The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-06

vice president, Mrs. George III. Fowler,
In the chair The meeting was in charge
OF the department OF education OF the
club. Mrs. Frederick IL. Law, chairman,
and the program consisted OF a lecture
by DIR. Frederick Law OF the Pawtucket
high school. on the subject. What Shall
We Read
Or. Law handled his subject In a most
scholarly way which revealed his entire
familiarity with the subject In hand.
Moreover the lecture was full OF food
for thought for booklovers and replete
with valuable hints and useful informa-
ton. Though the lecture was exhaustive,
occupying more than an hour and
quarter in Its deliverey. yet the intense
interest OF the audience was sustained
throughout. A brief abstract OF the lee
ture follows, viz:
THE love of books can easily become
an all-absorbing passion. We may admire
their reflections OF life that we may come
TO forget life itself. But TO all OF us who
love books there comes a tingling of the
nerves when we enter a we'll chosen
private library whose shelves are full OF
the enhancing life and precious wisdom
OF the ages that are dead. We feel that
we could sit and look for hours at the
great yellow handicapped medieval
books, thinking of days when Greek
learning like a sparkling food OF the
water OF youth came pouring over Europe
with the bands of wandering scholars
made homeless by the overthrow of Con-
stantinople how the patient toll of hid
den monks gave way to the less poetic,
but more valuable work OF the printing
press. and how, at last. books have be-
come so cheap that they are only half
respected. We take up a frst edition Of
Scott and hold 1t lovingly, ahd we envy
the fortunate possessor of his old edition
OF Voltaire. IL is at such a time that
we need some scoffer TO laugh US into
scorn. He should say to us: An old
book: a first edition. handicapped
parchment Talk 10 me not OF such
things; tell me IL the thought be young
and vigorous: that which you love is the
mere dried skin of the past; show me
the soul of the book
THE true book lover is not the idler
who dreams in a world of books. IL Is
he who knows that life Is the real and
that the book merely reflects. The pur-
pose OF books is not for themselves; they
are TO help us TO understand the har-
monies OF life. TO appreciate nature In her
his inward struggles, and to understand
God In His world.
"If we live with such a view concern
ing books We shall not wish that we
might have spent day with Walton
along the banks of his English streams,
for we shall find ourselves by our own
streams with the spirit of Walton be-
side us. showing us the flowers or the
deep reflections Of overhangng willows
and leading our thoughts to the gentle
things Of nature.
ITO the one who asks honestly, What
shall read II would not be bad advice
to say: IF you have not read the books
now studied In the English classes In
the public schools you should begin them
at once. The questioner might very
likely reply: But / do not wish TO do
childrens work I am older i want
mans reading Our answer would be:
These books are not chidren's books;
they are books written for men and suit
able for people of all ages and con-
ditions.
"'You will gain much more from them
than the school children possibly can,
for you have wider intelligence. II you
read these books thoughtfully you will
be able TO trace the development of lit
erature from the crude beginnings OF
Greek legends down through the glories
OF Chaucer and Shakespeare TO our own
you Will see HOW the IoNti
developed from the essay and the wander
ing tale of adventure 10 the complex
thing that IL now is. You will gain
view point which will help you In all
your reading.
Here. then. is a golden key which any
one may use 10 advantage In unlocking
the treasure closet of literary appre-
citation.
ar one Is honestly determined to read
TO the best advantage he will make GER
tain that he Is acquainted with goodly
number of the great works OF the past
before he tries TO read all that is pub
lished I'm his own time.
Critics who are considered wise still
find Il worth their while to read the
work of Aristotle. who was born nearly
400 years before Christ.
Ask them the reason for reading such
ancient work and they will tell you that
II helps form a point of view A read
ing of famous books does not mean that
one should be so foolish as to attempt
10 read all the famous books ever writ
ten or even that he should especially de-
vote himself 10 the study OF old litera-
ture IL means merely that he should
gain a general knowledge OF a few great
books. Style will be better appreciated IL
one has read Addison or Irving; a modern
history will shine or fade III one can
mentally put beside IL the work of Glib
bon Hume or Parkman: characters In
fiction will gain new interest IL one can
think OF them in connection with Shakes
peare's men anu women or Goldsmiths
kindly simple-minded Vicar, or the people
who crowd the pages OF Scott or Dickens.
I'VE have spoken OF reading broadly
In order to follow the general trend OF
literature. n nothing more; OF reading
such books as will give Us a point of
view from which to Judge literature and
OF reading books which will give us the
spirit Of literature.
There is another point which should
guide us In our choice OF books. We
should read books I'm accordance with the
gifts which they bring to us. for all
books. without exception, are like fairies,
having their arms filled with gifts of
good and evil The fairies that hover
close 10 our minds and hearts aye. even
shadowing our souls, should be the ones
who bring with them the best gifts
of nature and Of man"
MISS HAZARDS MAGNIFICENT GIFT,
Among Rhode Islands distinguished
daughters none holds n prouder place
than Miss Caroline Hazard. member OF
the famous Hazard family Of Peacedale,
and the honored president OF Wellesley