The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
III. READING COURSES AND 4
GIRLS LIBRARY.
The Value OF Reading.

This IS an era q knowledge Women
and men OF education were never more
needed than at the present day. The in
formation Of the daughter should when
she becomes G woman surpaSs that which
the mother possessed az the same age
The attainmeuys which sutECed 4 quarter
of q century ago viii not answer al pres
euL Il IS not possible for every girl 20
attend a high school until she receives Z
graduation diploma At the same time
II IS cheering 20 know that very few
young persons have any excuse for grow
ing up IN ignorance The most intelligent
and useful women are not all included
among those who received the valued
Parchment OF coumencemenC day
MScy z happy home IS presided over BY
z woman whose name was never pub
lished in The honor class lists ot school OF
college Chicago and other large cities II
America have thousands OF homes made
comfortable and beautiful oy ladies' who
when girls had 70 assist in making Itv-
ing for themselves before the age OF 3
was reached. This Is not said 70 dtspar-
age the benefits OF educational tustiCu-
lions Indeed, the advantages OF high
schools and colleges are becoming more
reco guized every day. L IS apparent.
however. that the great mass OF people
cannot afford 20 remain long az school
are they 70 remain Igu0rdnr2 Are the
many avenues o. usefulness which ara
open only 70 persons of Intelligence 20 oe
closed % those who scarcely eu-ered the
grammar school2 Has the girl who IS
obliged 70 remain az home and 70 assist
her mother IN h0usswork no chance Of
becoming fairly well izformed2 Must
progress II knowledge cease for the one
who IS 10 longer called by the teacher 5
beII7 Is the period % education ended for
the young women who work IL factories
stand behind the counter Or 60 out 70
seEvice2 l negative reply must be given
70 each cf these inquiries
The girl who reads good books IS not
likely 10 remain unsducated- The benefits
q reading. observation and reflection are
open 70 all The proper study Of books
viii put Z young woman II possession o.
knowledge which promotes her happiness
and usefulness. knowledge viii give her
skill IN discharging the duties OF life and
tncrea sed power IN executing its purposes
Many { woman has received an tuspira-
rfoa from & book that has lifted her 20 I
higher position n society. There Is NJ
more potent stimulus 70 higher life
than the words q good men and women
as recorded n their writings. Books make
ueo1Ie think L IS the rhoughtless girl
that remains uaeduca-ed- Books are e
means OF refinement and culture The
Young woman who wishes 20 have z
clear head. Z weII-s-ored mind and 2 sym
Darhetfc heart viii be helped II her pur-
pose by judicious reading. The beauty
and grandeur of what Is past or distant IS
dark 20 the person who does not read
The girl who can raad with appreciation
The works ot eminent writer's places her
self il contact with z spirit far larger
than her own. To hold converse with
the great and the good IS possible for
-va-- ore who will study the pages o. HI
srarI1re. The works Of Shakespeare, NIL
ton. Tennysou and Lo1gfeIlow have power
20 promote noble sentiments, 70 give Re
fnenenr OF manner and 20 inspire %
higher aims the struggle of life No girl
can read the writings Of Emerson, George
Eliot. Hawthorne or Dickens without feel
ing an impulse 70 greater usefulness