Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-04
BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE READ.
An Amusing Letter from W1lkie Col
1tRs on Sir John Lubbock,s List.

An Amusing Letter from W1lk1e Col.
Inns ON Sir John Lubbock's List.
You have proposed, writes Wilkie
Collins to the Pail Mall Gazette, that
should recommend to inexperienced
readers some of the books which are
necessary for liberal education; and
you have kindly sent list Of works
drawn cut by Sir John Lubbock with
this object IN view, and receRtiy pub
lished Ia your journal.
am sincerely sensible OF the COM
piiment to myself which is implied
ii your suggestions but am, at the
same time, afraid that you have ad-
dressed yourself to the wrong man.
Let me own the truth. ] add one
more to the reckless people who as
ton1sh Sir John Lubbock by devnting
little care 10 the selection Of what they
read. I pick up the literature that
happens TO fail in my way, and live
upon it as well as I can-like the spar
rows who are picking up the crumbs
outside my window while write. II
/ may still quote my experience of
myself, let me add that / have never
got ally good out of book unless the
book interested me in the first in
stance. When find that reading be-
comes an effort instead of a pleasure
[ shut up the volume, respecting the
eminent author and admiring nv en-
viable fellow-creatures who have
succeeded where have failed. These
sentiments have been especially lively
III me Ito give an example) when /
have laid aside in despair "Clarissa
Harlowe," ola Nouvelle Heloise,"
the plays of Ben Johnso1, Burke on
THE Sublime and Beautiful" Hal
lam's middle Ages" and r ,scoe's
Life Of Leo The Tenth" Is q
person with this good reason
to blush for himself Cf he was only
young enough to do iO the right sort
of person to produce list OF books
for readers in search of s. liberal edu-
cation2 You will agree with me that
he is capable OF seriously recommend
ing 'Sterne's Sentimental Journey"
as the best book of travels that has
ever been writton, and Byron's
"Childe Harold" as the grandest
poem which the world has seen since
the first publication Of Paradise
Lost.
After this confession, if I neverthe-
less venture to offer few suggestions
will you trust my honesty, even
while you doubt nay discretion? In
any case, the tomb of literature is
close by you. You can give me de-
cent burial in the waste paper basket.
To begin with, what is liberal edu-
cation9 If [ stood at my house door,
and pat shat question to the first ten
Intelligent looking persons who pass
ed by, I believe should receive ten
answers at vrriance one with the 9th.
er. My own ideas cordially recognize
any system of education
of education the direct tendency of
which is to make us better Christians.
Looking over Sir John Lnbbock's list
from this point OF view--that is to
say, assuming that the production OF
a good citizen represents the most
valuable result of a liberal education
IL submit that the best book which
your correspondent has recommended
is the "Vicar of Wakefield" and Of
the many excellent schoolmasters
judging them by their works. in
whose capacity for useful teaching he
believes, the tw" in whom ], for my
part most implicitly trust, are Walter
Scott and Charles Dickens. Holding
these extraordinary opinions if you
asked nae to pick out q biographical
work for general reading, should
choose CATER Bosewell's supremely
great book. of course Lockhart's
Life Of Scott. Let the general reader
follow my advice, and he will find
himself not only introduced to the
the greatest genius that
has ever written novels, but provided
with the example of man modest,
just, generous, resoIute and naerciful
a man whose very faults and failings
have been transformed into virtues
through the noble atonement that he
offered at tho peril of his life.
Let nae not forget that the question
of liteary value must also be consider
ed in recommending value means
positive Literary attractionto the gener-
al rdader. In this connection I have
Ia my mind the most perfect letters
ia the Eoglish language when intro
duce the enviable persons who have
y
ron" Again if any voice crying In
the litery wilderness ask me what ira
wells it may be well to read, do jas
tice to the charm Of an admirable
style, presenting the results of trHe
vivid observation, when I mention the
names of Rockford and Kinglake.
Get Beckford's Italy, Spain, and
Portugal, " and, beginning toward the
end OF the book, what your appetite
hy reading the Excursion to the
Monasteries Of Alcobaca and BataIha. :"
In Kinglake's case, "Eothen" is the
title, and the cheap edition of the
book is within everybody's reach. DR..
Kane. IL "Artic Explorations, and
Mr.. George Melville, Ia 'The Lena
Delta," ale neither Of them consum-
mate masters OF the English language
but they possess the rare and admir-
able gift of making other people see