The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-01

War of the Roses" and the
lives Of all the great warrior kings of Eng
land from Henry the Second down to
Henry the Seventh. He should read the
biographies of Marlborough, Give, Nelson.
Wellington and the history of British
India. He should read the history of
English literature from Chaucer down TO
Tennyson; the biographies Of all the great
English statesmen from Lord Bacon down
to Gladstone. This is not essential TO
man who only wishes TO master the mere
dry, cyclopedic facts OF English history,
but il is desirable for a man who wishes 70
have his knowledge become food for intel
ligent thought, useful and agreeable reaec-
ton; that is valuable culture.
To do all this would not take so very
much time, if the young man has any real
thirst and love OF knowledge for its own
sake, and without this thirst it is OF little
consequence whether he reads history or
not. The books referred to could all be
read within five years, if the young man
gave one evening week 10 the work, be-
cause the biographies are now issued in
small, compact shape. Taine's English
Literature is good book 10 read. The
young man would do we'll TO read literally
of such standard English poets as he likes,
because in no other way can he acquire so
good vocabulary OF simple, sound En-
glish words; the speech Of the sidewalk;
the speech that men use who seek to write
or speak to the public desiring to make
81 Gle
Tom Corwin, of Ohio, and Roscoe Conk-
ling were two of the most impressive cam
paign orators in America and were neither
Of them college bred men. Both confessed
how they acquired their magnificent
vocabulary. Corwin said that he read
Milton, Shakespeare and Byron. He read
Milton for his superb English; for the
rhythm of his diction, as well as the
solemnity of his thoughts. He believed
that a man saturated with Shakespeare
could easily maintain pre-eminence when
engaged IN oratory before such masses as
assemble on political occasions. He read
Byron for his descriptive power, for the
melody of his verse and for his exquisite
imagery. "These," said he, care my am
munition, and it is my opinion that man
of average capacity, if he will become
familiar with these authors and will prac-
tice public speaking, can conquer its mys-
terles and be esteemed among the ablest. :"
ConkIing knew Milton and Byron by
heart; and Webster was a profound stu
dent of Milton, Shakespeare and Byron.
Wherever Webster makes poetic allusion
it is drawn from one of these poets or from
Pope's translation of Homer. In one of
his great speeches he uses the description
of the ghost of Banquo from Macbeth with
great effect; in another the lines of Byron
commencing $50 the struck eagle" and in
another Homer's description of the shield
of Achilles. Wendell Phillips, too, when
he seeks poetic illustration turns to Mil
ton, Shakespeare or Byron, and his vocab-
ulary is like that of Webster. composed of
short, sound, sweet strong, simple, nervous
English words; the words that every poet
who touches the souls and hearts rather
than the cold understandings of men is
forced to employ. For the United States
the young man, who desires more than
the cyclopadic chronological scheme or
historical summary of events, will need to
read upon the same lines already suggested
for mastering English history. Let him
read George Bancroft, II. II. Bancroft and
McMaster; read Greeley's American Con-
fiict; Scribner's Campaigns of the Civil
War" and the Century's BATTLES and
Leaders," Blaine's Twenty Years of Con-
gress." Read the biographies of every
American statesman from the days of
Franklin, Sam Adams, John Adams,
Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard
Henry Lee and Jefferson down to
those of Lincoln, Andrew, Morton, STAN
ton and Grant. Read Adams history of
the administrations of Jefferson and Mad
ison, and the lives of Clay Calhoun, Web
ster, Jackson, Van Buren,, John Quincy
Adams, Benton, William Lloyd Garrison,
Chase, Seward, Sumner. Read the
Misunderstanding Tales; Parkman's history
of the "French Dominion in Canada" the
speeches of Wendell Phillips, and the his
tory of American literature from Franklin
down to the golden age, which includes
Emerson, Hawthorne, Longfellow Lowell,
Whittier and Holmes.
If a young man wants only dry facts the
cyclopadia will serve his turn, but if he
wants historical culture and taste that
will be JOY to him when his season of
busting life and vigorous outdoor exercise
and recreation is over, and advancing age
forbids either very hard work or very hard
play, he will begin with the cyclopedia
and then read along all the lines we have
suggested whenever he has access to Ii
brary or is able to afford one of MS own
foundation by purchase and gradual &C
Cummuation.
The young man can keep up 10 present
events easily enough by reading good
newspapers and standard magazines.
Given the thirst for knowledge the young
man vii find it.