Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-29
What to Read.

Suggestive Remarks by Rev. MT, Buck
 at the First III. E. Church Last Evening.
 At the First M. E. church last evening
 Rev. Mir. Buck preached another in his Sun
 day evening series of sermons subject, ''Choice of Books; What Shall Read7" The text announced was "Giye attendance to
 reading,7 Tim. A. 13. This said MT. Buck,
 is pre- eminently an age of books. We find
 them everywhere. Thousands of volumes are issued every year. If one did nothing but read he could not keep pace with the
 literature of the day.
 They are marvellously cheap. Plato paid $1 200 for two books The Countess of An jou gave two hundred sheep for one volume. But those huge costly tonnes have given place to small cheap books accessible to all. The poorest and busiest can find facilities for reading to the exent thety may desire. The great difficulty in this age of abundant litera- ture is in choosing what we will read. Read newspapers. The newspaper is one of the great forces of society. It's circula- ton is enormous, it's influence iacalculable. Daniel Webster ranked it with public schools as an educator. Each issue is @ birds eye view
 of the days history of the world. He who
 would be man among men and not a relic must know what is going on in the world. Read good fiction. There are those who condemn all fiction as the work of the devil. Much of it may be, but to say that all is is 8 grievous blunder. Novels are good or bad like other books. Those that are good should
 be read occasionally as mental relaxation; for the same reason that you would now and then take drive or sail, game of croquet or tennis. Good fiction gives us profound CT knowledge of man, 8 deeper insight into human character. If it is true to life it is as profitable in it's way as 8 work on natural history.
 There are historic novels that not only give us much information, but bring us into a historic atmosphere that is most helpful. Never said MT. .Buck, shall forget how vivid ly the stirring scenes of Waterloo were brought before my thought when sat down in the garden of Hugomont and read the &C., count of the battle which Victor Hugo gives in his ''Les Miserables." If anyone desires to study the life of Moses and become famil- far with his surroundings while in Egypt he should by all means read Eber's Uarda. Charles Kingsley's Hypatia helps to an understanding of the developments and conflicts of Chris tianity in the fifth century. Many novels are written in the interest of truth and human ity. Harriet Beecher Stowe in her "Uncle Toms Cabin' hastened the downfall of slavery. T. s. Arthur in his '"Ten Nights in 8 Barroom" preached the gospel of temper ance. Bunyan in his 'tPilgrim's Progress" gave picture of the Christian life tkat will
 
 it's place and should be read, yet it should be read sparingly. You ought to read both newspapers and novels, but as you value a healthy mind do not read them too much and always choose with the greatest care. reading only the best. MT. Buck then spoke of books of biography, of history, travel and science as a more important class of litera- ture than fiction. Cultivate by all means, said MT. Buck in closing, g taste for reading and for that kind of reading which will improve the intellect and heart, which will prepare you for your work in life. Devotea the hours spent in idleaess and foolish gossip to some solid books of history, science or religion, and you will make great progress in knowI- edge. Roger Sherman read as shoemaker's apprentice. Elihu Burritt read as he ham, mered at the anvil; Horace Greeley read even ings by the light of g pine knot. There are young men here tonight who, if they would husband their moments, might prepare themselves for an honorable place in the world. There are young women who if they would devote half as much time and care on the inside of their heads as they do on the outside would surprise themselves with their acquisitions and greatly enhance their attractiveness in the eyes of all sensible young men.