Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-06-28
A Taste for Reading.


ern science, without a new sense o.
the capacities and dignity of human
nature, which naturally leads to 8
sterner self-respect, to manlier resolves
and higher aspirations, We cannot
read the ways Of God to man as re.
vealed in the history of nations, Of
sublime virtues as exemplified in the
lives of great and good men, without
falliug into that mood of thoughtful
admiration, which, though it be but q
transient glow, is purifying and ele,
vating influence while it lasts. The
study of history is especially valuable
as an antidote to self-exaggeration. 1t
teaches lessons of humility, patience,
and submission. When we read of
realms smltten with the scourge Of
of famine or pcstience, or strewn
with the bloody ashes of war; of
grass growing in the streets Of great
cities; of ships rotting at the wharves
Of fathers burying their sons; of
strong men begging their bread OF
fields untitled, and silent workshops,
and despairlng couutenances, - we
hear a voice of rebuke to our own
clamorous sorrows and peevish COM
plants We learn that pain and suf-
fering and disappointment are part
of Gods providence, and that no con.
tract was ever yet made with man by
which virtue should secure to him
temporal happiness.
In books, be it remembered, we
have the best products of the best
minds. We should any of us esteem
it great privilege to pass an hour
with Shakespeare or Bacon, were such
a thing possible. But, were we adj
mitted to the presence of one of these
illustrious men, we might find him
touched with infrmity, Or oppressed
with WEAKNESS, or dark ened with q
shadow of q recent trouble, or ab-
sorbed by intrusive and tyrannous
thoughts. TO us the oracle might be
dumb, and the light eclipsed. But,
when we take down one of their vol.
umes, we run no such risk. Here we
have their best thoughts embalmed in
their best works; immortal flowers of
poetry, vet with CASTELAR, dews, and
the golden fruit of wisdom that had
long npened on the bough before it
was gathered. Here we find the
growth of the choicest seasons of the
mind, when mortal cares were forgot
ten, and mortal weakness were sub.
dued and the soul, stripped Of its
vanities and its passions, lay bare to
the finest efiiuences of truth and beau
ty. We may be sure that Shake
spcare never out.talked his Hamlet,
nor Bacon his Essays. Great writers
are indeed but known through their
books. How little, for instance, do
We know of the life of Shakespear
but how much do we know of him
For the knowledge that comes from
books, would claim no more than it
is fairly entitled TO. | am well aware
that there is no inevitable connection
between intellectual cultivation, on
the one hand, and individual virtue or
social well.being, on the other. "The
tree of knowledge is not the tree of
life admit that genius and learn
ing are sometimes found in combina.
tion with gross vices, and not unfre.
quently with contemplate weakness;
aud that community at once cult
yated and corrupt is no impossible
But it is no overstatement
to say, that, other things being equal,
the man who has the greatest amount
of intellectual resources is in the least
danger from inferior temptations,-if
for no other reason, because he has
fewer idle moments. The ruin of
most men dates from some vacant
hour. Occupation is the armor Of
the soul and the train of Idleness is
borne up by all the vices. | remem-
Der q satlrlcal poem, in which the
Devil is represented as fishing for
men. and adapting his bait to the
taste and temperament of his prey
but the idler, he said, pleased him
most, because he bit the naked hook.
To young man away from home,
friendless and forlorn in great city,
the hours of peril are those between
sunset aud bedtime for the moon and
stars see more of evil in a single hour
than the sun in his whole days circuit.
The poets visions Of evening are all
compact OF tender and soothing i'm
oroS IT, hrinos the wonderar to his