The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-11
news OF THE BOOK WORLD

Pointed Out In an Article In the Dial by
Mrs. Lima Brown Reed Of the Public
llbrary--Mrs M'Lerfe Sets the Column
TO Moralizing and Strikes a. Blow at
Cocoa.
Mrs. Lima Brown Reed of the public
library has an instructive article, 1.-THE
!, Librarian as Critic" In The Dial for Feb.
l. one OF the most interesting things In
Mrs. Reeds article is mention of certain
tendencies among readers OF the more
serious classes Of books. including an in
dorsement Of this statement by Professor
Hoffman,: .
4 not many generations ago the all-absorbing
theme was physics, and little attention was
pana to other studies Later biology became the
rent of thought. Now, psychology has come 10
the front and holds undisputed sway.
The reading Of psychology by the more
serious readers, from whom it is likely to
spread to the other classes, in a measure
at least, Is a matter that arouses curiosity.
psychology has been popularized by such
men as Professor Hoffman and Professor
William James. But the question is, what
does the tendency mean? There seems to
be something quite significant in the. fact
that the class OF readers whose interest
first ,centered in the material things of
physics should next devote its attention
to biology, and then leap to the study of
things mental and spiritual. shifting from
/, the lower to the higher--to the highest,
according to the purely human view. Does
this Indicate reawakening interest or at
+ least an increasing interest on the part
Of the thoughtful in .the problem Of the
universe" and a desire to attack it by. a
study Of the highest form Of phenomena?
Or does 1t only indicate desire to find
out something about the laws Of the mind
for practical uses? Doubtless in most
cases there is no definite object before the
reader, the subject is a, fascinating one.
and he reads just because of that fact.
" Doubtless also the important place that
the subject has come to have in profess
sional schools, especially pedagogical
courses, accounts for some of the demand
e for such books. Whatever the cause for
the demand may be, the fact remains that
it exists and seems to be increasing What
Will be the next step in the ascending
scala shift to a study Of the truly re-
lg1ous side Of mans nature? Be that as
1t may, It is certain that readers must be
benefited, speaking generally, by their
; psychological studies. - The student 3.of
psychology can hardly fail to be I'm
| pressed with the thought that the tl1oro
ma terialist who would: have us believe that
: life IS a ferment and mans mental pro-
; cesses are only the results of brain cell
:: changes has q rather stiff proposition to
prove, And then there are the more direct
pe4lSi1tS 10 pe derived from knowing more
about the tools with which one does as
. much work as he does with his mind.
This tendency. emphasized by Mrs: Reed,
I IS one conclusive proof Of the important
Z position. OF the; library as a factor in "a
=. great popular educational n1ovem ent.''
/ Certain it is that with such tendencies
among readers in such a movement the
librarian Of the present and of the future
must possess superior critical faculties, .
i : -. ..
! Some men are said to live dual Lives.
No man ever lived who did: not live "a
. multiple life, 50 nlany-sided that he would
i nave difficulty in enumerating the sides.
! He lives a life with companions and q
! life alone, a life with nature and a life
with srlmy walls; and dusty: streets, a
: life in the past, a life in the present and
: s! life in the future. a life Of fact and a
life OF fancy, a life with bricks and a life
( with books His course of conduct, in any
: one is rarely the same as 1t would be in
any other at the same moment; : if like
. problems presented themselves. for. solu-
tlon.~ Yet from every phase he draws
: something that contributes to the making
OF that core Of character which survives.
So he is ever: confronted with the ques-
tien OF hoW he viii live il IL each new phase
! Of life into which he passes. va:
! }sFhat bit: Of moralizillgs is the fruit Of
| reading Mrs. M'Lerie, by j. J. Bell au
thor OF Wee MacGreegor. Just why dear
Old Mrs. rM'Lerie Should set one to ram
bling in that kind of, fashion is too deep
: forthls column, but the fact remains. and
: the fruit, may be taken or not as the
! reader prefers. Perhaps (tlis is only q
I suggestion) the column may have given
itself up to the magic Of the book SO
completely. that coming back to it's Min
neapolis surroundings was like a fall from
a life of books to a life of bricks. At
any rate it has no piickings of conscience
for having spent time in cultivating the
| acquaintance Of Mrs. M'Lerie. It's core
OF, character could not be harmed by. SO
! doing. a...>.. -. 1T
Mrs. MLerie's character is as clear as
crystal, but not without it's flaws and
;blemishes.. Mrs. MI.erie, the book. is a.
study of Mrs. M'Lerie the character, which
with all its delightful peculiarities is
worth coming in contact with. -: X, :