Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-22

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you naturally wish TO know more of its
author. That is the time TO make his ac-
quaintance. Read his life, or an account Of
him in an encyclopedia; look over his 9TH
er writings, and become familiar with him.
Then You have really added something TO
your knowledge. Ifyou fettered yourself
with "course," you could not do this, aud
before you finished book, you would
have forgotten the special points which in
terested you as you went through.
You think that history is dull reading,
perhaps. Pm afraid that is because you
have dull way of reading it, not realizing
that it is a series of true aud wonderful
stories of mems lives, beyond comparison
more marvellous and interesting than the
fictitious lives we read in novels. The first
pages are usually dry, admit, and 1 ad-
yise you not 10 look at them till you feel a
desire TO do so but select some person,
and follow out the story of his life, or some
event, and read about that, and assure
you, you will find new life in the old
books.
After getting, In this way, fragmentary
acquaintance with nation, its prominent
men and striking events, you will doubt
less feel anxious to know its whole story,
and then, reading it with inlerst, you will
remember what you read.
But there are other subjects in which you
may be interested. You wish first 10 know
about the few great books and authors gen.
orally regarded and referred TO as the foun-
tain-heads of the worlds literature. 1t is
impossible, in little "talk" like this, 10
give definite directions for gaining knowl-
edge of these. Needs vary in almost every
case, and book that might wisely be Sc
lected for one girl, might he very poor
choice for another. Almost every one can
turn TO some judicious relative or friend
who, at least, can start her in a good direc-
tion. Once started, the way is delightful
and easy. There are many entrances into
the great temple Of ofliterature-you need not
go in by all of them.
There are many well known and oflen
quoted authors, concerning whom you will
wish to be informed, even if you never
read their works. You want 10 know
when they lived and what they wrote. The
world of books is too large for any one 10
know thoroughly; you must select from
the wide range what suits your taste, and
be content to have an outside, or title page,
knowledge of the rest.
Above all, in your reading you want 10
avoid becoming narrow and one-sided.
Read both sides of a question. If you read
a eulogstic biography of person, read al
so, if possible. one written from an oppo-
site standpoint. You will find that no one
is wholly bad, nor wholly good, and you
will grow broad in your views.
But perhaps you don't know how
to read ny subjects. Let me tell you. Sup
pose you see an allusion to something that
interests you-say Sir Walter Raleigh
look for his name in an encyclopedia or
biographical dictionary (Which you will
find in every tolerable village library.
Reading OF him, you W i'll become interest
ed in Queen Elizabeth look her up, in the
same books, and in English history; OBJ
serve the noted men of her reign, look them
up, read their lives read historical novels
and poems of her times look at the table of
contents of magazines and reviews, and
read essays on The subject. You see the
way open before you. Once make a start,
aud there is scarcely an end TO the paths
you Will WISH 10 lOllOW.
If you have no special subject of interest,
take up an encyclopedia, slowly turn the
leaves, and read any item that attracts you,
not forcing yourself TO read anything. If
you have any life in you you will find
something 10 Interest you; then you have
your subject. If il is some historical per-
son or event, proceed us 1 have already
indicated; If scientific, overhaul the die
tionaries of science, lives of scientific men,
discussion Of disputed points, etc. if geo.
graphical, turn 10 gazetteer, books of
travels, e.c. One book will lead to another.
Your memory is bad, perhaps
hut can tell you two secrets that will cure
the worst memory. One mentioned above:
to read a subject when strongly interested.
The other Is, 10 not only read, but think.
When you have read paragraph or page,
stop, close the book, and Try TO remember
the ideas on that page, and not only recall
them vaguely in your mind, but put them
into words and speak them out. Faithful
ly follow these two rules, and you have the
golden keys OF knowledge. Besides mat
tentive reading, there are other things iDju-
rious 10 memory. One is the habit of skim
ming over newspapers, items of news,
smart reflections, fashion notes, all in a
confused tumble, never 10 be thought of
again, thus diligently cultivating babit of
careless reading, hard 10 break. Another
is the reading of trashy novels. Nothing
is so fatal to reading with profit as the hab-
it of running through story after story, and
forgetting them as soon as read. 1 know a
gray-haired women, lifelong lover of
books, who sadly declares that her mind
has been ruined by such reading.
A help 10 memory Is repetition. Moth
ing is so certain TO keep your French fresh,
and ready for use, as to have always on
hand an interesting story in that language,
TO take up for ten minutes every day. In
that case, you will not "forget your French"
with the majority of your schoolmates.-
Olive Thorne, 81. Nicholas for September.
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Hon LIFE IN 'FRIsoo.-The Crocker-
Yung imbroglio continues with unabated