Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-10-30

sncs with genuine humor, In one who ~
by nature, nrst and foremost, Q story.tsllsr
that makes Irving not only one Of the mosi
entertaining and delightful writer's for
young people m well N old, but also, an the
critic before quoted says: "a safe model for
young readers and for young readers there
is very little In the overwhelming flood OF
to-day that ~ comparable 10 1rving's books,
aud, especially, u seems TO me, because they
were not written for children" Certainly
II there In one thing for which my gratitude
10 my boybood's literary guide shall never
wane, but rather steadily Increase with years
II is for having early led me TO read the
Of Midlothian and 1vanhoe Of Scott. They
saved mo from reading all manner of trash
that then was IN vogue among the young
They gave mo standard according 10 which
TO Judge other books They, and particu.
larry Irving, did more than all else put 10.
get6cr TO give direction and form TO NV Ill
ersry tastes 10 enable me to tell dross from
gold, cbaff from grain, and 10 make me pre-
Ter the latter 10 the former
THE fact In, IL we can once get our bows
and girls to read books like IrvinR's, we need
not have very much anxiety about what
they read afterwards. When q body once
has tasted q good spple he will not likely
take to eating rotton ones afterwards. And
/ hardly know of another author 40 suitable
In every way for starting our young people
In the formation Of pure and healthy literary
tastes and habits. For 10 entertaining In he
that there will seldom be any trouble in get
ting anyone at once intrusted in him. That
boy or girl, indeed, who doesn't enjoy Rip
Van Winkle, Traits of Indian Character, lie.
gend OF sleepy Hollow, and the several
Christmas sketches, must have a taste already
vitiated almost beyond redemption. And II
they have read and enjoyed the charming
mn NJ n nil
urging 10 20 on to the Tales of q Traveller,
the Conquest OF Granada, the X nick erbocker
History, and 30 on through the whole series
Of his works. And, finally, having done this
they will ever after know good literature
from inferior, and unless otherwise per.
verted, will always prefer the former TO the
latter even more than this, they will have a
good foundation laid for the formation of A
pure style OF writing in their own produc.
tions.
RIaHT here, too, would suggest that the
very best way to get anyone to read a book,
especially young folks, Is TO get them first TO
own that book. And what indeed could be
more useful, appropriate and acceptable to
anyone, young or old, who has II not yet on
the parlor shelf or library, than the Gift of
such beautiful set OF the works OF 80 stand.
ard and enjoyable an author as Washington
Irving? As a birthday or Christmas present
nothing could be more proper. 1t In q work
that has never yet grown out OF style, nor
eyer will, ! hope. Whoever has not yet
read Irving ought TO read him at once-it In
almost duty. Give him set and he will
probably do 1t, and thank you for 1t ever
after. Whoever has read him also wants TO
possess him, and ought to- Don't let him
get some dear cheap" " holiday edition."
to the eyes and too ugly and poorly
made TO bear handling but get him such an
edition a. this one l have been tall ing about.
II will be doing good deed besides. For /
believe Irving TO be a power tor good wher- |
sver read. Anyhow, i would like nothing
better than 10 have every family in the city
'wn and enjoy his works with me.
UNCAs,