New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-03
RECOLLECTIONS OF A READER,
by CHARLES II. CONGDON.
XXXI.
VALEDICTORY.

MACACLAY AS READER-TIIF AuTopIocR Aprrrs
Observation-Disclosures HAnrIIToN-pI,y.r RE,
FLECuONs.
ferhaps IT is time that this amless and desultor,,
series should bc brought to close Beginning with
''e pan ana carried on if possible with less il has
peeh but a haphazaTd and sometimes | fear n
wearisome gossip of odd books and forgotten
authors. many of whom did not deserve to no 70
membered The curious reader with a passion for
iumhlaghg IN corners. who regards the dust upon
HIS volumes as an epicure might the condiments
upon DIS 1000, is taught in time not TO be SURPRISED
at the indifference with which the majority con-
sder his treasures. There may dawn upon him rs
his remaining years get fewer and fewer an I'M
grateful suspicion that the way of his Intellectual
lie has not been wise, and that he has made mere
diversion of that which should have been some
what more seriously laborious Is il best 70 know a
NIUE OF many things much of n few | under-
S.ahu wen enough the answer which the moralists
always make The talk of the world is all in favor
OF soild requirement and of punctilous accuracy
Oh knowiedge, though the practice of the world is
something very different. There is no end of
mouluy maXims pointing the didactic WAY and
warning the young Of the danger of a LITTLE learn
ing. yet most of mankind seem to be content with
niue enough and TO get along well enough without
anything like crudition. For my part not bcjng
III any mood Tor preaching n sermon on the dangers
OF literary dissipation. l wish to acknowledge
kindly many letters which / have received during
the progress of this SERIES asking what course of
reading woud be best for young man or woman
intent upon mental improvements Some OF these
alas! have not answered, and others have an
swered only to say that in such n matter advice was
out OF the question How is one man TO know what
books VIII be best for another MANI Why. as a
rule advice in merely material cxigcnccs is of no
Vane whatever. which is the reason, | suppose why
IL ~ so seldom followed Its recipients simply can
not do what they entrcatcd to do. The path
through any thlckct of difficulties must be of thcr
own clearing; no one can chop down the under
brush and blaze the trees for them; and if they
cannot do il for themselves poor babes i'm the wood
let them prepare for the fate of those distinguished
infants. without the compensation of being celc-
brated in n ballad
The real reader, it must he admitted has USUALLY
deinier end IN vew-not seldom he is anxious TO
prove himself right or somebody else wrong Bayle.
who was probably the greatest gutton of books
which libraries ever saw observes that one of the
best uses which may be drawn from reading is to
learn the weaknesses Of the heart of man. la
Brugere points out one weakness. that of pedantry
when he says in his chapter on the Pulpit: Twas
not an age ago since most of our books were nothing
but collections of Latin quotations: there was not
above line or two of French in page: :" and the
same Is true of great many collections of English
sermons Our indignant time, which does not care
much Tor the classics has stamped ont this bothera-
ton Of the Latinless; and - preacher who should
scatter the dead languages all through his sermons
rs Jeremy Taylor did. would soon deservedlv hold
forth TO a bcggary array of empty pews. Yet even
laylors rustic audiences liked the unknown
Tongues, and were much edited by the rotund
words. The present generation of readers, impa-
tent of anything making demand upon its atten-
ton which might result in headaches likes to have
even ITS English most coloquially limpd. The kind
of author of which Burton and Montaigne are cx-
ceueut specimens. has gone ont forever Am sorry
for i'll Really. do not know. Ii is not worth
bothcring about in tins hot weather.
Yes, we are emincntly practical though we read
a good many novels, by way of sauce, | suppose
am sometimes reminded of the description of the
servants library in Sir Charles Granaison's house
who sometimes exhibited great IDEAL
force was the most methodical of men, The account
of this library is worth quoting: 1t is in three
classes one of books of divinity and morality:
another for hoUsewiicry: third of history true
adventures, voyages and innocent amusement. l.,
H.. III. are marked on the cases. and the same on
the back of each book the readily to place and
replace them, rs a book is taken out for strong
Ihcy arc hound IN bug for strength. little line is laid
upon whoever puts not "A book back in its place As
new books come out. the doctor buys such as he
thinks proper to range under these three classes"
Is not this deliciousg We see in il touch of the
tulhor OF tho horallSt OF the iuSsN old gentleman
and of the bookseller. We can imagine Richardson
after writing it crossing his fat leg, with infinite
satisfaction, and reading it over cup of tea TO the
little cotere of literary tahbics which was accus-
omcd to requite his hospitality by administering
unlimited doses OF llattcrv
Reading may sometimes degenerate into n mere !
lablt. and volume after volume be devourcd with
10 hope of mental assimilation or Digestion Great
thinkers have derived from reading of the sheercst |
rash kind of healthy diversion. After Carlyle's !
W.. of the first volume of the French Revolution |
VAS accidentally burned, for weeks he read thing |
mt novels. among Others those of Captain !
iarryat who receives in return for all the diver
son which h. afforded the brain. sick Scotchman
'nly caustlc snccr or two But gratitude does not
ccm to have been among the Prophets virtues
No one can consider reading without recalling the
stories of achievements in that way told |
Ii Trevcyan's" Life of Lord Macaulay,' who seems
absolutely the most omnlyerous reader upon reco.d
II least III modern times. With his passion for
'crusal he had also the most miraculous memory,
wo characteristics which do not always como to-
,ether. He not only read but he was master of
What hc had read, 50 that wherever he might be he
vas 10 a considerable extent independent Of his
hcves--a blessing which any writer might long
or. since soon find that nothing is more difficult
4 transportation than books. Contemplating is
90 laborlous, and no plan of an Index Rcrum has
ct proved very successful. Any attempt TO make
he hand do the work of the head will usually fail
he business of Macaulay's life was enc in which
looks were always needed, and whether he was en- !
aged IN literary or political labor He was nur-
ured III house which reading as a task or a
ecreation was always going on and the early taste
Which he formed for deSultory exploration was
ever lost And whatever went INFO that capacious
cad stayed there ready for instant use, whenever
should be wanted. lie so absorbed books that