The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-15
Our Special Contributors---ISo5.
A CHAT ON BOOKS.
by FRhDERICk SAUNDERS,
Librarian of Astor Library, New York.

they have something inside their
covers that will be good for you, and
that they are willing and desirous to
impart it to you. Value them and
endeavor to turn them to account"
Books that are books have certain
refining and elevating influence upon
character, subtle power to gentilize
and correct the asperities and dis
courtesies that prevail.
"The man that hath a library's full stcre,
Hath much of riches in little space;
The minds rich tilth of those who went before,
Compressed to essence for the readers grace.
All that was good in Plato lives again.
And fructifes today, as Greece of yore;
Homer. nor Virgil. wrote no word in vain.
The brains wise word to studious brain is lore.
No drop of well script wisdom ever dies,
The salt of wit is like the briny sea;
From part to part the quickeniDg SAVIOR flies,
Till not drop unsalted found may be
A books the precious relic of the mind.
A students legacy TO all mankind"
Tuckerman says, at is remarkable
that the persons whose relish for
books is the most keen, who read
sympathetically, not merely to store
the memory, and weave ties of fa-
miliar and endearing association with
beloved authors, should invariably
repudiate the idea of an extensive IL
brary." A select collection is better
than great assemblage f miscella-
neous books. To test the tendency
of book, whether good or evil, ex-
anime in what state of mind you lay
it down after perusal.
Charles Lamb was fond of old
books, and like Southey and some
others, used to venerate grim old
folios. Readers of new books of
fiction exclusively are said to be liable
to mental dyspepsia; but literature
that has passed the ordeal of criti-
cism proves, usually, more healthy
diet. There is proverb which runs
thus:
There's nothing hath enduring youth,
Except old friends. old books and TRUTH
1t has been justly said that so great
is the mass of our book heritage, that
it is impossible for any one to make
himself acquainted with hundredth
part of it. So our only resource is to
f,,l Of
books on various branches of knowl-
edge. Hence the modern methods
of condensation, a double economy of
cost, both of time and money, to the
reader. Life being brief, and quiet
leisure intervals few, epitomized his
tories and treatises are to be preferred
for general use. and such manuals
are now, happily, rendered accessible
to all. Newspaper literature, as well
as that of the reviews and magazines,
which are SO ubiquitous, need not,
and do not, usurp the province of
books-they all have their appropri-
ate mission.
Some persons indulge a wayward
fancy, and read at hazard any book
that is near at hand. Such a desulto-
ry habit rather impairs than invigor-
ates the mental appetite. The test
of good book is known by it's infiu-
ence, and by its inspiring noble
thoughts and aspirations. Aristotle,
when asked by what criterion he
should Judge of the merit of a book,
replied, when the author has said
everything he ought, nothing but
what he ought, and said that as he
ought" There may be such thing
as mental dissipation. Omnivorous
readers are often none the better or
wiser, because they read mechanical
ly and without assimilating their in
tellectual food. Lastly, there should
be respect, even reverence, cher
ished for good books" according to
Millions estimate of them. They
should be carefully guarded from
rude handling, and well protected
with neat coverings, and placed in the
best apartment of the home. And
while we hold in deserved esteem the
great heritage of books, let us not
forget our great obligations to the
first printer of Gutenberg.
Books, like human beings, have a
sad history sometimes. Although
they minister so generously to our
intellectual pleasure, too often they
are accustomed to receive from us in
return neglect instead of protection.
If we really prize them for the pleas
ure they impart, we ought at least to
protect from injury their bodily
forms, the material shapes that en-
shrine their spiritual essence. There
is no society established for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Books, yet it
may be urged that such an institu-
tion would be another onward step in
our Y,rooressive civilization Sonoa