Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-09-01
Reading to Protit-Part l.
From The JefersOnian, by ]. L, LODGE,
d. D., Editor.

The title Is broad enough, and the mate.
rial abundant, for large book. The future
may produce a series of articles on this pro-
life and profitable theme; but at present
the purpose is mainly to suggest few points
which the younger members of the Club
may not have considered. Time Is pre-
cious thing; it soon passes, and takes away
with 1t opportunity. The wise treasure ev-
cry moment, for it is their whole possession.
1t requires time to read. We have to decide
whether we will waste or improve 1t. Differ
ent classes of books must be read in differ
ent ways Time was when novel was re
garded by many as close kin to the devil. The
pious snivellers OF to-day have it in their
catalogue of deadly sins to read one. The
fierce denuncation of Jesus did not kill off
| the bred of gnat straining camel-swallow-
ers. 1t does not so terribly atfict them to
know that what by favor is called "the
church" is full of the covetous, of bearers of
| false witness, Sabbath breakers, drunkards,
wholesale rum dealers, forncators who have
"soldered sin with marriage" and the whole
press of heartless whitewashed worldlings.
But all pious people had best be avoided.
Religious people-a very different class
know, II they are sufficiently educated, that
much of the worlds best literature is in the
form of romances and novels. Spurgeon
said that whoever had not read them had
missed the choicest things in the English or
any other tongue. We know that opinion is
correct. 1t is the most ancient method OF
teaching truth. Many of the parallels of
our Lord are pure fiction. Sometimes good
move! is better than bromide. When a
brainy preacher has delivered two sermons,
and taught Bible class 1.-THE latter he ought
never to do, on the same day. let him go
| home and read q first. class novel for two
hours, and then go TO sleep. The pious pinks
| of propriety will shrek at the suggestion.
Let them The able but sleepless preacher
who shall try it will bless me for the coun
sci. The dull ones will not need a soporitic.
This ought to be the chief object in the use
of light literature-tO rest the mind from er-
haustiag studies. The best rest is change OF
work from the desk to the garden; from phi
losOphy to romance. But let the choice be
guarded. The inexperienced would do well
to consult their pastor, or other Judlclous
friend Making a few exceptions, the pro.
auctions of the past quarter of century
are worthless trash, or deadly poison.
The error of many young people is in
reversing the order, and making light liter
AZURE their staple If not exclusive reading
Such course is simply ruinous. The mind
is enfeebled il cannot think; it cannot di.
gest solid productions il cannot originate
ideas, nor reason from premises supplied
The reader who confines himself 10 love
stories, adventure, racy, exciting narratives,
will shortly become mental imbeclle.-
After two consecutive days of such reading
let him try to study Carlyle, Burke, Cousin,
Cicero, Butler, Gladstone, or any deep think
er in science, philosophy, or theology. The
page will be meaningless. 1t will require
some little time Tor the intellect to recover
its power. Let nothing in all this be con
strued as deprecating the love story. You
must read il unless you want your heart t.
harden into shell, and your lace to he grid
ironed with lines of sordld, worldly care
| At 90 | find it as absorbing as at 10; falling
in love at first sight with the sweet girl, but
not over Jealous of the noble young hero
who, suspect, will conquer his own diff
culties, retrieve the i'll fortune OF both and iol
low the lead of benign fate 10 happy issue.
Then, the boy changes back again into the
old man | tie the knot, plead Tor them with
Heaven with choked and fearful utterance,
and bid them God speed AZ they go out into
the world with linked hands and IL divided
hearts. The vision has done me good. The
old (young) days have been lived over again
the Joyous young blood has rushed tumul
tuously through the veins, and there has
been experienced. in some degree, the d6s0
IttteLy pure affection rarely, if ever, felt more
than once in this world Read the love
story. But avoid extremes. They are sell
dom right. Prefer historical romances -
Next, those which Intervene biography.
Sometimes, read very fine novel for the
sake of the style, and take every advantage
of discussion of principles. As rule, no
book is worth reading-except as recon
mended, to recall the blood from the brain
to the heart, to procure sleep-which does
| not compel the use OF a pencil to write out
instantly the thoughts which rush into the
readers mind, or to mark for future use
The greatest use OF the greatest mind Is TO
set another mind on fire and impe 1t 10 do
It's very best work Not what we read, but
what we remember, is Of value. With this
execution: That one who scrutinizes the
style will, alter years OF attention, neon
sci0usLy fall into the habit OF writing ele
gantly. Just as the order and exact word
ing of some grammar rules may have been
forgotten, but the writer has become TYPICAL
grammarian.
We should keep all we get. But how? Who
can recall even the best passages in forty
years of laborious readng2 Cyrus is said TO
have remembered the name Of every soldier
10 his army. Maybe so but we believe
that 10 that one instance Pliny was guilty
of a libel. AT all events, there is no Cyrus
In this Club. Better accept the hel p at hand.
Never let splendid sentence pass you. II
the book is your own, neatly mark IT., 10
characters barely large enough TO catch the
eye. Never draw ugly lines down the mar
gin, and do not underscore the words. II
the book belongs 10 the Club, do not mark ii
at dH-unless you want to pay the price of
a. 80 hu
you strongly bound blank book OF excel
lent quality. Copy the finest passages in
as elegant hand as possible. Refer To the
characters 10 such way as to bring them
up plainly after many years sometimes, To
give you hearty laugh sometimes, to yield
you purifying tears. The Accommodations
will surprise and delight you. Suppose,
each one of our SO members reads IL books
a year-many are reading twice that mum
ber-872 books read, and perhaps 1000
choice quotations ever at hand Let every
reader make il an inviolabe rule TO devote
one hour every day to the study Of his selec
tons. Try to imagine the uplifting and re.
Hnlng influence OF 56 such minds upon 4
community
Books Of quotations are miserable things
Sentiments are cut off from their connection,
compiled for mte by some one else, cold, dead
words, that cannot stir your blood nor urge
your mind TO action. You do not see a0hy
the words were employed what passion or
what horror gave them birth and lose en-
tirey the sympdthy which contains the whole
force. Go down into the mine. yourself, dig
for the gold, and make 1t yours. Treasure
| IL up, heap on heap, counting it DER and
DER all your life long, when you begin to
compose just what you need will flash be
fore you, with such repetion that it will be
necessary to Gull from the superflulty, and
what you use Of another's will fit into your
own as IL both minds had been one. The
writer is actually thinking the same thing,
and merely clothes his thought In the die
ton which delights him. II poor con
versatio nalist--which most deep thinkers
are-the love OF the ages will enrich your
mind and Timber up your speech and every
allusion 0: the cultivated will charm, be-
cause you understand them, and are rich 10
possession. Your wealth will make you a
splendid iisteRsr-the most delightful com
| ra nion nnon Garth