The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-10
what Do You Read ~
and Why Do You Read?

a.. present il may be very brief and succinct
fr' ont so understand your query because having
DIV 4. are when reads to definite end to saw
Fh, ,,d now and why, would desirable pur-
:" Nor do perceive in what way what have read
P ud interest the general reader though possibly
90 VIZ LII interest and assist young people who
m fortunate % "
efficiency in ones chosen vocation is, should be-
.i, obect; and almost every separate vocation re-
e nsr;al course of training, and that each one can
cures ..,rtain for himself There few occupations
asy r,ohciency in which requires knowledge of
b"'.,, all others and it of these that was
sp ,a,ste as 10 choose My reading, therefore NAV
,rbed in word as omnivorous and characterized
N,be as voracious, too much possibly for my own
" q, I sometimes devoured too much for a healthy
o and thereby much that might have been nutritious
%.,v assimilated, lost and wasted, and may be
he Of brain tissue stimulated of healthy proper
History and geography were my principal studies but
& vas thoroughly comprehended until associated
s . books of travel which transported in imagina-
Mu ~ naee TO place. and the historical novel which
n@ y. 80 nraccally face to face with the peone and
siS me to understand their daily lives and to enter
M ~, motives which underlaid their actions Kossuth
a.rd he could comprehend English history until he
III Shakespeare and believe that remark caused me to
~ nv FIRST serious attention to the works of the immortal
gTir and from them learned what of people the
1.;,h were in the days of which he wrote and also
-. h,r,an nature has changed whit since his lucid
gr.,iou of It. Notwithstanding smoothness of tongue
~ uayy of have in great supplanted
+ that time So SCOTS novels aided greatly my
;ts,ndns of Scotch English and French history The
ks Of Buwer Dickens, Dumas and writers of less note
hu names have forgotten, all assisted me TO
rhensicn of the peoples OF Europe and events and
1y,. which led up and consummated the great events
\ ,r histories Biographies of helped but bogra-
Nv nertsins to the individual and the in which be
anticipated and does not take us down among and make
% n,r Of the people This the historical novel does
We read the histories of Greece and Rome of the parcan
nd the pebeian of the eas in the and the chariot
who hi in hem
III he has read Ben Hur and kindred works7 So too
obtained my adequate knowledge of life man-of-
war and Of those who go down the in ships" from
N,rts novels and Victor Hugos "Tolers of the sea"
Some knowledge of is essential requisite in
almost any vocation. obtained mine by study OF Latin
IN the FIRST place and then careful reading of what used
be called The English Classics" 1t might properly be
aid have been mbibed rather than acquired by study.
never could master the dryasdus formula called English
grammar in fact got beyond the definite and inde-
nhs articles and did not understand them until learned
what was meant by the words definite" and indefinite
and that was some years after left school
The three learned professons-law medicine and di-
vnty-receved due attention, the first two by asso-
eon with practitioners and business connections than
from study of their books and the last by perusal of poe
lis and study of the Bblehe two, however, rarely
trteng in their teachings.
So much for what have read and the results for the
benefit Of whomsoever it concern. At present read
FIRST what my business requires for reasons manifest;
second the daily papers and occasional magazine keep
abreast with daily events and current topics third mis-
esaneous lieratureprincipally late novefor the pur
passing a
means least search the Scriptures, for in them ye have
eternal life" O. c. A.
am asked TO state what literature my demand
for pleasure and profit and what mental needs supply
BY reading.
Almost any PERSONS will presuppose that the
foundation OF his education has been properly laid in such
studies as the colleges teach 1t will also imply that what
ever his vocation may be, its literature has been gone
thoroughly This sitting process reveals the real mental
and moral makeup OF person, for only such reading
ones vocation exact and such is agreeable to the taste
are left
Bacon declared in substance that he had learned
nom conference with other than from studies have
Always thought that the most usually gets from
'an IS pleasure One usually count on the fingers
one hand his friends whom he gives the best OF brain
ana culture and heart which make up his personality and
sh snare theirs with him But will have multitude
snecuonate friends with whom intercourse daily de-
s' From my individual point OF view happiness is the
n0a aim and end of life since implies virtue and honor
-, me DONG OF good and hence love and women
aa children and seek them. When ones work, which is
.s.s impesonal over and contact with men does not
see him. he either sleeps thinks. like to live we'll
s nave made about o'clock my usual bedtime for hf
W years and oh the delight of the long nights alone in
W noisy with the thoughts of all the world while
~ heghoo sleeps My newspaper, of comes first
me morning want to know the worlds doings, es-
ry us politics-not its scramble for pace-but its
=, ss.en, OF government But it is in my library that
asppies' am surrounded by the silent company of
80 great They tell me of the mental moral physi-
., u spiritual condition and longing of my race They
eve 70 my fancy they satisfy my judgment often, they
us'e my imagination, they soothe my feelings. read
80. u the magazines and reviews, though pleasure and
49,. y'on is what seek in them, since we-considered
r e scarce in them. would love histories more if
,ra OF the past could be written with less OF war
w IN IT, The literature of the histories is generally
y. record IN history is usually disappointing; but
d. rs9sophy OF history showing the meaning OF
n a o. human events the forward and backward move
the moral and physical forces the meaning OF lite
ma by human conception of it, the bad and the
In evii and the vture of life, have unfailing interest
GERM me story of Egypt, of Greece, of France OF
OF England principally interesting TO me as
r,i me mems points of view of religion, superstition
sis and the meaning of life
d. M ove the literature of the poetry, the biography
10 H., ana the novel more. like TO be made TO think
I'D ,, enu 10 dream-not and puzzle hence books
sbt @ ABOUT things of science, where fools guess, and
fnpI. ereeds where bgots wrange, repe me The
have Nv OF Christ is the sweetest, genest record we
las, inc bitter broils about points OF creed are the
useful reading in the world
h, OF Shakespeare is the supreme fact to me IN
h;rr often feel that all thought and imagination, all
have haa,, ,et,l ~,