased
and hewill experience Somuch pleasure in
this course that he VIII need no eXhorta-
ton.
Often plain men, whorea to themselves,
are very faulty in their pronunciation.
Therefore, rs much as you can, read
aloud, and go to your dictionary ana gaz-
etteer whenever a new, doubtful, or diff
cult word comes before you.