The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
HOBBIES OF nook BUYERS,
Three Men Who Read Law. History and
botany Just for Love OF II.

botany Just for Love OF II.
THAT pale young man who just went out
Is one of my law students said the pro-
prietor of a second hand book shop. He
buys every book can pick up in the law
line.
"He is bookkeeper in big concern in
Maiden lane, but expects TO go to college
and study law when he has saved enough
money to pay his way That's the story
he gives me, at any rate.
Il doubt. though. If he will ever be
lawyer, He has been buying law books
from me for over seven years. He reads
everything, finishing one book before he
buys another.
He has the corporation laws Of New
Jersey and West Virginia al his fingers
ends. guess he knows Blackstone by
heart, He Is continually on the watch for
second hand volumes of reports OF decisions
in the Federal and State courts He has
English law books dating back two hundred
year,.
He spends every minute of his spare
time reading. ! don't think there are many
lawyers who have read Ms much law. There
IL no system about his reading, however;
and that's what makes mo think he VIII
never be lawyer.
ITS a case OF a man with hobby. He
reads and dreams Of the time when he will
be a member OF the bar without doing any
thing TO further his ambition.
"Ihave met with many such cases. Grea,
readers are not practical. They belong TO
the day dreaming class.
Reading is a passion which enslaves
them as completely as whiskey or opium
enchains its victims. They skim through
books for the eXhllaration they get from
the printed page, and what they learn is
not applied TO any useful purpose
Another Of my customers has hobby
for history. He has read about every
history under the sun, and buys every new
or old historical work that he can lay his
hands upon.
He has been doing that to my knowledge
for twelve OF fourteen years An old book
that you wouldn't give two cents for will
arouse his enthusiasm and make him take
on like a boy with new skntes.
HE told me ten years ago that be Was
going TO secure profeesorship in some
college. and that his ultimate purpose
was 10 wr.te history OF the world. He
hasn't got his professorship yet and hasn't
started to write his history. guess be
will end his days reading and dreaming
history,
The queerest proposition I have ever
met Is young man who Is employed in
cigar box factory on the Fast Side. HIS
hobby Is botany. He spends his days at
work in the shop and his nights and Sundays
reading about plant life.
He was born in the tenement district
and has always lived whore you couldn't
find plant nor a flower in days search
lou COulUH Rel MN 10 TAKE Ndlh d"
the park whore the plants grow. He says
1t would DO q waste Of time and that he
can learn more from books.
What use he intends 70 make OF his
reading Is a mystery to me. / don't think
he has ever taken time to think OF that.
He must have over 200 dinerent works
on botany. Horticulture and kindred sub.
jec,s. Whenever / run across a work OF
this kind I lay 1t aside, know wing that Ia
will buy It, He Is my only customer for
that olass Of books.
When l was younger l used 20 think
that reading was one OF the noblest puT-
suits In life. / think 40 still, Of course, but
my view Is subject 10 limitations. ! now
realize that excessive and indiscrlminate
reading is a dissipation which makes for
harm. SIdmming through books is be-
setting sin with many.
Reading Is an intoxication that a man
who wants TO make his way In the world
had better beware OF He should nor in
dulge in any more Of IL than he can as
similate.
Il have seen too many failures in life
caused by omnivorous and ihoughtless
reading 10 make me think otherwise. To
old philosopher who commended tho man
Of one book knew what he was taking
about"