The Portland daily press., 1879-02-22

well acquainted with the streets of London az
he does with the streets OF bis own city? What
reader of Dickens does not firmly believe he
has trodden the rough ways of Toms all
alone. or would hesitate to indicate number
twenty-seven, second bell handle on the
right hand door post, Golden Lion Courts,
where Miggs's sister lived. or to rap at Mrs.
Camps door? (Far away from us be that
necessity Or what reader of Dumas does
not think he could make his way unaided
along the streets OF the old Paris that no
longer exists? Who of US that does not feel
perfectly at home at Tunbridge Wells, or
know as well as II we had seen them, the
tables at Monaco or Baden-Baden We should
find it awkward, to phrase it mildly, should
we attempt to make our way in Europe. A
delightful book, and to Yorick's mind, the
one book that Curtis has written, "Prue and
l." finds its motive in this general illusion.
Curiously enough the vaunted exactness of
history misleads the reader quite as far, aud
all the more because he is not dealing with
airy nothings nor on his guard against the
exaggerations and over-coloring OF the histori.
cal-romancer. We read of the "yast plains
OF Poland, and picture the almost measure
less distances Of our Western prairies-not
realizing that from the Oder to the fartbest
Western bend of the Vistula is scarcely five
degrees of longitude. We hear OF that fine
euphuism for Charlemagne, ''the great
Prince who ruled between the Ebro and the
Rhine," and we fancy continent W IS under
bis sway. His domain was smaller than
Texas--and not halfso unruly. We read of
the disconforts attending the passage of the
English channel, and fancy the voyage must
last week at least, instead of two hours, as
it does.
Persons Of 'llterary knowledge, e,"-that
is, people who choose to idle over books
instead of INDUCING in other forms OF dissi-
pation,- perhaps the most self-conceited
Of all creatures, not excepting the pedestrian.
They "put on good many frills," as though
they had done some meritorious thing, and
were better than Their fellows of other tastes.
A man might as we'll pride himself on liking
peaches, and call himself genius because he
can devour peck day. No wonder the
man OF active affairs, who shapes the course
OF history, or invents a machine that revolu-
tionzes great industry, or displays in the
administration of mighty corporation ex-
ecutive power enough to govern nation
looks with much amusement ami some con-
tempt upon those who dawdle over books,
and playlully alludes TO the trifers as ''them
- literary fellers." For genins he has
high regard-none quicker than him to doff
the hat-but for trilers, whether with books
or affairs, he has no admiration and scant
tolerance. Very likely he is unjust. and in
bis preference for action undertakes a con-
templative life. He prefers the fighting
heaven of the Saxon Valhala to Buddha's
Nir1odnG, which would indeed be virtual
annihilation for him-he doesn't like to be
absorbed in other people. But his impa-
thence Is not without reason. The conceit
Of the man who has taste for readiLg Is
mountainous. He almost always regards
himself as genius, though sometimes hay-
ing the discretion to keep this opinion to
himself, and usually sets up as dictator and
tells other people, who have just caught the
disease, what they must read. Often he
starts pretentious magazine, mirror for
authors in which they may contemplate their
deformities. Very likely his magazine gains
considerable repute. 1t saves the indolent
the trouble Of thinking and the hesitating
the trouble Of making up their minds. One
OF these periodicals, of very considerable pre-
tensions, undertook to give "select list for
libraries" the other day, and to emphasize
Its opinions printed Stiles of first importance
in italics" Under the head of Travels stood,
in italics, as ''ttle OF first importance"
William Winters "Trip to Eogland"!
Could the courtesy of the trade" further 60!
The Tribune is a great newspaper, its good
will to be desired, and the favor of its dra-
matte critic perhaps profitable to cultivate;
bat isn't this paying high price for the
goods? The same periodical in It's s'select
list" prints MoultOn's History OF the English
Bible in italics and puts the Religio Medici in
roman type. The trath is most of these
literary periodicals put on too many airs.
Sometimes they are pleasant companions,
but they are not teachers. They stand In
the same relation to literature that the young
women whom we all so well know do to pic
torial art. These young women can make
tolerable sketches and bave some skill in the
manipulation of color-accomplishments COM
mon to educated women across the water
and on the strength Of their limited kDowI-
edge set themselves up as artists and take
pupils.
People who are fond of reading persuade
themselves that the reading of books is the
great object of life, and that when they read
book they are not only enjoying themselves
but also conferrpg a great benefit on their
fellow creatures. There Is no other form of
amusement so arrogant in Its claims-except
pedestrianism. Now Yorick delights in
books, and thinks the reading of them,
whether as occupation or amusement, the
pleasantest OF all things; but he is not able
to bring himself to believe there is any more
merit in reading than there is in the eating OF
strawberries by those who love the fruit
the eaters too are sometimes wonderfully
conceited, aud the man who has learned to
love goose liver looks down upon one who
confesses that he finds pate de foie gros rath-
er bitter.