The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-04-24
Destructive Bookishness.

Amid this de!ugc Of books many peo-
pie arc being drowned. They know not
which way to turn. Every one you meet
mas n book or two to suggest and the pa
pers have whole columns Of literary con
mondntions and condcmnations. The
question what to read is much discussed,
but not so much the question what not to
read.
Better stand of from all those books
which were made not because the author
had anything to say, but because the pub
f1shGs and the author wanted to make O
commercial success. Such books arc
generally of large type, profuse illustra-
Ion, and snowy binding. They must
have SO many words, SO many pages, so
many pictures. You are nwarc from the
appearance Of tho book that it was merely
male tn sell. We believe, however, that
n,book will be Of little practical service
to you unless the author was compelled
by an inward consciousness of duty to
print it. The book into which IN honest
md earnest author throws his whole soul,
Is the ono that will magnetic, lift and
witty you. Avoid that book. which has
the appearance of literary jobbing.
We also advise that you take only small
doses of love story. The majority Of nov
els arc made to set forth desperate lovo
scrapcs. 1t is we'll enough for n man to
read enough of this literature to keep him
from being awkward Yhcu lie himself be-
m q party to some affair of the heart,
But much reading of loYo stories makes
ono soft, :nsipid, absent minded and use
less. The probability is that when you
fall into love, you will not full into it &C
cording to the cheap novels. The lady
will not burst into tears or faint; mol will
the old man oppose you so that you will
g have to place a long ladder to the third
story window atmidnight. Excessive read
ing of love stories will make YOU n fool
before you know il. -
We further advise you not to read q
g. book because some one else likes il. Dc
not waste your time on Shakespeare, il
you have no taste for poetry OF the drama,
merely because SO many like Shakespeare,
nor pass n long time with Sir William
Hamilton, when metaphysics are repul.
siYe to you, though your literary friends
are III rAptures with the great-headcd
Scotchmnn. When you read a book by
the page, every few minutes looking ahead
to see how many chapters you have t.
finish before you WILDE through, you had
better stop TINT book and take something
else. There is no reason in your dousing
your plate with vinegar because your
friends arc especially fond Of the sour
or spreading your bread with honey be.
cause your host has n taste for the sue.
Gharinc. There comes ever and anon O
fashion for certain styles of reading. Be
! mot oycrborno by the pressure. Fo,
awhile there was prevailing u TuppcIiar
epidemic, and we all went to writing pool
blank verses. Then there came a Car
lylian epidemic, and VIC all wrote turgid
twisted and brcak-neck sentences, eaci
noun with rs llany verbs MS Brigham
Young has wives, and as little acquainted
with them. Then came tic Rcnanish chi
demic, and the attempt WAS made every
where to minglc romance and religion
with frequent punches ut religion, an
We prided ourselves in being sceptical.
BE independent in your literary tastes
Mako up your mind wlmt it is best fol
you to read, and read it. Master IL few
good books. Life is short and books ar,
many. Instead of having your mind
garnet crowded with rubbish, make it
parlor with rich furniture beautifully ar
ranged, in which you would not b.
ashamed to have the whole world enter
Christian at Work.