The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-08-06

The questions asked in the following letter
deserve q careful answer, for in substance
the same information and the same sort Of
direction are desired by many young men:
~ am a young man, 20 years old, and am clerk in
commission house but feel that my present occupation
Is the best suited TO tastes they being great
ly in favor OF = literary career. Now, Sir, I como
you for the following information What course OF
study and reading would you advise for young man
wishing to improve his mind as TO DO able to clothe
his thoughts in manner suitable to transfer to paper
In word believing myself possessed of good ideas and
having only q common school education yearn to go
through OF study to enable to attain the end
above mentioned which the dream OF my life have
sufficient time in the evenings not having to work later
than or 80 p. M but do not know what to
pursue how to commence My mind is constantly grsv
itating toward books but feel that require method
ical rule to follow. O. A."
The thing for this young man to do is to
pursue course Of reading which will bring
him into communion with the great minds
OF our literature, and the masters of clear,
choice, simple, and beautiful English style.
Even II he never writes line himself, he
will get by that means an education which
will make his life happier, for his taste will
become more cultivated, and a wider range
of enjoyment will be opened up to him.
| Fortunately tho books which we shall
commend to his studious attention, and for
which, we hope, he will acquire real affec-
ton, can all be obtained in cheap editions
| Nor even at the first will he find them
dull reading He will be at no loss to I'M
derstand them. The charm OF their style
lies in its simplicity and its crystal clear
ness. Those are distinguishing qualities
of the best literary work. The ability so to ex-
press profound thought that it can readily
be comprehended by the simple that Ia
something which belongs only to the mas
ters of literature. The stream is clear be-
cause the fountain Is pellucid.
That clearness is the first requisite OF writ
ing. But there Is also graceful use Of Ian
guage, which is scarcely attainable by study
merely. The reader feels it without exactly
understanding how the effect is produced.
Neither can he initiate it successfully. If he
is to write charmingly at ALL he must put his
own charm into his style, not one borrowed
from another.
But insensibly man, especially young
man, is influenced in his own writing, in his
own ways OF using words and expressing
ideas, by constant communion with the sim
pie and unquestlonable masters OF literary
composition. He grows moro and more re-
llutu III ulS luSItS, anu lll'lb iIlluScli
conveying his thoughts, both in speech and
in writing in clearer and more graceful way
That is one advantage of reading the right
books. They not only give information and
afford delight, they also render the taste
more mellow, and help to clarity the mind
Still more, they furnish a correct standard
by which to Judge other literary work.
A very delightful and very useful author
for young man to read who seeks to I'm
prove his literary taste, is OLIVER GOLD
SMITH, Is our friend. the clerk In the com
mission house, familiar with the Vicar OF
Wakefield ?" Likely enough he has never
read It, There are thousands Of young fel
lows nowadays who think they have pretty
well exhausted what Is valuable in English
literature because they have read the re
prints Of the current English novels. The
"vicar OF Wakefield" by OLIVER GOLD
SMITH, is perhaps worth more than all the
books they have read put together Even i
our correspondent ran through it as a boy
let him go over it again and again, il he
wishes to learn what is a beautiful English
style, And If he wants novels of our owl
time let him take up those of THACKERAY
Incompatible in their style. DICKENS was {
great humorist, and had dramatic power, bu
50 much of his work was affected and the
atrical that it is not valuable for readers
seeking the improvement our friend desires
1t sometimes is positive injury to them.
SHAKESPEARE he should road OF course
and MILTON also BACoN's Essays will b.
, valuable for him. He ought to know the
work of ADDISON. WALTER SCoTr's novels
he should prefer to those manufactured a
the present day in so great numbers b.
English governesses. Our own WASHINGTON
IRVING will be good master for him.
These arc only few books, but they ar
} enough to occupy his evenings for lonI
Q ! time TO come. for he must read them wit