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

ScOJU, Oltalre btttne, riCiluer anu
others, rank at the very top in
the way of giving purpose and
energy in life.
You will hear old readers say
q great deal about Boswell's life
of Johnson, but you will probably
be disappointed on perusal. 1t is
worth a day or two's spare time,
however, for the wit and reflection
touching upon the past century, and
it is full of anecdotes concerning
Johnson's companions.
"The English Men of Letters"
series, comprizing such authors as
Byron, Scott, Gray, Southey, Words
worth, ETC., has been supplemented
by ''The Great Writer Series" pub
lished by Walter Scott, London.
Both stand at the very top for
biographical work, though the latter
series has had the advantage of a
later publication, and is more terse
and critical than the other.
For our American authors IL
should obtain the set entitled the
"American Men of Letters.' This,
with Stedman's Library of American
Literature, in eleven volumes, would
perhaps give sufficient fulness for
a small biographical library.
| next give you some names of
masterpieces with the reasons for
reading them. For courage and
contentment under veXatious cir
cumstances, read 1.-THE Vicar of
Wakefield" by Goldsmith. For a
burlesque of those who seek to
redress imaginary wrongs, Dickens
"Pickwick Papers, and "Don
QuiXote.n For force of character,
shining out through poverty, read
Bronte's "Jane Eyre" and Miss
Muloch's John Halifax Gentleman
For the times of Thomas Chalmers
and Edward Irving The Minister'S
Wife," by Mrs. Oliphant. For
m~ountaineer life, works of Charles
Egbert Craddock. For California
mining life, the works of Bret Harte.
For a correction of the abuses of
English schools, Dickens nicholas
Nicklcby." For the rural life of
England, Geo. Elliot's adam Beden
and Thomas IIardy's ''The Wood
landers.' For the stings of con-
science that follow Crime-"The
Scarlet Letter. by Hawthorne, and
''The Silence of Dean Maitlandn
by Maxwell Gray, For remote Roman
life, Bulwer Lytton's "Rienzi'' and
Last Days of Pompeii,n and also,
VIM. Wares ".Aurelian'' and ''Ju-
liam For modern Roman life, Geo.
Elliot's "Romola'' and Crawford's
novels. For the antiquities of Egypt,
the works of Amelia b. Edwards
and Ebers. For the times and
customs of Christ's Day, Ben llurn
by Lew Wallace. For Scottish tradi-
tons and customs, Wilson'S Tales
of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Chiefs''
-Scott's novels and those of George
Macdonald. For a portrayal of the
Crusades, Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe.''
For a true account of Indian abuses
II. II. Jackson's Ramona" Fol
a knowledge of the Creoles of the
South, the works of Gable. Fol
street life in Paris, the works o
Eugene Sue and Lies Miserables''
by Hugo. For outdoor life. "Walden''
by Thorean; Fresh Fields' by
Burroughs, by Ways and Bird
Notes" by Maurice Thompson; and
"Nature's Serial Story by T.. p.
Roe.
In all these there is more OF
less of fiction, and yet where would
n go to get such graphic pictures
if these We're denied TO us. 1his
leads me to say there is a great
deal of cant (rant) atloat concerning
fiction. Remember, young ladies ant
gentlemen, that this is the era o.
fiction, as the E~lizabethan perioc
was that of the drama. The thoughts
of our literary creators are now
running into the molds of fiction.
Fiction is the vehicle for poetic,
dramatic, philosophic, socialistic and
even theol6gic ideas. He who would
therefore ban fiction must ban the
brightest, purest thoughts extant. e
There are a few other books o
great scope, which | will venture tt
urge upon your attention, boil
for your own good and that o
scholars. Gibbons Bridge owe.
from the Old World to the New
you will be sure to own and rec,
ommend, even if you tire of hi
three claused sententiousness. Eng
lands life, literature and religion
was eve better represented thai
in Green's "Short History of Englisl
People" For the most complet4
story of the habits and custom
of all the barbarous nations | shout
read Woods "Uncivilized Races.
P~rescott's Conquest of Mexico
=. will give you the best view c
Spanish Dominion in America, Will
Parkman's works will unfold t
you the Settlements by the French
Justin Winsor's massive eight
volumed edition of American histor
=