The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-12-17

ed for the work of arother day. On he
other hand the student must likewise
have some recreation, and this he finds
in reading something which was not
written primarily for either of the two
purposes of readir 6 which we have been
considering; although it often falls out
that one may get both intellectual and
spiritual help from a book written mainly
to give pleasure. Most of the reading
for recreation at the present day is 10 the
realm of fiction, and here we find very
wide field of choice. During the year
1890, in the United States alone, we're
published Ills works of fiction, and
the difficulty of keeping up with the
times in this respect may be understood
wheE 1, professedly reading man, am
obliged to say that [ cannot recall the
title of single book published in that
year. So the books of to-day and yester-
day will have to be left out of this &C
count; nor shall go far back in o the
past and dig Fielding and Smollett out
of the dust of years for your editieation.
In order to be we'll read one sEoulo
know the standard works of fiction; and
among these in my mind, Sir Walter
Scott stands first. Scott is valuable be-
cause he deale so largely with history.
Although he often takes liberties with
history, yet he owns up and tells you
what the liberties are. l have read
everything that Scott has written, and
several times. 1t may be you haven't
the time to read them all, for he wrote
% romances. For a sample of his work
would suggest Waverley, Tvanhoe, Tai
isman, Woodstock, and Quentin Dur
ward. Dickens, who stands second or
my list, nearly always wrote with pur-
pose; for example, Nicholas Nickleby
was written against cheap schools, and
Oliver Twist against the system, or want
of system of helping the poor. In addi-
tion to these two, if you haven't time for
more, read Pickwick Papers, David Cop,
perfield, Bleak house, Barnaby Ridge.
and Tale of Two Cities. This last, l re-
gard as the most powerful of his stories.
OF course you must have some of Thack-
cray, although he is not a favorite of
mine however, Vanity Fair, The New
comes, and Henry Esmond will give you
an idea Of his peculiar style. Bulwer
also must have a place. l would sug-
gest The Caxtons, My Novel, A Strange
story. OF a later date George Eliot
stands high with the reading world, al
though [ am inclined to think it is taste
to be acquired But Middlemarcb, The
Mill on the Floss, Adam Bede, and Silas
Mariner will enable you to find out
whether you will Join the ranks of her
admirers or not. Still later comes George
Macdonald whose every line is well
worth reading, as there runs through all
bis work vein of PLAIN, every day
christianity. He has written many
books, but The Annals of a Quit
Neighborhood, Wingfold Curate,
Sir Gibbie, Malcolm, and The
Marquis of Louis will we'll repay peru
sal. Next to my thought comes Edns
Lyall, who has struck some noble blows
for Christianity by means of fiction.
Donovan, We Two, and The Knight En-
rant must serve as samples of her work.
Charlotte Yopge has also a long list o.
rom4nces which are both Christian and
churchly, of which L will ment on the
Heir of Radcliffe, andi Dyneror Ter
race. Mrs Whitney is beautiful writ
err, and if you read Hitherto, you will
want to read everything else that she
has written. Last of all L will mention
one name that will call up visions of very
pleasant reading ito some minds, Mary
E. Wilkins, but if you find anything
with her name on the cover, you can
mark it as safe, clean and interesting.
have been forced to treat my subject
in very cursory way or make my lee,
ture too long; hence / have not put
down many OF my own favorites, but If
/ can give your minds push in the d.
rection of right reading, 1 shall not have
spoken altogether in vain.