The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22
in THE LITERARY FIELD
LITTLE DISSERTATION on THE
VALUABLE ART OF SKIPPING.
dianian's BOOk-Criticism of
American NOveIists.

We shouldn't read the new books-Emer-
son. If he said so. was perfectly right: but
we do, nevertheless. says Frank II. Spear
man, in the Book Lovers Magazine
No wiser rule than that no book should
be read till it is a year old was ever laid
down, nor was one ever laid down that we
violate with less compunction. Indeed. this
must be one of the rules made for others.
In the first place, it should be remem-
bered that were it not for the few, or the
many, that do read a book before il is a
year old, the book would never attain that
age. Those book lovers who read it from
the press may properly claim TO be its dis
coverers, and ii is precisely this itch for
discovery that keeps each of us alert Can
anything be more exasperating than to be
caught mapping by an inferior person. on
books?
So we read strenuously, and, in reading
face now what sober-minded men term an
appalling literary output How is it to be
met. firmly and adequately, yet within the
limits of our available hours?
Surely If ever the art of skipping was a
book lovers need, it is now his paramount
need. By mastering 1t no one of them need
matter, by the old; for 1t is not too much
to say that the whole body of literature, as
We know it, stands for no art so much as
that of skipping. The forgotten, the lost,
the buried tones represent what the world
has skipped. What the world couldn't skip
remains; but since our needs individually
are vastly less than those of all mankind,
how much may not each of us skip even Of
that body which bears the approval of the
ages? And If the book lover of to-day will
only apply the philosophy of time to his
own use, he may still meet the printing
press with confident smile.
The trouble with our dutiful American
book lover is that he feels a question of
conscience in skipping. No scruple could
be more strained. Is not every book pro-
vided for his recreation, of value largely in
proportion TO the authors own mastery of
the art of skipping? Every book that
charms its reader does so not alone by
what 1t provides; it charms by what it
omits.
Let the book lover cultivate the art of
skipping. 1t Is an art. and 1t may be
learned. mastered even, by the average
reader. Follow your own instinct in it;
nothing in the art of skipping is so sure
as your own instinct. Read while your
book holds you. The book lover offers him.
self willing victim to his author. Here"
he says In effect, rs my attention. If you
can hold it, you are welcome to it.
rather hope you can hold it," The battle
is on. Does your interest lag? A long
paragraph stare at you? Take the first
sentence and jump straight to the last Is
the subject still the same? Go ahead Has
the subject changed? Dip into the middle
or the paragraph. glance gives you the
connection and again you are away at a
canter; before you know it you are reading
In lines and paragraphs instead of in words
and sentences.
Then comes something you want-every
word of 1t. You read contentedly on till
an inward monitor stirs and. like a master
you resume the art; one glance, one page
III you go too far, as you easily may re-
trace. 1t is a pleasure to be compelled by
your author to do so; but, above all. follow
your instinct, the instinct of selection, the
first and greatest of natural instincts-and
soon you will be looking for something to
read. Moreover, you will feel after the
exercise OF this instinct the beginning of
your own conclusions on literature and life
Selection makes one think The book lover
who can select for his own needs out of
what has been provided for all is not far
from being already a capable critic Taste
many books: hold fast to those that your
instinct approves.