The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-12

tDr. Henry Van Dyke in the y. Y. IimeS)
The world is numbered with them, -
complained the wise man. two thousand
years ago There are books here In
Jerusalem, and in Thebes, and in Baby
Ion, and in Nineveh; even in Tyre and
Sidon among the Philistines no doubt
che would find books. Still men go on
| scribbling out their thoughts and obser-
vations in spite of the fact that there is
nothing new under the sun. Where are
the readers to come from, wonder; for
much study is a WEAKNESS of the flesh
and yet of making many books there is
no end.
But what would the writer that was
King say if ne were alive today, when
The annual output of books in this coun-
try alone is between 1000 and 5000 and
when the printing press multiplies these
volumes into more than 5,0000 900 copies :?
Doubtless he would be much astonished
and perhaps even more dspleased. But
conjecture that he would go on writing
his own books, and that when they were
done he would look for a publisher For
each age has its own thoughts and feel
| ings; and each man who is born with the
impulse OF authorship thinks that he has
something TO say TO his age; and even
if it IS nothing more than a criticism Of
ether men for writing much and SO
poorly, he wants to say it in his own
language.
Thomas Carlyle talking volubly on the
virtues of silence, represents a role which
is never left out in the drama of litera-
ture.
After all, is it not better that a hun
dred unnecessary books should be pub
lished than that one good and useful
book should be lost? Natures law OF
parsimcny s arrived at by process or
expense. The needless volumes, like the
infertile seeds soon sink out of sight.
and the books that have life in them are
taken care OF by the readers who arc
waiting somewhere to receive and cher
ish them.
Reading Is habit. Writing IL a GIT.
| Both may BE- cultivated. But | suppose
there is this difference between them
the habit may be acquired by any who
| will the gift can be developed only
by those who have it, How to discOv-
| er it and make the best of it, and use
the writing gift so that it shall supply
the real needs and promote the finest
results of the reading habt-that is the
problem
| do not know of any ready-made an
swer in the back OF the book. The only
| way to work It out is for the writer's 10
try to write as we'll as they can, and
for the publishers to publish the best
that they can get, and for the great
company of readers to bring healthy
| appetite, a clean taste. ard a good I'll
gestion to the feast that is prepared
for them. If any one partakes not wisely
but too much that is his own fault.
have been thinking today of the prep
aration of the feast How much hard and
pleasant labor has gone into the making
of the be- ks that will come out this att
! tumn: The group of workers is not
| large, compared with the number OF PEG,
pie who live in these United States, and
of whom perhaps 2OO00,0O0 are in some
sense readers. But this small company
of literary folk have had good time
with their work l will warrant in spite
of the fact that some Of it has been diff
| cult.
/ Not few Of them | know. coed COM
rades and honest craftsmen; and my
thoughts go out to them from this little
| workshop-a deserted farmhouse with
nothing but a table and chair for furni-
ture, and with a tranquil outlook from
the omen door over rolling hills and shin
Jig water-my thoughts ramble away to
the other writer's who have been busy
| with their books during these summer
| days and who are now probably putting
| on the last touches in the way Of Il pre-
face. the garnish of the dish.
Scholars have been sitting and arrans.
ing the results of their studies in great
libraries. Observers of men and man
Rers have been travelling and taking
notes in strange lands and in the foreign
parts of their own country. Teachers 6:
life and morals have been trying to give
their lessons convincing and command
ing form Critics have been seeking to
express the secrets OF good work in arts
and letters. Students Of nature have been
! bringing ogsther tho records Of their
companionship with birds and beasts and
flowers. Story tellers have been fol-
lowing their dream people through all
kinds of adventures to joyful or sorrow
full ends. And poets, few, have been
weaving their NEST delicate fancies and
their deepest thoughts into verse.
in what different places and under
what various conditions these mon and
women have been working! Some Of them
in great cities, in spacious rooms filed
with books. others in quiet country
Places in little "dens"Of bare and simple
aspects; some among the tranquillizing in
fuences Of the mountains: others whore
they could feel the inspiration % an out
look over tho tossing, lipeitess plains
OF the ocean: d few, perhaps. i'm tents
among the trees. or in boats on the sea
: though, for ny part it is difficult TO un-
dcrstand how any one can actually write
out OF doors. The attractions Of nature
arc so close and 50 compelling that it is
impossible to resist thom Out Of doors
for seeing and hearing. thinking and
; feeling. In doors for writing,
It is pleasant TO reflect uron the great
amcloration which has bccn made in the
',vnrIdIv lot" Of writer's. by the increase
and wider distribution Of tue pecuniary
| rewards Of authorship. II is not peros-
! sary to 20 back to the ago OF Grub
street for comparison There has been