The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-07-12

STATE UNIVERSITY, WHY MISSOURI
SHOULD HAVE THEM
AND WHAT THEY SHOULD
CONTAIN.
Written Specially for This Paper.
Noah Porter says a book is the
creation of a living man, and, there
fore, expresses more or less of
the personality of the author. 1t
will be well to realize this when
selecting our reading matter. We
should shrink, | think, with horror
from much that escapes from a
base man. But suppose this very
man to he one of our favorite authors
then what? Emerson says, "What
il in a man will come out in his
book.r And do not we older heads
know many authors of whom this
is sadly true? OF course one must
feel interested in what II reads.
No one likes a dry book. And it
is especially true of young people
that they have a forging for that
which excites the mind. Here,
however, comes in the danger. We
initiate those we admire. They
become our heroes, often, even
though they are cut threats. We
follow them breathlessly from scene
to Gene, feeling our very blood
Jingle as they march before us.
This is the season of temptation.
At such a high strain II is liable
to leap away from the true path,
to find himself landing in the briers
of sin. When this occurs, to whose
door shall be traced the causes?
Teachers, as well as librarians, are
in some sense responsible, in the
reading of books, as respects the
attainments of their pupils. Not
that they can easily prevent a
vicious inclination. In spite of
all that can he done by teacher
or parent some children will choose
to walk in paths of perversion. But,
then, much evil can be avoided
by pointing out the better way,
AS respects reading, one should
certainly know what is available
for good mental and moral tissue.
| know of no better way than for
us to walk in the paths we propose
for others. This has been my habit
for years. | neither feel myself
above, nor ashamed of any book
of narrative, or fiction, or poetry,
which is liable to fall into the
readers hands. 1t is my business
to scrutinize it, and if worthy, to
read and digest it. This, according
to the hours | Fan spare, | con
stantly do. | cannot take up your
time now with the surprises | could
SiNS yOu III BlN otllliS tiS
of books you perhaps would think
my eye has never entered into
the heart of. Further, | feel sure
| have been personally protited by
this course as much, or more, thar
by wading through the great deeps
scooped out for the delectation OF
the learned.
Now, to our business. 1t is my
purpose to touch upon such classes
of books as will help in the forma-
ton of libraries. suitable for schools.
and, also, to show their bearings
upon knowledge.
There is nothing in the realm
of books that strikes the thought
of youth like biography. Recalling
my own past reading. Weem's Life
Of Franklin" and of Washington,
and also "Plutarch's Lives leap
at once to the front. Therein are
adventures stirring enough for
any pulse. But there are still other
authors who will not disappoint one.
Suppose one has a turn for books
on heroism, he may SAFELY begin
with L. +. Hale's Boys Heroes
Smiles ''Brief Biographies" he will
find excellent to follow up with,
throwing in Hughes Rugby and
Oxford Adventures for, a relish.
1t will not be amiss to secure
Eggleston's "Hoosier Schoolmaster,''
and Verne's "Michael Strogoff.' -
Abbott's "Napoleon,'' and Fred
erick the Great,n will whet his taste
for military heroes. If these las
are not at hand Grants ''Persona
Memoirs and Lee and His Lieu.
tenants will answer instead. ANY
of these will be better than tn,
"Wild Westn or "Jesse James anC
His Band" for firing up the blood.
should prefer the biographical 70.
mances written by Muhlbach ant
Mendt to the trash sold on tn
trains. The finest conception I eve
obtained of Martin Luther was fror
Mrs. Charles "Schonberg Colt
Family" and the most complet
conception of John Milton | oh
tanned from Max Rings "MiltoI
and His Times.n
One cannot go amiss in patriotism
II he reads the lives of James Otis
Joseph Warren, Alex. Hamilton
Patrick Henry, Albert Gallatin
Thomas Jefferson and Geo. Wash
ton. These are obtained best throug
the American Statesman Series.
For French biography, Lamartine'