Idaho semi-weekly world., 1890-09-05
THE READING OF NOVELS.
1t Is the Most Complete and Satisfactory
Rest for the Working Mind.

Rest for the Working Mind.
1t is significant fact that many of
the hardest intellectual workers turn
at times to fiction with intense and
eager interest. After the tension of
prolonged thought or sustained investi-
CATION the mind is immensely refreshed
by contact with human life in some
good story. In the first despairing mo-
ments which followed the confession to
Carlyle that part of the manuscript of
the French Revolution" had been de-
stroyed, the great Scotchman, whose
working power was phenomenal, tells
us that he plunged into Marryat's nov-
els to secure distraction, and that the
effort was successful. Bismarck, one of
the most powerful minds of the century,
Is always surrounded by piles of the
most recent novels; while Gladstone,
another pre-eminently vigorous and
trained intellect, is continually show
ing his intesst in fiction by public
comments and concentrations. 1t is
sometimes mans duty to leave the
serious books in his library untouched
and to devote himself entirely to the
llghtest novels upon which he can Law
his hands.
Since many of the masterpieces of
literature are in the department of fic.
tion, it is hardly necessary to add that
there are many novels which ought to
be studied as one studies a plav of
ohakespeare's or poem of Browning's.
ignorance OF the best modern fiction in.
voiVes ignorance of very large part OF
the best modern literature: for in No
other department, save that of criti-
clsm' has the modern mind been so
actlve and so creative. One returns
again and again to George Eliot's
earlier novels for their profound NH.
iosophy OF life, their wonderful INSIGHT
INTO character, their sustained and no.
PIE eloquence of style. "Adam Beden
The Mill on the Floss" and "Romolan
are as serious and substantial contribu-
tlons to human knowledge, in eyerv
way as worthy of profound study. "a
Montaigne's Essays" or Carivle's
nero Worship" or Macaulay's brill
iant dissertations. They are not books
70 read lightly or for mere entor,
talnment; they are books to ho
studied; they are masterpieces not onIv
III ehe nneness of their form, but he.
cause they contain the 'life-blood of
master spirit, embalmed and treasured
up on purpose to a life beyond life "
ihese novels are named, not becans.
1ney are pre-eminently above otbor
novels, but because thew renresont
whoie class OF books of the highest and
me, more lasting interest and imnortanno a
Inc great novelists have been amonn
'ne great teachers of this century one
can not know France without knou,ire
baizac, nor England without knew.
4 rnackeray, nor Russia without knowinss
Iourgueneff, nor Germany U%lhg n,,.%g
showing Heyse, nor Spain WITH. ou.
knowing Valdis. "i'hout
when you are tired, anxious Or ovon
suruened' the immediate duty ia tho
duty OF rest, and there is no form 20 %, , sne
70 complete for the active WORKING =, ,nins res'
Is the reading of good story Whau ,u,au
you are in the working mood az mhen
knowledge of life and for the Tsvt st"dn 10, o,
literary art, read the great noveIs a. oi
SrimiGnatingly, intelligentiy, thought d,s.
E-Christian Union. sn'iui-