Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-25
Hints on Reading.

How pitifully devoid of ideas must be
the minds Of those who never open a book,
and seldom read newspaper who never
listen TO sermon or a lecture, or 10 any
conversation except among those who are
as ignorant as themselves. Yet there are
thousands in this benighted condition in
America, as well as in less favored countries,
and not only in sequestered places, where
there are no facilities for gaining an educa.
ton, but in large towns and cities where the
best of schools are maintained, and the most
polished society is found. And it is not al
ways true that this class of population are
the victims Of poverty, but frequently they
are living in prosperous circumstances. The
ability Of the unlearned to form even par
tial conception Of the immense advantages
OF an education implies some mental apti.
tude, but when one knows that he is in
darkness or the darkness is 80 deep that
he cannot grope his way TO the door that
would admit the light, the case seems hope
less indeed. A young lady in the high
school fell behind her class on account Of
i'll health, and on her recovery she was so
reluctant 10 return and resume the studies
she had laid aside, that she was allowed to
abandon them altogether. Now that she
has become ten years older and wiser, she
bitterly regrets her early Incidence and
folly. Her deficiencies are 80 apparent that
she says she would give anything If she pos.
sessed the intelligence of younger sister,
who persevered in her studies, and if she
could converse as only the well educated
can do. A small library Of choice books
was presented her by friend, but her lack
of taste for reading is her excuse for leaving
them unopened from year to year, although
aware that those well-read or wel-booked,
as a plain woman expressed it, are familiar
with all these works. When ones early ad-
vantages have been small, one can still &C.
quire passable acquaintance with general
literature, and some knowledge of the Ian
guages, provided one has time, by the aid of
private teachers, or by books alone. The
studious man would not exchange his fond.
ness for reading and his stores Of learning
for all the wealth that could be offered him,
for these it is that make life perpetual
feast, where he can banquet at will upon
the rich thoughts, the opulent imagery, the
delightful wit and humor, the poetical fan
cies, the marvellous facts, the sublime
truths which the gifted writers Of all ages
serve up to him. By diligent perusal of
fine writing one acquires not only knowl-
edge and intellectual vigor, but also re-
fnement OF thought, expression and manner
which are the requisite passport into good
society. No other endowment is so essen
tial to the enjoyment of travelling as we'll.
informed mind, and the intense pleasure of
the scholar as he views the regions and OBJ
jects with which he has become familiar by
descriptions only, can be neither shared nor
appreciated by his unread companions.
For these no associations of interest cluster
around the places made famous in history,
or those which the lives of good and great
men have hallowed, and which are visited
as shrines by their admirers. For them
Paris, Venice, Rome have no story of the
past, but they are on the route of fashion
able travel, and therefore must be seen.
In this hurrying age it is difficult to adjust
all the claims upon ones own time, but
surely it is not wise to be so wholly engrossed
with material interests as to leave the mind
and soul to neglect and poverty. If but a
few minutes in the day can be secured for
reading, yet in that brief space an industri-
GUS person can gain mental furnishing
which will be of great value, while his ider
associates will wonder where he has picked
up so much information. II one cannot stop
for solid repast let him by all means
seize few morsels rather than starve.
Pope says; "Half our knowledge we must
snatch, not take" Then let US read daily;
read that which will instruct, elevate, en-
noble. Read rather than lie down in slug
gish listlessness; read rather than fritter
away precious hours in idle gossip, in su-
perfiuous embroidery and ornamentation, in
mere amusement, or in any trivial employ
ment Esthetic trifling and snowy accom-
plishments threaten to stand in the way of
NOSE solid requirements, unless the time for
each be judiciously apportioned. Read
only the best OF authors and be not in haste
to read the very latest publications unless
the names of the writer of the writers are
OF acknowledged excellence. A paramount
obligation of parents and directors of the
young is to guide them 10 a right choice of
reading, not only that they may form a cor
rect literary TASTE but that they may i'm
bibe such wholesome ideas and principles
as will lead to good life, and that they
may, on ike other hand, escape the PERM
cious influence of literature that is neither
elegant nor elevating. Evil lives more often
result from unrestraint in this particular
than Is suspected, and the inattention and
unconcern OF many parents respecting what
their children read Is severely reprehensible
Every professional man is presumed 10 be
conversant with the most celebrated literary
productions in the English language, and to
know something about the authors of those
works, but we know Of one Of this class who
seriously asked if Friday" was not one of
Shakespeare's characters, and imagined
that the name of an American poet which
he desired to recall might be Tennyson.
Had surprise at this shocking illiteracy
been expressed, doubtless he would have
made the plea that one man ought not to be
expected to know everything.-Christian at