, 1881-12-09
PUGET SOUND ARGUS.
how TO READ.


good books; Tor general information,
aud with a special object in view.
Both methods are good, and in gen
eral neither way Is good alone.
la reading for general information
A person reads more or less on all
subjects. even if he intends to fol
low one profession. A physician or
LAWYER needs to know something out
side of his special profession, so he
reads the newspaper, studies geog-
raphy, arithmetic, history and other
branches, although he does not ex-
prct to become an accountant, or
explorer. We all begin in this way
when children, and as we go to
school, we study various branches,
and " hen at home read all kinds Of
books, for we know that whatever
business we may follow, general in
formation IS valuable. 1t is for this
reason that courses of reading are
laid .lown, and thus the Chautauqua
course has become so famous. This
prnerai reading is the foundation for
the future mind. AS a building
needs To have a good foundation,
whether it be of wood or stone or
brick, and whether it be intended
for dwelling, store, or bank, so the
mind needs TO have a good founda
tion, whatever may be the future
course of life. In certain sense 1t
is we'll to keep up this general read
ing all OF a PERSONS HE.
Bat while this is so, it is also well
after the mental foundation is laid,
Ia sy'pnd a good share of our reading
time in studying some special sub
iect. Often the foundation of a
building is nearly the same, whether
it be for store or bank; or wheth
er it he for dwelling or barn. But
when this is laid the building is then
erected with special reference to tn,
object for which it is TO he used.
Thus II ought To be generally in our
reading. We should read with spe
cial reference to some subject. A
person who is "Jack at all trades Is
generally good at none;" and per.
sun " hu tries To read everything gen
orally obtains but a smattering OF
each subject. A dozen years ago
the writer was travelling in the eas.
tern states for his own benefit. He
observed things in a general way,
aud it did him some good; but oc-
caSionally he acted as q newspaper
correspondent, and in so doing he
found it necessary to study thorough
" any subject about which he wrote.
Although he received no paw for his
work, he has always felt that he was
largely paid in the good it did him
self. Travelling in a general way,
and travelling with an object in view
are two very different things. The
same is true of reading. "This is n
new idea to me-" said a lady who
had read considerable, in converse
tion on the subject. 81 have read
books because some one else read
them and wanted to know why | had
not done so. or because they were
popular, but not with any special OBJ
irct, and | know that shortly after
] had finished them knew but lit
tie more than | did before.
Business and professional persons
who are successful read with refer
ence To their business, and general
" the more thoroughly they stndy
the more successful they are. But
lahnring persons often feel that their
business does not require such read
ing. Two courses are open to such
peasson, and as to which he shall pur
sue, let him consult his own tastes.
One is 10 study the branch OF busi
ness in which he laqors. He may be
earnirg the least of any man in
saw mill. The amount of informa-
ton needed by the foreman is far
more than what he needs; yet if ne
studies in regard TO the whole mill
thoroughly he will rise. "There is
always room at the top" if q person
is fitted for the top. Improvements
in machinery, and consequent sue
cess, have generally been made by
the practical laboring class, and not
bv theorists. Or, if he does not like
his business, but follows it because
of necessity, let him take some
branch of knowledge which does
snit, procure books as he can, read
aud digest them, and he will be able
after a time TO follow more con-
genial business Benjamin Frank
lin did so. Professor Condor, the
state geologist of Oregon, once re-
ferred to friend of his who in this
way became authority on the shells
of this coast. 1t was by spending
his odd moments for recreation in