The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
CONCERNING "HIGHER- READING.

CONCERNING "HIGHER" READING.
A discussion has been going on in Eng
lish periodicals on the question of whether
or not women read books that belong
under the head of higher literature. There
is a difference of opinion, but the general
conclusion OF the writers-the most of
whom are men-is that they do not Mr.
Alfred Austin. poet laureate, is, for in
stance. quite certain that they do not read
the higher kind of poetry, but if he judges
merely by the fact that they do not read
his poetry his testimony is not of much
value. Miss Agnes Repplier has taken up the
subject on this side of the water and ex-
presses the belief that the most facilitating
of modern novels are read by women, and
says that while periodical literature caters
largely to the taste of women the best part
of magazine reading is addressed distinctly
to men. 1t is evidently her opinion that the
prevailing literary taste OF women is low,
but, perhaps, she is not in a position to
judge accurately and fairly Possibly her
acquaintance among womens clubs is linn
ited If she will circulate among these
organizations for a time she will find
many ladies of such wide reading that even
her own erudition will seem not at all out
Of the common. 1t is the fashion to speak
lightly of women's clubs, but it is, never
| theless, a fact that their membership in
cludes numbers of women who are stu
dents of literature In very love of ii, and
not mere superficial readers who skim
through a book now and then for the sake
of preparing papers" Librarians can give
the best evidence of books-whether men
women call oftenest for the highest
class of literature. The Journal has no
statistics at hand, but 1T ventures the
sertion, without fear of dispute. that the
majority of such patrons women. As
for magazine literature it Is easier to make
assertions than TO prove them. What
Miss Repplier thinks to be addressed TO
men may not really be SO. Take three
of the leading monthlies for example.
| In Harper's Magazine for April is but
one article which does not appeal to women
| as much as TO men, and that one-"Life
and Diseases Of Metals''-must certainly be
or woman. 1t is only likely to attract men
| first because of the practical relation it
may have to their business. In McClure's
| are three articles which Miss Repplier
| would probably class distinctly mems
reading But probably as many women as
men reading Lincoln Steffenss stories
OF corruption in city governments and are
,i,Ui
fathers and brothers of what it all means.
| Thomas Nelson Pages paper on the South
| ern negro problem is not one to excite very
| high interest in any readers mind, since
the discussion is one of which the public
is tired. but it is mistake to suppose that
| women invariably pass such contributions
| by. And why should not women be in
terested in the history of the Standard Oil
! Company if woman can write it? In the
| Century, it may be admitted, the paper on
| PROTOCOL and Disease is not likely to
attract feminine readers, but it seems like
ly also that comparatively few men will sit
up of nights in order to absorb its valuable
facts. Nothing else in the rather long table
of contents of this periodical but is as
to say, it may be as well to add, that all
the contents of all the periodicals are of
uniform value and interest, for not a few
of the contributions are deadly dull; but
that is fact which does not affect the
| point under discussion The dullness is
inherent in the writing; the readers are not
| to blame.
| The truth of the matter probably is that
women are really doing more serious read
| ing than men. They have more leisure, and
| a growing number of them have an educa-
ton giving them "A taste for such reading.
| Their brothers, meanwhile. have been edu-
Gated in different lines-the commercial, the
professional the scientific-and their read
ing is in special directions, with limited
| scope. Even among men with classic edu-
| cation, how many keep up the higher
reading after the college days, when they
| get smattering of it? How many men
| read higher poetry does Mr.. Alfred Aus
tin think? Very few. indeed, probably, if
| the truth were known. And, most assured
| ly. the reading of light fiction, much of
| which, Miss Repplier asserts is written for
| women, is not confined to that sex. Far
next man reading.
| People who are anxiously waiting for
| then get rid of their colds and other win
ter ailments, and who have been taught
that sunlight is the most powerful sani-