The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-14
THE BOOKS OF TWO WORLDS.


when | was boy Che phrss. sounds like
tho beginning OF fairy taiel used 10 bor
row books from the free library OF my native
town, They we're very deep and learned
books that l took out as readers OF thes.
articles can imagine, They we're always
clean and lonely looking books, for they lived
for months at time on their shelves With
out human being taking the sms...s.t m
terest In their existence. II books like being
read some OF those poor old on-the- shelf
spinstcrs must hsyS been very grateful 10
me. The warm human handling was ro-
served almost exclusively Cor ono class nc-
tlou--naturally. We cali Il Glass NJ tn
England.
One day. while ! stood waiting my turn
with Est OF inhumsn volumes In my hand.
volumes OF which hav. long since forgotten
the very names, | noticed poor little work
ing girl with shawl over her head 90 up
to the desk and I heard her ask for "a
nire novel, pleasels Strange to say, II didn't
touch, me IN the least. for was too bent
on improving my mind" to see anything
but the mental vacuity OF the request My
youthful priggishness didn't Indeed demand
that she should have come GREATNESS for
Herbert Spencer; but at least. said to my
self she might have known what kind OF
novel she wanted. what novelist Else why
read at all?
All. poor girl she knew well enough what
she wanted. and l understand her regret
quito well nowadays. She meant: "Give me
a little draught Of the waters of forsetful-
ness Ny life is very dull and weary. There
no eoior IN H. no music, no Whisper Oh
ureami give me htue pehet OF 'ne OPIUM
OF literature tuat may cream ana i'rse'
me librarian uhaesstoou that sne meant TINS
ne gave ner noVe' Dy MISS hrauuon. auu
as sne 'eit saw her aireaoy changing 'nto
pueness'
Were man with the fairy wand OF
weaitn. one OF me many charming tn'hsS !
would 90 would 90 TO puy o'oiF us'u,
WORKED factory girl OF seams.ress ~ NV 'auU
SET OF MISS hrauuon' sueh DON" ",V wy
AIap'sh Nisns {" 'ne "o'Ar's
"nu 70 some shape OF 'o'ul tno nVeu - y,
az is "a nice novel please, Even great shu
serious people IKE MT ulsuheon'' ie'' 'u"'
need. as we know, and did not carlyle com
fort himself for Mills carelessness win inc
manuscript OF The French Revoluuon py
course OF captain Marrya' les ny ~
means. kind librsrian-"a nice mover, please
1t is only a story YES that's aili you
won't want to read Vt again II isut hera'
ture!' II is only nice novel please
written for the day. II will not make you
young forever las in sense true literature
does) but 1t will make you young again for
few hours. 1t will make you think yvidly
for while OF several other people, ano
quite forget yourself OF course you are
aware that such forgetfainess Is hardly
neral Physical anaesthetics are still looked
somewhat askance upon by certain good
people who think that TO avoid pain IS
form OF spiritual dishonesty, like not payinf
ones bills but mental anaesthetics! such ar
idea borders on the frivolous. Well "a nic'
novel please!" all the snmel
Yves. miss seem to hear the Librarian
say Have you read Mrs Hodsson Bur
nett's latest? It's long uue' nut car
thoroughly recommend H.
"oh! anything by Mrs Hodgson burnet'
cries the young miss in delight ana so sH'
7, and probably so say all OF US mrs pu'
nett happens TO have TWO quuh''os wn''u
value highly NOW fortunate ''i nv
manity and romance II one nad An opp0,
tunity OF examining ner near. ! am SUI
would be found to very Nnu' anu NJ
heart goes much iurtner IN u'era 'u'e 'u"
critics realize One could name seNers
not t,rd hearts. But of course, Mrs Bur
~. a.t,,,,rorI, lever bead TOO
J ne" nse p"' -, ,..,,,, ,.,,io,
IN IL and (most important "and') she ha
stor,ss 70 toll and Knows how 10 tell them
Ia Iaav Of Quality" is one OF the strongest
most original and most taking novels NJ
ten during the last ten years. 1t nesfyd
something something $50 to speak ~ max
it quite serious piece of work ,bclongin
in It's essence rather to drama .fhan iiters
ture las most novels nowadays do,, bu
limit it as you will. IT wSsf an exceedingl
powerful and fascinating book.
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