West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-08-04

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fact is that minstrel troop, or
most my other equally high toned
pei Torrance. will make the cash
come TO light, even in the hardest
times, which the bare mention of
literary treat will produce tired
feeling. Life is without question
serious enough at best, and amuse
ments brighten ones pathway; yet
it is II hoy character which is pro
dueed by being fed wholly oh light
entertainments.
Ore book will weaken the mind
and Cause unreal views OF life.
Another will stimulate ones think
ing power, and mike the reader
more useful person. The latter
book may cost TO more than the
other, nor take any more time to
read. And again, there is de-
cidcd contrast in actual worth.
though little or none in expense,
either OF time or money, between
a stereoptican entertainment and IL
magic lantern show with It's cheap
| daubs.
The people Of country neighbor-
hoods do not indeed have so many
privileges rs those of towns. Yet
the latter people often fail to i'm
prove their own privileges, while
the seemingly isolated country boy
or girl may do wonders with his
own chances II he only thinks so.
| Ii such one meets n we'll informed
stranger, the latter is pleased. be-
c.use there is basis for compan-
ionship at the very start. But is it
not far more often the case that he
meets either an awkward young
man with whom lie can arouse no
interest except as to how the horse
he rides happens to be spawned, or
else girl who sits as dumb AS an
oyster, practically incapable of
keeping up her end of substantial
conversation ?
Any nation can learn something
from another, be it much or little
A valuable lesson i'm this connec-
ton might be learned from that
strange, distant country, Iceland.
There is not more intelligent or
better informed people in all the
world than the Icelander +. A chlld
ten years old and unable TO read is
entirely unknown. Many farmers
can use several languages, and
books are loaned and re loaned, so
great is tho 'eAgerness Of the people
for knowledge. Aad yet the Ice
landers are very poor and hard.
working. and any of our States is
paradise comp,red with their own
bleak, sterile island. Though both
men and women work indoors dur
ing the long winter evenings. they
fnd time to read and talk about
what they read, and the early
schooling of the children is given
by the mothers.
A few dollars will go quite a way
toward providing an efficient sup
ply of reading matter along the
lines we have indicated. A SER
viceable atlas may be had very
cheap, and it not only gives life
and form to questions like that Of
the present war, but its maps help
one TO better understanding Of.
the descriptive articles which APP
pear IN the newspapers. For giving
clear, definite idea OF our lard.
there Is probably nothing better
than kings Handb Iok of the
United States." IL is mine Of
interesting Information, is profuse.
ly illustrated, Is supplied with
maps. and while it costs about SO,
one gets nearly three times as
much for the money as he does IN
the case of the average subscription
book Of similar price. There are
several excellent "scrap. book" pa
pers and magazines which deserve
very wide patronage. BY reading,
for instance, the "Review OF Re-
views one can hardly fail TO be a
we'll informed person. Another
most excellent paper, and one still
better adapted to general use is
the "PathGnder," Of Washington,
ID. e. 1t comes weekly and costs
but 81 year. 1t is real news
paper, aud is clear and accurate.
Crime. scandal and sensation are