Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-08-12
GOOD BOOKS TO READ.
New York Sun.

New YORK sun
A high school graduate wrote recent
ly from White Plains asking for a
biography and for the titles of a few
novels. The correspondent says: 81
wish to read with a view to improv-
ing my general knowledge, so that
may be able to write and converse
more freely"
1t Is always difficult to answer such
a request when one does not know
the sex or the background of culture
of the writer. II the student be ig-
norant of good literature and needs
to read to acquire taste we would
recommend that he read a chapter or
two In each of all the books given
below. In this way he will discover
his own taste. Let him then follow
1t and reach much, very much, of the
things he likes.
In American history John Fiskes
beginnings of Ne England" "Discov-
cry of America" and "Old Virginia and
Her Nelghbors" are not only good but
readable.
itcs If the student will read the open
ing chapter of James Bryce's "Ameri-
can Commonwealth" he may find himself
enticed to read the whole of the best
book on the subject.
One of the many authorities who
say that no one can afford to neglect
the Roman Empire goes SO far as to
call 1t "the one fundamental work of
historical! writing" The student may
well try the first three chapters in
the first volume, which describe the
prosperous condition of the empire be
fore the beginning of Its decline.
Justin McCarthy's Reign of Queen
Anne" THE Four Georges" and His
tory of Our Own Times" are all en-
joyable, and in reading them the stu
dent will find himself on n footing OF
intimacy with the noted people of mod
ern England.
Francis Parkman's works are de
lightful and popular. The student
might try THE Oregon Trail first.
Having tried n chapter or two in
each of the books | have named he
may have decided he needs a simpler
introduction to historical reading.
Then let him start with some of the
works written by Eva M. Tappan for
young folks. Take her STORY of Al
fred the Great" or Young Peoples
History of England" or "Story OF
Queen Elizabeth"
AS to biographies. dare to recon-
mend James Boswell's Life of DIR.
Samuel Johnson" long as 1t is. 1t is
often called the best biography ever
written, and our student should be ia
miliar with a great model in this line
Its pages reveal the personalities OF
one of the strongest men of his age
and Of many of his friends. After
meeting them here the reader will
very possibly wish to study them
through their own works.
Let him try THE Speeches, Letters,
State Papera and Miscellaneous Writ
lngs of Abraham Lincoln" edited by
j G. Nicolay and John Hay. He will
thus get acquainted with this great
man, with the great problems of his
time and with his strong and simple
use OF the English language.
Gen. U. S. Grants Personal Me
molrs" will be found profitable and en-
joyable.
A charming collection of letters is
Robert Louis Stevenson's Letters to
His Family and Friends edited by
Sidney Colvin.
'Plutach's Lives" which are studies
of the great characters of antiquity,
are models of literary art In the form
of biographical sketches. The student
is recommended to try the life of Mark
Antony and then to read Shakespeare
Antony and Cleopatra for another
treatment of the same story.
II is impossible to suggest with any
hope of hitting the mark few great
nevels to one whose taste we do not
know. At the Newark library we have
compiled list of some OF the best
novels of all times. 1t Is called, not
"the hundred best novels" but "one
hundred of the best" There are in
this list of books of delicate work
manship, like "Chanford;" of thrill ad
venture. such as "The Three Musket.
eers;" OF humor, like "Huckleberry
Finn" of fine character drawing. like
VANITY Fair" of simple narrative.
like kim"
WHITE MAN AND INDIAN.