The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-03
wbat Do You Read -
and Why Do You Read3

cd
res1 aor. solely for pleasure What profit l may
,,oo, the perusal of books IS secondary AS matter
r h0H' hook. pertaining to my profession read with
f'e - benefit but by no without deriving
them as works Of literary merit My taste is
ie for reading is like association with ind
as'' 80, and most congenial to be sought for
uis' W ,s,b the former as with the latter that evil
r,.,,;ons corrupt good morals
80 Shakespeare is the keystone to the arch in
10 ~ ,vh.n wish to be refreshed and have tranquil
aus "a Midsummer Nights Dream" 1t is like
ss lovely flower garden by moonlight with "one
sns , minister" Next come Milton and Byron.
si' nimitable revolving as satellites about the
sM 81 ~ Shakespeare. / also read with pleasure
Gibbon Macauley and other historical writer's but
~ sl this class OF authors, the fascinating Pres
eiel " am passonately fond Of and have read
t;,s Measure that greatest OF all biographies Bos
eh Kyle. a Johnson" like this class of reading be-
:. ho,h pleasant and profitable to know what others
~. u their Journey through this vale Of tears. In
.. ,.nse misery loves company, and in another
,bler sense Lives of great men all remind us we
"a, arr lives sublime and departing, leave behind lis
man. ~ the sands of time" Plutarchs life that in
s, classic and SCOTS Napoleon also favor
pa ~ ;,s During my Office hours | sometimes have
~ ~ elegant leisure which delightfully."- spent with
n.y., Montaigne Chesterfield and Irving.
~, nothing in the way of reading so thrilling and
.,r az are well-wrtten novels. The authors who
-. most in this direction Scott, Dickens Buwer
-. and others of classical style. have read some
Nv ,,,, novels with much pleasure particularly the
u. .,, S,ots" which think is one of the best, but the
80. are nv choice "In old books you get
y IN new books you get old IDEAS think one of the
entertaining of all books is the Spectator composed
800 Steele and Addison, the ustrious trumvirate
rider master English' spehu your nights win Auu
advised DR.. Johnson.
must not forget metaphysics, for my nights not these
,M are often spent in the captivating society OF Sir
Is,u Hamilton Locke and Kant. Bacon is also a ia
y a mine but it is impossible persuade that he
The plays of Shakespeare although he was styled by
the wisest brightest meanest OF mankind
read the daily newspapers and best magazines from
mss as we'll peasurable standpoint to be kept in
81 touch with the freshest and most important topics
A, dsy There is no better tonic appetizer for break
than The Post For aid to digestion, nothing like good
Or and laugh provoked by reading 'Iampering With
tsr and the Exchanges.
must not forget to tell you the Bible is of my ia
he books read for spiritual profit well as for pleas
The book OF Job is to my mind, one of the finest
heal productions ever composed. like II because 1t is
Ony beautiful true and good but because OF the con
,Nty feel with Job There is better society than
books therefore say with Addison i am never less
/. than when alone BRUCE WALLACE, VI. D.
suppose might be called an omnverous reader for
se through practically all classes of printed literature as
as into that craven by natures hand on leaves OF
be- ard find pleasure and not profit in most OF IT.
Primarily, of course my reading is largely OF books
primes and papers related in way to my profession
this think, is not what am asked about.
What little historical reading do is confined TO shorter
en treating of persons events connected with oui
State or Nation. Among these may mention the pub
hon OF the Texas Historical society, in which there Il
81 decided interest In the ordinary historical move
n.how miss of the history and part OF h'
III from my inability to determine where ends ant
other begins. So prefer my history straight
general literature | scarcely know where to choose
mood has much TO do with what he wishes to read a
Particular At times such-reading seems TO mi
fnd Of search to find how some one OF earths maste
has stated ideas which may be floating unphrase'
pin our brains At others want their thoughts a.
hg stones to reach greater altitude where our owl
a vision will have clearer atmosphere and wide
bon Growth is the nolmal condition of the mind AM
grows best who ministers udicously to its needs,
suspect that read toos much fiction, and possibly an
alone in this But, travelling as much as do it !
ter TO carry and lighter 10 read than other casse
books can not say thft care very much for the gen
run OF todays novels( and although | read them, II
to pa" the time and fest my mind by divertng it fror
serious problems THIN in the hope OF being muc
asd thereby Still i sometimes happens that even i
books which seemtghtest there is thought eXpresse
Vg'ed which is yorth many days OF careful porting
who ready to feceive it. Occasionally too. there
such for instance, as the Fortunes Oliver Horn,
wards Eleanor" and others which appeals direct
: and which do read with real pleasure, But k
snae back into the older world OF writers and take
sach seems TO be the result of more eisurely labo
sacn can enjoy quietly and without being drawn int
PRESENT
n'ely, then, I would say that do not think that an
~, OF literature would meet my demand for pleasur
g0nt Our mental needs varied, infinite. Thong
. "a earth, they reach toward heaven, and they al
.a IN part and their further evolution and growt
so ey such truths they may assmilate from liter
eneT 1t be the record of scientific facts, of histories
- Of mems more sober thoughts, fancy's lottie
u romantic fiction Z. T. DuMBLE
+
M'weF to your question, permit to say that
' 81 ALL to read the daily newspaper. Many person
~ wa' the information as the markets the pr
~ 81 congress the legislature the orders OF go
's boards, the rulings of departments, etc, const
Ony value OF the daily paper But it is not the u
sA - mere information that is chiefly valuable II
49,. " ME is TO educate. He who attends well TO Il
n, s -, OF his own powers, who succeeds in makiI
1, ~. ne ought to be, may be sure that he shall n
rc .s"' Actual participation in the affairs Of life u
s,s guidance, is first in power educate, to deveo
bom i. TO enlarge, to broaden to elevate Akin
t,, oi actual contact with life is the power OF Il
''Fs' winch, as 1t were holds the mirror up to- dai
\, - ,sSu the paper, take note of passing event
kivr M our interest here and there, reinforcing
kNr ~, s~ own experience, perhaps, and we pause
n vr mat occurrence to reflect upon its probat
h o It's relation to other events, and to specuia