The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-04-03
BOOKS AND READING.
An Interesting Talk by Professor NJ. NJ

An Interesting Talk by Professor vi. NJ.
/ scott in the Y. VI. c. A. Parlors.
An audience composed partly OF gen.
/ tlemeu known for their interest in liter
airy culture, partly OF a goodly represent
alton Of the young men aud youths for
whose benefit the current series OF
practical talks" was especially de-
~ilnel, completely filed the parlors Of
the Y. N. c. A. Yesterday evening, to
listen to Prof NJ NJ. SCOTS converse
tionaI address upon the subject Of
Books and Reading" Mr.. f. J. Low
rey, President Of the Association, intro
duced the speaker.
Mr.. Scott in his few preliminary re-
marks intimated that his purpose was
not to prescribe just what books every
one should read. 1t would be as sensi-
BILE to dictate the colOrs and cuts of their
apparel 4 wise course OF reading dill
gently pursued would give young man
power among his fellOwmen which
would impart dignity and independence
OF character such as wealth could not
purchase. Parents should rather make
reading attractive than drive their chill
dren to it. They should surround them
with illustrated papers, and, if a gradu-
ated course was to be suggested, the
speaker would recommend beginning
with story books, then going on to myth
OlOgy to CaptiVate the imagination,
thence into travels, discoveries, history,
and so forth. illusions in one branch
of literature would excite inquiry in
other directions. In his reading he
came across Sir John Lubbock explain
alton of the origin of the custom of
throwing old shoes and rice after mar
ried couple. 1t was a survival OF the
battles of our ancestors to capture wives
from each others tribes, as they became
more civilized the real fights being re-
placed by sham contests at marriages.
This discovery had led him on to the
reading Of the entire work, "PrehistOric
Man," and then to that OF Henry
Mayne's 'Ancient Law"
The lecturer went on to indicate a
course Of reading, reminding his hearers
that this was but his uggestiOn-Others
might recommend a different line of
literary culture. And, in setting out,
thew could not understand anything of
our history, or of the great works of art
in the European galleries, without a toll
cradle familiarity with the Bible. This
book was interviewer with all modern
European and American literature. lie
quoted a passage that had particularly
impressed himself, in reading the Scrip
lures when a boy, for its crisp and Wig
OrOus dictiOu; also gave an instance OF
the disadvantage at which persons I'M
familiar with the Bible were placed in
reading other standard English htera-
tuTe, in the embarrassment OF d class OF
his native students in Japan when they
met the words, Chou art a Daniel come
to Judgment" by Shylock in Shake
speares "Merchant OF Venice They
ought to know something of the earth,
for which Leconte's, or Dana's, or Lyell's
Geology would well serve. Next would
be lin order to read PaleOutO.Ogy, the
science treating of the ancient life on the
earth, and the Nebular Hypothesis, or
origin of the solar system, and he recon-
mended, for these and kindred studies,
Bergen's development Theory" Oar
wins "Origin OF Species" Flammarion's
Astronomical Myths, ;" etc.
Following naturally upon the reading
Just mentioned would be works
upon mans own development, in
civilization, morals and religion. The
speaker believed that right living, the
knowledge of right and wrong, was as
matics. Ethics ami the religious devel-
opment of the race were necessary
studies for the rounding up Of ones in
tellectual attainments. For these and
covering the transition from the sciences
relating TO the material universe he men
toned Lubbock's "Antiquity of Man."
the heatises OF Sidgwick, Leckey and
CIodd upon morals and religious devel-
opment. He concluded with some gen
eral remarks, saying, among other
things, eff you are interested in some
one great thought, or some one line of
thought, you VIII never be lonesome"
Professor Scott was listened to with
close attention for the hour that he oc-
cupied, and was heartily applauded as
he resumed his seat. Questions were
! asked the lecturer upon several points
before the meeting dispersed, which he
answered with evident satisfaction to the
querists The chairman thanked the
speaker Of the evening in behalf OF the
audience for his lecture, and said he
hoped the next talk of the series would
/ take place without long delay.