Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-19
Whit TO Read, and How.
By Charles VI. Graves)


Not long ago there entered the leading
college of his State youth born and
bred in the country, far from the in
huences Of city life. He was read in but
few books-the Bible and those Of the
standard religious sort found in nearly
every country home-books that are
bought mainly because they are good.
Never before his first day al college had
he seen inside OF a large and elegantly
furnished library. He told me Of the thrill
Of gladness and eXaltation that ran
over him as his eye fell upon case after
case, down long rows, and the thousands
of precious volumes they contained.
The room was a large one, elegantly
finished In hardwood and fresco; strong
and shapely steel pillars, fiuted and paint
ed in a rich gold rose from floor TO
ceiling The light from the great windows
almost touching each other on each side
of the hall fell upon the gold, and was
reflected in every direction, and falling,
In turn, upon the dark glass fronts OK the
bookcases, was reflected ana scattered
again.
Rut in another moment the reaction
came. AS he gazed upon the massive
cases resting at regular intervals the
length Of the hall, and through the fronts
upon the clothed aspirations, loves ana
thoughts Of all ages deep teehI5 Oh MS
own littleness came over MIN, s"elHhs
like an ocean tide. came as no such eA-
perience ever come.
when a lad he used to look up TO the
great oaks at his fathers door, and nave
a wondering fear a their size, but as ne
grew older he knew them better learned
to love them as big play-tellows. Olteh
had he caught in his cap the acorhh ll"'
thew tossed him-but the books, the DOORS,
no could never become acquainted
With them. certainly not with them all
though he should live ever so long
Then. indeed, standing there the ques-
ton came TO him which mas puz|leu ~
many young men-a very grave questou'
,oo-'unon which the goodness and useful
80, ~ a human life depends: What
ebaIl I read. and howe" 1t is so easy TO
see his trouble. There were thousands
of noble books he had never read, many
ne had never even heard OF, so many,
indeed. that though he live many
wears beyond mans allotted time,
he could not read the half OF
them. He must choose from them
which must he choose? Somebody
should help him.
MANY wears ago. in a rugged and noun
famous part of Fairyland, there WIS
beautiful little valley. IT was always June
there. and the spot looked IKE plt oi
smiling paradise. But IT was very diHlCuil
70 reach this valley. one who would come
IN II had TO climb over great boulders ana
run the risk Of falling and killing NM
ee,s one had to climb up mountain on
one side and down the other no matter
which way ne came. There were no
masses through this mountain.
great many springs were IN the VAL
lev Some were OF sweetest water, ana
when he who was thirsty began TO drink
Of them he could not stop Til he was
nearly dead. and fell in his tracks from
weakness. But the water was pure all
the time. Yet not all the springs were
sweet. Some were very bitter ana uh-
pleasant TO the taste at first. III one
drank Of them, though, several times the
water would at last seem sweet TO him,
and ii would cure every hurt Of the body
and mind. bringing back perfect health. |
There were yet other springs which were |
sweet and looked pure at first, but pres
entity. as the adventurer drank, they be-
came very bitter, and began 10 look |
ilthy and unwholesome. If one drank OF |
them very long ne would die. These |
springs. and there were many Of them,
even In this lovely spot. were the most
attractive TO look upon, and everybody |
who came TO the valley who was very
thirsty and he was apt to bs from the
lard climbing. ran first TO them. There
would have been many deaths, no DOUBT
lad not the Queen Of the country put a
rood fairy 10 watch there to show the
weary and sick travellers which springs
O drink OF.
Sometimes a smart young fellow want
d 10 drink OF the hurtful spring, any
way, because the water looked so tempt
ny; then the good fairy would have 10
ak with him a long time 10 convince MN
What was right. =.
This ia a simple tale. but surely l.
erves an end. That valley is the great
brary. The country boy who entered that