Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-12-04

recorded knowledge, but by means of II
one may enter the broad fields OF personal
Investigation hand In hand with those
who have lived nearest to the heart OF ma
ture. Humboldt will climb mountains
with us and teach us to learn the story OF
the earth from glaciers and rivers, ersgs
and peaks; Agsssiz will lead us along the
shore of the deep blue sea and open ns-
ture's book for us there; Darw in will sug
gest methods OF studying all the various
members OF the animal kingdom.
The chief end Of man is intelligent,
powerful, Christian maphood. Such is
best fitted to serve himself and his coun
try. "Good literature Is as necessary to
the growth of the soul as good air Is to
the growth of the body, and 1t is just as
bad to put weak thoughts into a young
mind as 1t is to shut the person in an un-
ventilated room.
am inclined TO the view that literary
study, above all other things, will equip
young people for successful living. Mr..
Mabie says: "within the compass OF a
very small room, on a very few shelves,
the real story OF man in this world may
be collected in the books of life In which it
is written; and the solitary reader. whose
personal acquaintance and contacts with
men and events are few and lacking in
distinction and interest, may enter,
through his books, into the most thrilling
life OF the race In some OF its most signifi-
can't moments.
just as "Of making many books there
Is no end" so there can be no end to the
reading OF them. This store house OF
knowledge is vast, Its treasures as varied
as human experience. Life Is SO short and
so full OF duties that we can explore only
a few Of its aicoves, therefore 1t is well to
consider how to explore and what to
search for, so that every hours effort
shall yield Its reward.
Aimless reading is waste OF time and
energy, just as simless travelling results in
dissipation and discomfort. We usually
respect those who have seen the world
and we readily notice the benefits OF
travels In sermons, lectures and addresses.
But IL travelling of itself were sufficient
to give culture and adaptability, the pro-
fessionsl tramp would be the most Gull
tured man and the most capable of adapt
ing himself to circumstances. He has
frequently vast amount OF unclassitied,
noncorrelated information which he has
gathered is his simIess wanderings from
place to place. IL may be even SO with
the constant reader. He may be only a
tramp abroad in the world OF books.
To read book successfully we should
catch the spirit OF the author and COM
mune with him, for book is always the
mind of the author laid bare for our In
spectiou. Compile read but few books,
but thoroughly digested what he did read.
He says; 81 read hard or not at all, never
skimming, never turning aside to merely
inviting books; and Plato, Aristotle, But
Ter, Thucydides have passed like the iron
atoms Of the blood into my mental con-
stitution".
To understand what we read, the
Imagination must construct as near as
possible images like those in the mind of
the author. He gives us his words as the
signs of his ideas and concepts, and I'M
less these signs call up similar ideas and
concepts in our minds we have not actu-
ally read his writings. Hence some books
must be read very slowly in order to be
understood. Reading rapidly is like
travelling rspidiy-the images, II seen at
all, are seen imperfectly, often confused,
and soon forgotten. Maps should be
referred to frequently and the dictionary
should be always close at hand.
To derive the most lasting benefit from
Robertson says: "Multifarious reading
weakens the mind more than doing moth
ing, for 1t becomes a necessity at last, like
smoking, and is an excuse for the mind to
lie dormant whilst thought is poured in
and runs through, a clear stream over I'M
productive gravel on which not even
MOSES grow. 1t Is the idlest of all Idle
ness".
The books we have read have helped to
make Us what we are, just as the dinners
we have eaten have helped towards our
physical development, thus showing that
we should read that which tends to aid us
to reach our ideals.
No suthor is worth reading whose ac-
quaintance is not worth cultivating and
and whose friendship would not be priced,
for a man cannot write better than he is
for any length of time without revealing
insincerity. A book is the mirror OF
mans soul; 1t is sure to reveal the moral
features Of its author.
IL only the young could be induced to
use their spare moments in reading good
books, the habit is likely to last through
life. How far the influence OF the books
read In the daily practice OF this habit
may reach, none of as can tell. 1t may
mean the saving some young girls soul;
it may mean the keeping untarnished OF
some young mans honor; it certainly does
mean the raising of ideals in many
young life to heights otherwise un-
dreamed Of; it does mean the filling young
minds with truth, purity and love.
snow, ma, you know / am anxious to