Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-03-09

so. The fact Of the case is that the
best that one gets from literature can
not be examined upon or even brought
forth on paper, any more than you
could profitably analyze the character
OF friend, or convey to another the
the effect produced upon you by q
good sermon. But the benefit derived
Is none the less real. A good teacher
in the schoolroom, leader OF a club
or home reading circle can guide, di-
rect and help to interpret, but can do
little more. The communion with the
spirit of the author is the main
thing. This cannot be gained without
Study; without as hard thinking often
times as is required by problem in
geometry. Literature is an express
sion of the truths Of life as seen by
the master minds of each generation.
ITO grasp these truths will tax the
highest powers Of finterpretation-not
merely of verbal analysis nor of form
and style, but also the still higher art
of analysis of sentiment, ethics and
thought. Every work of art, be IL n
picture, melody, or writing, has In it
some central principle of life; Just az
every man whose life Is life in anv
true sense Of the word, not mere af.
fair OF chance, impulse, mood or acci-
dents, has some central principle
which dominates and controls his
acts" This central principle, this in
forming thought is Of first Importance
In our study. No writing can ever be
said to be too truly grasped till it is
analyzed, either mentally or in writ
ing.
There is a difference between
snyposis and such an outline as I
mean. l frequently ask my students
to make such analysis. In response
to my request, some bring me ESSAYS:
some bring citations from the work
which form sort of resume OF the
whole; some bring synopsis OF the
greater thoughts, and a few tho
kind l wish-such an analysis as is
based in the motive principle OF the
work and so made as to show the
orderly development OF the theme
from point to point In the work. This
Is not easy to do In some works, but it
10 source Of greatest profit and also
pleasure. Prof. Dowden says, "The
happiest moment In the house OF
study is when seemingly by some divf-
nation, but as the result OF patient
observation-thought, he lights upon
the central motive of a great work.
Then, Of sudden, order begins To
form itself from the crowd and chaos
Of his Impressions and ideas. There fs
moving hither and thither, q group-
ing or co-ordinating Of all his recent
experiences, which goes on OF its own
accord, and every instant his vision
becomes clearer and new meanings dis
close themselves in what had been
lifeless and unillumined. It seems q
II he could even stand by the an
thor's side and cooperate with him n
creating
There are two general classes OF lit
eraturs, the frst of which 10 often
considered the only one OF practical
value, but the other is eventually the
more practical Of the two. There are
certain kinds Of books and certain
kinds Of experience which are good for
us a. adding to our stock OF informa-
tion and SO widening our field OF use
fulness; there are certain other books
and experiences which are Of value TO
us because they quicken our pulses
and give fresh incentives to life and
action. just as brisk walk In the
air on cold day acts like magic to
set the blood tingling and the
thoughts stirring, so some books
quicken US and ''rouse all the love OF
our neighbor, the impulses toward ac-
tion, help, beneficence, the desire for
removing human error, clearing hui
man confusion and diminishing hu-
man misery-the noble aspiration to
leave the world better than we found
it," which( Mathew Arnold says)should
be the main motive Of ali culture.
"the spreading abroad of sweetness
and light" / believe the greater value
of literature Is not SO much informa-
tion as inspiration and a pre-reuuisite
for its understanding is to enjoy.
The best Shoe and Disc Drills on
a = QY.d a fsn A 4.
at j. A. HEeEMAN's,
d0-wo prnnIix<.. (,