The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-31
ABOUT BOOKS.

OO4 VI AA0 AA4OAUS "O40 Gudu double
Immediately after the announcement
that he had a bank account and .
new typewriter I will again ventura
into Aunt Jennie's cosy corner.
Now why can't we have a IveBer
chat during this leisure season On
the farm? Or have even the ladies
been 700 much interested in politics
to write? Now of all things deliver
me from the political woman, or at
least the woman who argues politics
with a man. I think a woman ought
to read about politics to some ex-
tent and understand the questions of
the day but for arguing political
questions or taking part in political
meetings, it seems to me out of
place. It reminds me of a toast in =
State that had just adopted woman
suffrage: ''To the adolescence our
superiors, now our equals ~
What are the C~hatterers doing
during the summer season? A ques-
ton I suggest for immediate con-
sideration is this: How best can we
spend it? Well, I think we ought
to try to read a lot Of good litera-
ture-standard works, biography,
history, poetry, science, and such
works of fiction as have stood the
test of years. How many people we
see that have read all the newest
novels that are here today and to-
morrow forgotten, but have failed to
give half so much time to the grand
old masters that wrote for all time.
These novel-readers may have a
reputation for being wise but they
are like chi1dren-attracted more by
the deceptive gaudiness of fimsy
tinsel than by the enduring bright
ness of old gold. A meteor may be
momentarily brighter than one of
the stars that has shOne on in all
the centuries since the beginning
and will remain "til the leaves of
the Judgment book unfold but we
should give attention rather to that
which endures.
We ought not to forget the Bible,
the Book of Books as it is, has been,
and will be-
when you and I behind the veil are
past,
Oh, but the long, long while the
world shall last,
(Which our coming and departure
needs,
AS the seas self should heed a pebble
Cast.)"
Not only is it the one infallible
moral criterion, but it is in a literary
sense also the book Of books for the
young man seeking a good English
style.
And Shakespeare, who has voiced
every emotion of the human soul,
deserves a careful reading at the
hands of every member of our circle.
Leave to the critics all argument as
to mooted questions regarding their
authorship for your part get Shakes
peare's complete works and enjoy
them.
Biography should form no inoOtl-
siderable part of every persons read
ing. When your sky is dark, when
failure seems to stare you in the
face, when all opportunities for ad-
vancement seem to have fed, what
more inspiring than to read the lives
Of the greatest men of all time
"Bards, patriots, martyrs, sages,
The noble of all ages,
Whose deeds crowd histOry's pages
And Times great volume make
and find that all these have faced
greater difficulties and have become
great by making failures stepping
stones to success.
History and biography go hand in
hand and when you have studied the
the story of any great man you
ought to read the history Of the
country in which he lived, and vice
versa.
Mythology is very beautiful and
interesting and I have spent many
pleasant hours this year studying
the legends and myths so interviewer
with 1.-the glory that was Greece and
the grandeur that was Rome Most
of these, in addition to the entertain
ment they shed on the literature OF
our own times, teach valuable moral
lessons.
Poetry should never be neglected