Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-20
c. II AT

..Oh for a booke and shady noOke.
Eyther in doors or out;
With the green leaves whispering over
head
or the street cries all about
where male reade all at my ease
Both of the new and old;
For a jollie gOOde books wherein to
t~oze,
better TO me than golde."
old English Song.
rtis is the time of the year when we
are ready for the new book and the sun
ny nook that lets us enjoy little of old
Sol and the sweet spring sights and
sounds.
someone may suggest that there seems
n time when I would not find a book
a.lectable. and must confess that l have
never found time enough to read all that
] wanted to.
II one has good training along that line
skere need be no time wasted on book
That is not helpful. Don't get the idea
that all helpful books are dry. nor that
they need be prOsy. There are many
novels that paint life in such true colors
that the reader can but see it from a
better standpoint. The man or woman
Who reads Scott has a clear picture Of a
.fme that has left an everlasting imprint
on history Charles Dickens is termed
prosy BY the crowd who has never read
anything better than. Dora Thorne, or
one Of Laura Jean Libbey's highflown
sort but there never were truer pictures
OF a certain phase OF life even today than
he gives US. Again. take Thackeray ana
one can pick out such characters every
day; / must admit that Becky Sharpe is
not the type TO set before the world as
fine examples Of women. but there are
lovable characters in Vanity Fair and in
Pendennis.
I won't try to say how many times
! have read David Copperfield or A Tale
OF Two Cities. though my mother and
sister think Dickens Pickwick Papers,
ahead of David COpperfield. George FL
lots Adam Bede. Mil on the Floss, and
MiddIemarch should be as familiar as
Robinson Crusoe.
As 70 the novels of the present day.
or should say stories and fiction, l am
entirely az sea. for there is no limit to
the really good books Only last week 1
read one called The Opera House, by Ju-
lfette Wilbur Tompkins, that rested me
and helped me wonderfully. Wroth, by
Agnes and EgertOn Castle, is a Story
true 20 life as well as entertaining.
Some might say that the hero was over
and in ones contact with the world many
a story is heard that one knows is true.
yet, would be hardly credible If read in
a book Take The Mission Girl, a Sc
rial that was I'm The Golden Age, and
now in book form. 1t is founded on
fact, the heroine works in the slums OF
New York and / hope that some day l
may have permission TO tell you her sto-
~ II you have not read the book send
me a dollar, or send IT to The Golden
age. and you will get it.
's4e that Ioveth a book" says Isaac
Barrow, will never want a faithful
friend. a wholesome counsellor. a cheer
full companion. an effectual comforter. By
study. by reading. by thinking. one may
innocently divert and pleasantly enter
tain himself. as in all weathers so in all
fortunes.
I received a letter complaining that I
did not publish what the writer had pre-
viousIy sent me. / replied that the let
tiers were all on the same strain. too sad,
and complaining. too personal. that eve
rybody had troubles and could dwell on
them until there seemed nothing else In
the world. that IL the writer would send
me a letter containing less OF self and
more Of other ideas / would be glad 10
publish IT, The answer came promptly.
How can / write OF anything else?
That's all have TO think about"
I heard a woman say that the novel
called Queechy kept her from going era
zy- She was very unpleasantly situated.
and knew that the people she had 10
live with were doing all in their power
10 iniure her. She filled her days with
hard work. read her Bible faithfully.