New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10

nnaned on the booksheves Of several OF my Irenus'
But with every other EngIiSn rin,ert which has
Welded me invariable results. Walh ILL., H. Ain
libraries of my cultivated friends, ana pass Io hp
Of my Orenger over E1 Com up across In no one
instance have found the tip OF that iorenhs0i i0'
lP R JUS can ouite believe it, nave heard many
similar complaints of the negligence OF housenauS'
81 may take it, then, that you admit that the ne
classics are unread. If, then, we leave OUT VI
account the great mass of worthless nOVelsLiIHIo
CONSUMPTION of which, should say as you sald III
the Of newspapers, Is not Ie"d pinns5ronIies-
what are the books which are read blOgrapliloS,
# their subject be some famous contemporary
memoirs and "reminiscences" If they are SPICY G anu
sufficiently notorious Throw in here ard there a
volume of lght-they must be rey lght, ESSAYS; .
new scientific work by some distinguishes o"'o,' S
tbough these can be much more qulckW anu
nainiessly cot up from the newspaper aoStIaCts vi
them: and-and-I can think OF no 0theis az
present but am quite prepared 70 nnu ~ tenr That
INV list entertaining not the slightest 1ear HaD
shall thereby detract from the strength OF my
argument. You cannot suggest any DINERS tb6s
we'll, them let ask you IN what respect In. tno
nerusal of books of this Kind differs for the better
from the amusement of the ordinary newSpaPJJIi
readerI say ordinary for reason Will ncaoiv the
same object as that with which the newspaper ID
usually read, namely, the qualification OF mere
curiosity-the amusement OF an IDLE hour'
RI always delay as long as possible to define the
+orr,o nsed in orSnment. az find that doing
tends unduy to shorten an agreeable cOhVeIsaton.
But had we not better come to some agreement as
IN w hat shall be meant by culture because II IL
should turn out that it means two or three dnefent
things it may then be that newspapers Pr9inoto ~
i'm the sense in which you use the word. ana not IN
tho sense in which ] use it. WhcreupOn we shall
of course be Obliged am sure with much regret on
my part, to bring our discussion 70 cIGss ~ ~
bepin with is culture concerned with knowledge OF
taste with the understanding or the sehslDlltes'
or with something else altogether
Swell with both, should imagine.
B.-There you see. But there Is absolutely no
connection between the two. Take the case OF a
distinguished critic and philosophers upon ait
eccentric perhaps, IN his philosophy, but unsur,
passable in his criticism, who has spent lifetime
in training and perfecting his sense OF the beautlIu
in form and color and can convey nus anS
brlliancy to others. You would call him cuiti-
R-W6ati though on certain other subjects-on
political economy. for instance-he is gwen 70
writing and talking what wel-known critic Oh thS
last century used to describe as "clotted nonsense
S-Certainly. Why mott Culture Is no cure
that ever | heard of for prejudced and perverse
B.WInIeed' Then it is quite clear that culture
in that sense cannot include the cultivation OF the
reasoning powers which are supposed to assist men
to right conclusions Now. take the case of a man
of science q jurist. political economist mathe-
matican-in short of an prootdhna xeLseG IN
faculties alone, and possessing no sense Oh tne
beautiful and little no interest IN any other
studies than his own Should you call nm cuiti
waited man
S.-Well-Yes.
B.-But more doubtfully see.
S-I should not call him man OF general culture.
B.-Should you call the other man so, then,-the
professor of the beautifully Why should one form
of one-sded culture be more general general vnar
preference for the particular form which yon
selected for this undue favor proves TO me that you
regard culture moro concerned with taste than
xrtth ed the
the understanding. . -,
S-Not necessarily; for may hold that an
aesthetic culture liberalizes the mind more effect
nallv than scientific culture. But cultivation, as
understand IT. includes both these forms OF culture
1t Is the uniform the concurrent the we'll balanced
training alike of the aesthetic and intellectual
faculty. in such sort as to quicken 20 the highest
point and TO enlarge to the widest circuit our
annreciation of and sympathy with all subjects of
hnman interest. And / say that for that purpose
periodical literature-the newspaper and the
magazine-are far more efficient INSTRUMENTS than
all the books in ali the Libraries IN tho world
B-Ahal the magazines. You are enlisting them.
are you l thought you would regard them as
being on tue enemy,s slde-among the BOOKS. -
review of the first class is or ought TO be simple
essence of newspaperwith its Information digested
and arranged its thought clarified aud SKINNED OF
verbiage. A magazine i'll this way renders incalcu-
liable service to the ordinary readers OF the news
naneran Immense majority. of course, of the whole
pm pm aprecjpttatingD and presenting to them the
culture which their newspaper holds; so 10 speak,
in solution. Depend upon 1t, my dear slr, the
the book except i'll the form OF the novel ana
possibly the poem.
B.-Enchanting prospect! . . m
81 at least am content with it. The world has
assimlated all the thought and learning IN its
hooks and they are now no longer needed.
Blood Heavens! A modern Caliph Omer with
| a penny newspaper for his Koran
S-Why mott Their thought say, IS rooted
deeply in the human mind, and 1t fructihcs daily In
the periodical press. Art, science, politics, poetry
! phiosOphy,-the newspaper IL iull OF them Tor any
BIYes who has read the last murder trial or
| divorce case. But pray say no more. l knew We
| should prove to be talking about two totally
different things. The object OF culture Is, III your
increase indefinitely the varied intellectual interest
of life but to learn 10 face its one central problem
| San insoluble problem!
| B.-And for that very reason commanding us 10
seek the resignation which comes not OF knowledge
| but of wisdom.
| B-Yes for those who have il. have II not |
| train myself to forttudc by the practice OF the
almost extinct art of meditation, an art which only
! the best books can teach you and for which news
papers leave You no time expect ~ Hroker . WI
| quietly enough think, In that tavorite pursuit.
| But you
81 confess I shall need what you. suppose,
| would call the Dutch courage OF constant intel
| lectual excitement.
B.wA few restless spirits like yours may find
! support in it, But am well assured that among
| men of my temperament there are thousands OF
| clever, active minded, profoundly unhappy
| wretches who will never get peace till they put
down their newspapers aud take up the busiest OF
S'-Why not give them that advice, theni
b mean to do so.
S-Indeedf howl In book or in magazinei
| door opens voice: Mr.. BroWDW
| b. Observation-Disclosures queTst But no man is
bound to eliminate himself decline to answer.
| ii. ID. TRAIL