River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-11-18

T. - ers there is an in-
ferno Of misshapen, distorted mon
sters. Some charm you with exquisite
music, while others try your nerves
by their harsh discords In some you
see the clash of armies and hear the
crash of falling empires, in others
there is the quiet of life forces at
work building in peace the family the
church and the nation. Some books
bring you mamma from heaven, while
others offer only the leeks and garlic
and onions of Egypt Some carry
with them an atmosphere of health
giving ozone, while others bring only
death-dealing miasma. Some uplift
and purify, while others degrade and
pollute. Some are ministering angels,
while others are wrecking demons.
The establishment of a library may
call for congratulation or commisera-
ton. 1t all depends upon the kind of
books that fill it's shelves. Mr. Car
negie had better establish in every
ward of our cities a pesthouse, full
of contagious diseases, than a libarv
of books unwisely chosen and freelv
circulated. Every revolution of our
great printing presses means an up
lift toward heaven or a push toward
hell.
John Angel James declares that he
has never recovered from the effect
of reading a bad book for Is minutes.
Nicholas Farrar taught useful les,
son in a Unique way when, while he
was dying, he ordered friend to &c
and select spot for his grave, and
then commanded him to gather from
his library all the worthless books.
that they might be burned upon this
spot before he was buried. When
William Wilberforce and Isaac Mil
ner were starting on a journey to
Scotland it was suggested that they
take with them and read together
Dodridge's Rise and Progress of Re-
ligion in the Soul" The reading of
this book led Wilberforce to Christ
and through him gave freedom to the
slaves of the British empire. A glance
into DR.. Watts hymn-book for chill
dren saved Walter Scott from suicide
Capt. Cooks Voyages" made William
Carey foreign missionary and gave
the Bible, in their own tongue, to
over 100000 of the human race
Carey's published letters sent Kerry
Martyr to India Buchanan's "Star In
the East" led Adoniram Judson from
New England to Burmah and gave to
the church one of the greatest mis-
sionaries in it's history. 1t was the
reading of DR.. Dicks PHILOSOPHY of
the Future State" which sent Day id
Livingston as the evangel of Christ
into the Dark Continent.
No wonder that a man who knows
the value of books delights in their
company. Petrarch refused to die any
where else than in the midst of his
books. While Walter Scott was dying
he had his attendants wheel him into
his library at Abbotsford. The tbbi1g
strength of Southey was used in
stroking and fondling the books which
he was not then strong enough 20
read. Paxton Hood tells of a young
man whose only regret at dying was
that in heaven he would not have any
books to read.
Read the books which are already
classic and known to be good. The
literary armament is full of these
stars of the first magnitude
Avoid books which you know are
immoral or anti-Christian. You woGld
not read a book derogatory to the
character of your wife or mother
xxyI<NY fO hn nd
neither will l read book derogatcry
to Christ and his religion, which l
have tested and know to be true
Do not read book just because it
is new and suddenly popular. Wait q
year and you may be saved the trofl-
BILE
Read the Book of Books The Bibls
is the sun in the heavens around
which all other good books are but
planets Read it for its history, it's
biography, it's laws, it's prophecies.
and above all, for its gospel which il
gives us in the revelation of Jesus
Christ as Saviour and Lord Hand
me the Book" said the dying Walter
Scott. what book?" replied his seq
rotary. There is only one book" be
answered, as he pointed to the Bible
on the table. There are times in LIFE
when there is only one book in the
world. This book gives light in dark
ness, wisdom in ignorance and hope
in despair. Study and cherish it as
the richest literary heritage of God To
man.
A gentleman and his wife who had
not been to church in II or Is years
were impressed by the truth in this
column, were converted and are now