The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-14
Henry Ward Beecher on Reading.

To thc question: What shall we read: II
is impossible to return 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, every one should read one or
more good newspapers. a good family Jour
nal. if within reach, should be carefully read.
History. biography, and travels should OF
course be part of every ones reading. But
in this article we do not so much wish TO
point out the classes of works that should be
read as to make few suggestions as to the
method.
Every man should strive to own good,
full dictionary, good general atlas, an en-
cyclopedia, and a good gazetteer These
should be onlled, if possible, at once; other
wise, let one save money by every means ana
procure them as fast as possible ii one mas
fair wages, and has the courage to live With
in his means, and to save every month, then
let him run in debt for them. Z,
A good debt is often like an anchor, ana
holds an honest man steady. 1t Will help an
honest man to save, if he has right before MS
eyes in the end TO be gained, and much mo
ney will be thus invested which might other-
wise run down ones throat, or be fooled away
in trivial sums. But these books are tounda-
ton books and ought to be within reach. 10
borrow them is much like borrowing can
die, Il teacup, or Il bed. They are things
which every man should have as near 10 MN
as mechanic does his tools
Now, with this stock in trade, come some
suggestions about reading. Never read any
thing without going over it alterward in your
mind TO see if YOU can state to yourself inc
substance of what you have read. 1t would
be well, when it can be done, to repeat 10
some one the information which you OBTAIN
1t will tend to fix attention While reaulng,
will prevent that smooth, dreamy way O!
sliding over subjects with vague, gencral
impression only.
| Never suffer a word to pass, the meaning
of which is not clear to you. No matter how
often YOU have TO pause, 90 right to the die
tonary, and find out the history of the word
do not ask your neighbor. BY looking ii
up yourself, your attention will be specially
directed to ii, so that you will not be likely
to forget it, In this way ones vocabulary
will be increased with wonderful rapldity. a
word once conquered becomes ever after youl
! faithful servant
Do not pass by name or place without
| finding out about il in your gazetteer or bog
raphical dictionary-which, by and by
should he added to the list Of fundamental
books Go to the atlas for every geographl
cal fact Read with your map open when
YOU are upon historical subjects. Associate
| your knowledge with the topography OF tho
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 respect will be increased and he Will cN
pcricnce SO much pleasure in this course that
| he will need no cXhortatiOn.
| Often plain men, who read To themselves
are very faulty in their pronunciation. There
fore, rs much as you can, read aloud, ana &c
to your dictionary and gazetteer whenever Il
new, doubtful, or difficult word comes before
YOu.