The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-01
Need OF a Revolution in Litera-

Editor of Ne Times-Dispatch:
Sir,-To fall in love with good book
Is IS 81, one OF the greatest events that can be-
rail- US; 1t Is to have new Influence
pouring into our life, now teacher TO
inspire and refine us.
The charm OF friendship Is tho discovery
Of our sympathy and oneness with each
other, and SO We must each taste the
bookssthat are accessible to us for our
selves, and no ono can become the friend
OF even ono good book without being
made wiser and better.
/. In amazingly cheap form almost all the
best books are now to be had, and there
lis no excuse for any young man or young
woman who does not keep. the best 1T
erary company.
Why, should we pay more nttcntIon5to
adorning our bodies than our minds?
Why shoud5w we enjoy reading the trashy
books. instead of filling our minds and
Libraries with something more substan-
tial? For It has been said that libraries
are the wardrobes OF our literature.
whence men. properly informed. might
bring something for ornament, much for
curiosity. and moro for use. IT we read
more, there would not be 80 much Of our
time given to evil thoughts and, there
fore, no room given to the devils work.
shop.
There are many who cannot have col
legiate education, but where collegiate
education Is for some reason, not attain
able. and substitute must be found.
then q course OF reading Is unQuestionably
good--none better, in fact-nor should we
put of our reading from day to day.
This life IS given us as a school OF ex-
perience BY far too many OF US play
truant. and we may expect truant,s
reward No one who reads much will
ever be heard saying II do not love to
read" for It has been proven that the
more we know the more are we convinced
Of the vast amount that we do not know.
We should not be too wise to learn. hut
learn.to be wise: for what Is wisdom but
knowing how little can be known?
When We take into consideration the
many persons who are ntlrely Ignorant
Of the books and even the names OF the
worlds great writer's. we are not sur
prsed when we hear one inouirinE
whether Shakespeare was an English
or an American writer" or. hear OF a
clerk telling, a customer that he hadn't
Browning In the store but plenty OF
bla cking and bluing, II that would an
swer."
Mathew Arnold has given us this exact
mat hen,atical estimate Of life: Conduct
best, things that have been known and
written In the world. It Is to gather. to
ones sci, self The wise and beautiful that
We should get only to consume, to use
and enjoy, and then to give to others.
The only culture which can3devellope. the
get and enjoy the bestfthe world affords.
What modern civilization needs is bet
ter taste for literature. The trouble
rests with the people OF to-day. for SO
long as We cultivate a taste FOR light
trashy reading and let the standard lit
erature remain dust-covered on the
shelves there will be- no better writing.
What we need is to wipe the dust from
the good. substantial books and put them
in circulation. ~
is one OF the hopeful signs OF this
day and generation that 50 large a mum.
rightly directed. this impulse may be
made exceedingly helpful. for surely
there must be, great books and authors
people will ind that they cannot write
they ., nrs t acquire something themselves
Read Dante, Milton. Shakespeare Have
always on hand a task in the way OF q
history or nm essay or some =, yoium IN,
by reading the best literature we Will
gain n good voca bulary and learn to ex-
fnress ourselves better than. otherwise:
We have, too, an advantage that was not
enoved by our early ancestors-lt is ne
reading OF good magazines and the daily
Enewspa pers. which we should not neg
lect.
such auspices as young peonle now en-
.tov. will nromise elements IN literature
which in former times have been !ac aSn
There may come from their ranks those
Who In future years will enrich-the world
with real treasures ut those &'apples OF
gold" which appear in pictures OF sill
YER"
What has been written must remain. g.
Nor be erased nor written Ger again
The &un written only still belongs to thee.
,rake heed and ponder we'll what that shall be.
: BELLE BURCH.
Richmond. Va. 81