The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-06

Dickens works and yet notice that the reports Of tie
public Libraries continue show that Dickens more read
thsn any ancient or modern author.
As for the novels of the day l find no time TO read
them when the world is full of much good literature
which has been passed and approved by
OF readers do not feel called upon what little
time have in which to read outside my profession in
trying to keep with the multitude OF new books OF the
making OF which there seems to be no end
JcHS CHARLES HARRIS.
The subject suggested calls the use Of the first
singular rather than is consistent with nodcstv To
ereise what other people do is much easier than tell
what do ourselves
To allow to talk about what people read and why
they read is TO place upon the high pedestal OF the
critic, where abstract questions may re discussed and
generalites INDUCED in but dignity is hurt wien
he is made the part OF concrete case and com
PEELED to humby defend his To say from
the reports made BY the libraries aud book people read
trash otherwise current novels and that the why Of this
is because such books be read without the possession
use OF any intellect is TO obtain cheap reputation for
wisdom But when shamefscedy confess that some
times indulge in reading this came class of soealed tera-
ture we Immediately sink to the commonplace and
condemned by all though il bring this ALI the
confessional We will be found to Be but type thereof
Having said this much will now in obedience TO the
demand of the subject descend the first person singular
will assume that newspapers constitute part Of ters-
ture and confess with fear and trembling that get
pleasure and believe, profit from the daily
paper than from anything read History is In my opinions
the most pleasant and profitable of all studies and the
newspaper but current history crude in form and mac
cuatc, perhaps but valuable The part Of newspaper
called the editorial has for little interest value Give
me knowledge of the political bias of the editor and let
read the caption Of the editorial and tell you
and they usually unable unwilling admit any
good could from the party which they oppose This
makes political editorials of value except evidence
of the mental one-sidedness of
Next to the daily paper the weekly and monthly journals
which give digest of the daily papers OF every shade OF
opinion most valuable in supplying mental needs"
Next to current history come books dealing with past
history, and from biography derive pleasure than
from any other historical literature BY reading what
doing and have DONE the better able Judge
to what they will do.
have said nothing the Bible literature because
that most intelligent persons place that book first
in the list of books which they read.
Certain books scientific metaphysical etc, not with
poitenes be mentioned in the average company because
most Of would understand what being discussed
But there is class of literature called polite literature
which social party would not be intellectual
y taxed to understand The prevailing style of this era
ire is the historical novel called because 1t contains
history enjoy this kind of reading To be told that
after being starved island for three days
easily with short sword kill six vigorous welfed men
after another appeals to The profit derived from
such reading this about the that derived from
smoking opium
The reading of American humor, and there is other
kind is both profitable and peasurabe enjoy anything
Of this kind from the mother-n-law joke to Tamperng
With TriRes, from Mr.. Dooley to The Defense of Fun
ston" Even Chnmie Faddeu, Billy Baxter's Letters and
AIDES Fables leave feeling kindly towards his fellow
probably because he feels himself little superior ia
the persons met in such carcatures OF literature.
This will probably enable you properly classify III
making UP your statistics on What people read and why
Nothing could have efecually paralyzed mental
faculties than the question what class of literature
prefer and why To confess that read for pleasure rather
than for profit that mental needs of such quality
be satisfied with fiction requires considerable mora
courage especially when such admission necessarily
cenvcts of mental lazness. However in view of that
assurance which intimately associates the welfare of ones
soul with honest Confession there alternative for
read because enjoy it. And, since novels supply the
greatest of enjoyment that is the class of literature
l prefer. / hardly voracious reader the young
person who says in late issue of the Home Journal ha
she frequently reads fourteen novels in week! But
read nearly every novel that is published Possibly that
is why have TO the conclusion that the writing of
really good story has become almost lost art and that the
of the verse knew whereof he spoke wher
he wrote
"If you would strike the road to Fame
Just write lot Of rot;
And ii you make it strong enough,
You'll win---as like not
1t has become of regret TO me (snee have beer
asked appear before the public that did In early
youth cultivate for scientific and historical research
thus enabling me to with fuency the achieve
A.. IT,