The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-25
EDITORS CHAT.

Reading Circles and Their Advantages TO
All Who Participate.
What are the advantages of a reading circle to
one who has plenty of books and papers at hand,
inquiries c. c. member.
The advantages are many and great. One may be
surrounded with books and yet not read. One may
read and read and get good Of reading.
To one who knows how to read understandingly.
q solitary course may be followed up with profit.
But how few there are who know this; or if they
do how limited is the line OF their choice
The whole system of education is based upon the
principle that there things worth learning, and
that in order to learn must be taught how to
learn.
Thus we have textbooks which teachers inter-
pref and pupils follow The primary reading circle
Is the class. The college diploma is but
token that the recipient has been diligent attend.
ant upon the class and all the reading circles of
primary and secondary, preparatory and collegiate
grades
Every pupil who enters school joins a reading
circle, study club. Some follow along through
the preliminary grades, and drop out. others take
. full publie-school course and few GO through
the University curriculum. and when they achieve
their degrees popularity supposed possess the
combined knowledge of the ages.
Truth is all these but novitiates in the great
school of life. They have acquired little knowl-
edge OF the vast amount there is to know, and of
the means must use in order to know it. That
js all.
Here then. is where the reading circle or literary
club since one should embrace the other. comes
in. 1t may begin in the home circle friends and
neighbors coming in one by one to take their
part, either readers interpreters or sympathetic
listeners
Or It may be weekly gathering, bringing in all
that is best in the country round about. There
he n inn Ia
In any movement. and critic will be found OF
advantage. But the principle thing is to read, and
90 read with determination 70 find out all there
Is to learn in the course mapped out
What you shall read is quite another question.
Usually mixed course is preferable. In any case
do not eonfine yourselves to ancient history or
Light fiction. Combine the grave and the gay the
ponderous and the piquant if you would popular
iEe your Circles and embrace all intelligent classes
older and younger.
THE QUESTION BOX
Current topics should not be forgotten, and
question box lends pleasant variety. At each
meeting members will come prepared TO drop
questions into the box. At the close of the meet
ing the box viii De opened by the Secretary and
the contents placed in the hands of some one
appointed TO receive and answer the questions and
read the answers at the next meeting.
A CRITICS BOX.
In Iircies where critic IS objected to- 10 be
found useful to secure the advantages Of criticism
in this way, through a critics box.
For instance. some one nispronounces q name
A member will write piece of paper and pass
70 the question box the inquiry. "what is the
correct pronunciation of AgricoIa?" 1t will be
the duty Of the critic 10 look up the proper pro-
nuncisiion and give it at the next club meeting.
Oh, WHAT A MISTAKE!
Some one will say, My life Is too busy to Join
any kind of club circle" Mothers often say
this fathers, whose life is a dry humdrum of daily
toll wage workers Of every class say IL, teachers
not excepted.
Oh. what a mistakei The healing waters Of life
are ready. and you refuse 10 drink Truth is these
are the very classes which secure the most benefit
from intellectual diversion Toll is all the lighter
II the impoverished mind is fed and stimulated
1t was never meant That man should rise up aud
lie down Is the beasts that perish.
know woman who for years found no time 10
read until far into tine night when the household
for which she had toed from early dawn, were all
asleep. But she always subscribed for her maya
zine, and kept inviting book at hand and Sit
ting down. too tired 10 Sleep she would read
her allotted portion aud retire 10 rest; and her
hungry mind, reveling ia the feast enjoyed would
transport her TO the isles Of the best while she for
got her aching hands and feel and the tolls and
VoUoies manifold Of long and wearIsOne day.