The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
SOLID" READING FOR SUMMER.
Tremendous Programme Laid Out by
Serious Young Woman.

Boston Transcript.
One day at the very beginning of the sum-
mer. 1 met one of my acquaintance in the
public library. She had a sheaf of library
cards in one hand, and a list, presumably
of books, in the other; the light of a
mighty purpose radiated from her illu-
mined countenance Il am getting out
books to take away with me this summer. -
she said intensely. 81 shall leave the cards
with one of the neighbors TO be renewed
and transferred; the books l am getting
out can't be read in a week or in two;
they are not OF that type. But I have the
whole summer before me. and l mean TO do
some fruitfully purposeful reading in it.
Why shouldn't one do solid reading in the
summer as well as in the winter" she
asked. 4 Shall"
Much in sympathy with this laudable de-
termination, as we'll as much awed by the
phrase "fruitfully purposeful." l extended
my hand for her list. She gave it to me
but was very proud.
The list was long too long to produce in
its entirety. but these were few of the
books which composed it: THE Origin of
species, The Faerie QUeene,' THE Spirit
OF Modern Philosophy The French Rev
olution," 'Farthest North" and IAN
Amazing Marriage She was correct; these
are not books to be read in a week nor In
two; they are indisputably not of that
type one should hasten to add that their
fruitful purposefulness Is evident-quite as
evident as the prOba bility that the variety
and uncommon quality of the fruits would
make up an exhibit which would cause the
enVious groves and orchards of California
itself to defy the salubrious elements and
remain a jealous green.
Its fine list 1 said with an en-
thusiasm tempered by a deep respect for
her who had made it,
isn't It,, she exclaimed. "And they are
all books with which every person of the
slightest culture absolutely must be per-
fectly familiar"
Yes 1 agreed, family, they are in
And the summer is as good time for
them as the winter; the summer, when one
has leisure" she continued.
Yes" I said again lit certainly is"
Il m going to read up Browning. too"
she went on. trying to speak nonchalantly.
May borrow your edition of Men and
women Tor the summer-that is. if you
won't be needing it yourself?" She spoke
as though it went without saying that |
should not: and my competitive instinct
was aroused. you may take it," / said
cordially. with pleasure I am fortunate
in having two copies; can always spare
one
Il am also going to memorize some Ger
man poetry, she added casually, the part
of Rautendelein in Die Versunkene Glocke
for instance If you aren't going to use
your copy this summer may take it away
with me?
This was too much for my equanimity of
mind. 1t was all very well for her to plan
to do solid, fruitfully purpOseful reading
and memOrizing during the summer but il
i'll became her as modest person to as
sumo that / was planning TO read I'm the
Fog and to memoriZe Oliver HEREFORD -
am sorry 1 said with dignity, but 1 shall
be using it-fOr a time. at least. | intend
to nemOrfZe the whole DlaV"
And for the moment l did intended to
quite as fully as she intended to read all
those books her list-those books with
which every person of the slightest culture
| absolutely must be perfectly familiar.
All yes, intended. What did you intend
to read this summer? When the violets
had gone, before the daisies had come. what
were the books on the list you made in the
fire of your dutiful zeal? Which did you
decide TO do in addition to reading them
TO strengthen your footing in the perilous
ways of German subjunctive verbs. or tC
make a new prose translation of The
Iliad?'' Did you put THE Descent of Man
/ Western Civilization" both? Were you
going to memorize the part of ROsalind, OF
/ the part of Cyrano de Bergerac or both
! or the whole OF one OF the plays-or per-
haps both? In short, what fruitfully pur-
poseful reading did you intend to do this
| summer?
| The word Intend" may not give you the
| slightest discomfort of conscience. You
/ may have already done much with the
/ leisure of your summer. The reading anC
/ the studying that you intended to do, per
haps, you are doing. The books you put
/ into your trunk, you have taken out; more
! you have opened them, and furthermore
| you may have read them
| But what of us who turn from the wore
/ Intend" with a guilty start? What of my
! acquaintance whom L met in the Public
| Library with her large and serious list, anC
! her larger and more serious purpose?
! She is a very clever person. II / may bt
permitted to say it, with all proper defer
ence for your high abilities, she Is quite a:
! clever a person as you think yourself tC
| be. Who could be more clever than that
Yet what of her summer reading? Only
| few days ago 1 had a note from her;
/ note to which were affixed two pOstseripts
The first postscript said: II have learned
| only one piece of verse so far this summer
! this:
! IF kittens never grew to cats,
! If rats were always mice,
! If elder-berries were younger-berrieS-
! Now wouldn't that be nice 3"
| 1 have not read everything Browning
wrote, but / do not think he wrote that
! And I am sure, though L have not-yet-
| memOriZed the whole play, that ii is not al
| English rendering of any portion of "Di
Versunkene GlOcke."
The second postscript was brief, but /
was eloquent: please send me the new
| Munsey."
STORMS AND STREET CARS.
n. L.. %..G