The National tribune., 1897-04-22
a HOME LIBRARY.

Fin r. Morrow, Tennessee, writes: wonid
ba Glad if Won would tell Us In 1HE national
TRTRtrSE something about forming private
library also tell US il you think IL e'oo l,,an
10 select one author and mold the mind accord.
incIv What modern popular novels would
YOU advise reading?
Tbe creat Cicero has finely said that books
are the food of youth, the delight OF old age;
the ornament of prosperity, the refuge ana
comfort of adversely: delight at nome ana
10 bindrance abroad; companions by night, IN
Eravelng in The country.
There IS genuine satisfaction III the owner
shin of bGols-in the possession oil library no
matter how small il may be. Indeed, some
sort OF a library is as essential IN weH feeu-
lated home as tables and chairs, bedroom fur-
nishings and carpets As for myself "ohio
rather do without the carpets and have only
painted floors than TO be deprived of tie books
and walk on the richest moquet and velvet.
Victor Hugo who wrote with q pen of IRE
and whose insight into human motives was
keen and scathng said that our best compan-
ions were books for they are sure and cool
friends: and surely friends like these are the
ones that we want TO cultivate and draw close
us.
The inability TO read but a few books is not
80 serious misfortune as might at hrst sight
appear Books are designed more to quicken
our intellectual faculties discipline our minds,
and teach Us to think clearly than 10 give us
speci fe information.
As to the advisability Of choosing one author
and mastering il, i would most certainly say
YES One good book made ones own is worth
more than a hundred hastily pernsed. DIR.
Johnson has said that thorough study OF
masterpiece of literature would make anyone
powerful antagonist. 1t would always be well
10 remember that books should be IN their
morals and intellectual elements better ana
stronger than the reader, so that they may
IL, L. hata iatpa
our mental standards in literature, as in life,
should be avoided. 1t is only by looking M al
ways up that we may hope TO obtain our high
est Development.
In regard to modern novels. many of them
are hut the reflex of the fads and foibles of
fashionable society, and have no permanent
value. / think il is a good plan TO wait until
book has successfully celebrated its first birta-
Gay before purchasing it.
Forming a library, like furnishing house.
should be a process OF slow accumulation, not
awholesale acquiring of everything at once,
with no possibilities in the future. lit is the
personal care and attention We give to the
selection of the books. well as the labor and
money involved, that gives the library Its ln-
effable charm and intrinsic value. Eacn
volume has its history. One has perhaps
changed our entire bent and altered the whole
current of our lives. One is associated with
recovery from dangerous illness; another
suggests Summer afternoon under the trees,
or some pleasant journey; and still another
brings 70 mind dear friend or some tender
bit of sentiment. And so it is not only the
hooks but what they suggest that makes our
library one of our most precious treasures.
First cultivate love for books, and the IN
stinct to collect them will be the natural out
come. Whatever book awakens the interest
of the reader will control his attention; and,
therefore, in beginning course of reading. 1t
would be well TO select a suhject in which you
t.cnl- ia lx-
mastered will suggest another line of thought.
and in this way you will find your tastes
broadening, your desire for knowledge lncreas-
ing aad your bookshelves filling.
1t is surprising how many good books we can
buy with little forethougbt and selfdenial
and sacrifice in some other direction.
When ] think of how many books men con-
sumo in smoke, and how many volumes girls
chew in gum, am possessed to take ali OF the
tobacco and all of the gum in the world and
burn them in one gigantic bonfire with flame
so bright that every home in the land will
be illpmined with the light of promise of
better things to come. Twenty million dollars
worth of gum CONSUMED in America last year
Think of the libraries, both public and private,
that could be purchased with that amount, and
thilk-think about the remedy.
/ suppose / am book crank. am glad i
am. j have reached such a state that instead
of buying new hats trim my old ones with
an idea and bit of ribbon, and buy books with
nay savings. Then instead Of going to sense
less entertainments that would do me no pnssi-
bic good. / stay at home and invest my ticket
money in books. nv bedroom carpet is thread
bare ] really must have new one. No, /
will have straw mating and two rugs
made from the old carpet, aud on my library
sbelves viii be row of new books.
VISIT To RICHMOND.
Charles Z. Randall. Fredonia n. Y made
Ia Rlpnmond Va enferiDp hat
city from Petersburg through Manchester.
crossing the James River at a point above
navigation where the river is full of shelving
rocks. His description of the Capital Of the
late COniederacy follows:
Richmond is built on sloping bluff with
200 foot rise from the James River TO the
highest point. The principal streets run
parallel with the river. There is trolley
street-car system.
1t was Christmas week, and. as the South
knows 10 Fourth Of July. all the festivities of
the year are merged into the holiday week, in
cudiDg fireworks and the small boy with his
Chinese 1rs-crackers.
j visited the old State House. used the
Confederate Capitol during the war. 1t is sur
rounded by spacious grounds. is Colonial in
style With great open portieo and large white
columns in front. Here is found the cele.
pEated statue Of Washington by Houdon.
Tie tame gray squirrels irolicking about
among the trees ia every direction aud scam
periug over the benches on the grounds is q
very pretty sight. They will come right no 10
your side, begging for nuts and sweets If YOU
hold cut your hands they will climb up and
take their prize from your hands then skip
away TO hide or eat il. The boys have taught
them to search their pockets for nuts. No
dogs are allowed In the Capitol Grounds.
Tie Library is magnificent granite building
The art room contains many historic portraits
not seen elsewhere. from Patrick Henry TO
Jefferson Davis, also many battle scenes from
Confederate standpoint.
1 visited the Confederate Soldiers Home and
Lee Park, where stands the famous monument
erected in memory OF Gen. Robert T. Lee.
Libby Park, donated by the man who owned
the Libby Prison property, occupies high
ground OH the highest point of the city. The
views from there down the James River are
fiBe, also over TO Manchester aud up to Belle
Island. magnificent monument to the Con-
fedeFate soldiers stands ia this park erected
by the Monumental Association.
Chem cal ice works occupy the site OF Libby
Prison, aud there is a box factory across
The street where Castle Thunder stood
There are pleasant trolley rides to the battle
fields OF Fair Oaks and Seven Pines. One OF
she National Cemeteries is at the terminus,
with .357 graves ice brick wall surrounds
the grounds, aud silk flag floats rom the flag.
pole.
From Richmond ] went down the James
River on tie Pocahontas TO Newport News and
IA ira fDsy r.