The Washington herald., 1912-01-05
BOOKS ARE GREAT
AID TO SUCCESS
Of Both the Ambitious Boy
and Girl.
By THOMAS TAPER.

Have you ever stopped to think about
the Unknown Kingdoms? l mean those
that are unknown to most of us.
There is probably, not one healthy
minded American boy who could not find
endless pleasure in learning even a little
about minerals. For a few cents each
he can buy small and beautiful speci-
mems and gradually make a collection
that would cost but a trifis over all, and
open his eyes to a new world. There
are many other equally beautiful king
doms- Why do we not take the little
trouble necessary TO visit them.
Why is there a stronger desire in some
American boys TO tie tomato can to a
dogs tail than there is to- borrow an
opera glass and look at the moons Of
Jupiter, or give the telescope man a dime
for a view OF the rings of Saturn2
The answer is very simple. Every
healthy-minded American boy would
rather see the moons of Jupiter or the
rings of Saturn than tic a can to a dogs
tail. But the dog and the can are gen.
orally easier to find than the telescope
is-so he does not think of it. But we
all believe in the clever mindedness of
the American boy. All he needs is the
suggestion.
Wonderful Kingdom.
But of all the great kingdoms that re-
main closed to many Of US, Kingdom of
Books is the great and wonderful one.
Are books necessary to the American
boy who has secured a little education
and has been obliged to get job early
in life and earn his own living?
There are a great many different books
in the world, possibly millions of titles.
There are books on every conceivable sub
ject. Practically any book can be bor-
rowed for reference, by any one, from
a public library.
Every good book contains the best
thought to date, on the subject which it
treats. In a small package Weighing only
few ounces, some one has told, so that
every boy may understand, just what is
known about the subject.
Il would be difficult 10 find any kind
of work to which boy turns his hand
that cannot be read about. II he wants
to learn.
If he is farmers boy and works on
the farm, there is an enormous number
OF books that explain the best way to do
everything connected with farm work,
from how TO spade the ground to how
the best lettuce can be raised on a plot
20 by 40.
Boys Best Friend.
And so on. The point is that the best
advice the world has to offer on any kind
Of Job can be found in books. A boy
desirous Of getting into the game"
seriously will read them. They will take
OF any handicap he may have. They
will put him far ahead of that group Of
boys that never will read or ask Ques-
tionE.
This group of books on trades, manu.
facture, and commerce will help him
But he should not overlook the books for
real pleasure that may also be had.
I met in Paris a boy sixteen years old
who was running an elevator in a hotel
He had one idea in life above all Others,
namely, to learn TO speak English and
German, so that he could in the future
be a head waiter in a fine restaurant
Every time an English or German speak
ing man entered the elevator that boy
would greet him politely. and IL he could
do Il without offcnss he would ask him
to pronounce a word or two Of which he
was not sure.
He won my interest. and probably that