The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-01
what Books Shall We Read ?

There is q story of freshman who stood
undismayed before the long and lofty array
of well-hled shelves in his college library.
and who only wanted t. know where 1t was
usual to begin. We cannot undertake to con
ecture how long he would have held out if
he had been allowed 70 carry out his heroic
intention of attacking the whole mass in the
order of its arrangement. There are dull
people who never hni anything too dull TO
read and whose spirit of tnOroughness is
superior 70 entertainment. They are suf-
fciently rewarded when they can say that
they have read the thing. Unfortunately. the
art OF iudicious skipping IS only acquired by
experience. and one must 60 through vast
deal of chat before he learns where the wheat
is stored Something may be gained, doubt
less by consulting those who have gone
before us through the worlds wide
wilderness OF books. but no amount OF
good advice can save us wholly from
waste of precious time and eyesight in that
quarter Some benevolent persons have of
late made out lists Of books that ought 20 be
read and OF books worth reading, but such
lists are open 10 the criticism that they ara
not identical IL Is. indeed hardly possible
Tor one man to tell another what is worth
reading. A question of that sort must DO
largely determined by taste and tendency.
What is interesting 20 one may prove stale.
fat and improbable TO another. A thing TO
be remembered always Is that what one wants
in a book is not simply instruction or amuse-
ment but suggestion as well IL a writer can
help you 70 he original, L lie can put you in
the way of discovery, he can help you more
than another who has merely gwen you some
thing of his own.
Moreover. a bare list Of original books will
not save one from the fatigue OF repetition
and the monotOny OF oft-repeated echoes.
There may be in a bulky volume Just one
valuable chapter Just one priceless thought.
II is important TO skip not merely books
but the useless parts OF books that
ara altogether polntiess or COMMONPLACE.
Young people are told that they should finish
what they begin lest they should lose the
habit of thoroughness and that power Of
persistence which ~ re ul.itc 10 scholarship;
Tut an enlightened student reads up hls sub
ject and skips what is irrelevant to the matter
in hand Il would be a mistake. however TO
suppose that books are TO be read only for
what they directly communicate. or even for
what they suggest in the line of their proper
subject matter. A great deal may
DO learned from reading books. and
particularly old books. between the lines.
TO understand the past we must get at its
mind. its standards of taste, its ideals A
Nations literature is largely. If not wholly.
the explanation of its history and its very
mistakes are luminous when contemplated
from that point of view. Ivy. for instance.
travels far beyond the bounds of softer his
tory aud fingers long III tho region of myth
and legend; but that part of his work is by no
means worthless. for the traditions OF
people. however incredible they may have
become. illustrate its character and disclose
something Of its inspiration Many readers.
perhaps the majority, follow Mr. Andrew
tang's amless plan. and read only what in
teres.s them. We cannot go 40 far as to in
dorse that desultory course without qualifca-
ton. for one may learn 10 like things for
which he has distaste at the outset. and in
clipation is not q perfectly safe guide. Put
when your AVERSION is incurable, il 1, fair TO
conclude that there IL little profit TO be
gained, at least by you.--New Orleans Plea.
yune.
Americas Literary Freedom.