Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-22
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first page and turned to the second, an
other glance and turned to the third, and
papers back to me, before l had scarce
ly time to count twenty. / said to him
Il wanted you to read that very care
fully
Il have" he replied. In the converse
ton that followed I found he knew every
thing in the article and even discussed
the phraseology without again looking at
the manuscript.
At another time / sent him a 3OO-page
book, he wanted to read. He returned II
in about two hours, and afterward when
met him he was familiar with the con-
tents Of the book. Though his reading
was remarkably rapid, it did not lack in
thorOughness.
L give this illustration to show how
some read, and for suggestion and posi-
BILE incentive to some Of my young read
ers to strive for quickness and concen-
tration in their reading and thereby save
much waste OF time. Whether the reading
be rapid or slow. it should be thorough.
few books thoroughly digested is far
better than many books SKINNED over.
F. w. Robertson said: Multifarious
reading Weakens the mind more than do
ing nothing; for it becomes a necessity
at last like smoking. and is an excuse
for the mind to lie dormant, whilst
thought is poured in. and runs through,
clear stream, over unproductive gravel,
on which not even MOSES grow. 1t is
OF 1mpotency than any other
*
What to Read.
1t is perhaps most important to know
what not to read. There is tremendous
evil in bad books. The annals of the
police furnish innumerable instances of
crimes committed through the influence
Of bad books.
Courvoisier the assassin Of Lord Will
liam Russell, attributed his deed to a
state Of morbid sympathy with crime, in
duced by the perusal of the then popular
romance OF Jack Sheppard
The author doubtless thought of writing
nothing more than an amusing fiction,
yet IN investing with a halo of romance
two such characters as Dick Turpin and
Jack Sheppard the minds of many young
people have been poisoned.
There are thousands of books Of like
character. many Of them far more per-
nicious than Mr.. Ainsworth's.
Not long ago boy was arrested on a
charge Of stealing. He was bright and
been diligent reader of the lives OF
pirates, thieves. footpads and highway
men. He had no use for the thing he
stole. he was only starting out to initiate
the heroes, as he deemed them that he
had been reading about.
Another class OF books to be specially
avoided is that containing suggestions OF
sensuality. On this subject I will only
add the statement of Rev. J. A. James,
a noted English clergyman and religious
writer:
when at school formed the acquaint-
ance OF a young man of fine education
and commanding talents, and We soon
became bosom friends. One morning
after school, at street corner, he handed
me book. which he said he could only
lend me for a quarter of an hour.
looked at the pictures and read few
pages In that polluted volume. handed
it back to him and never saw 1t again
but the poison took effect. the sin left
it's mark. l cannot erase the effects Of
the impure thoughts which in that quar-
ter OF an hour that vile book lodged in
my heart"
Turn away from such books as you
would from pestilence.
Another kind of reading to shun Is in
fidel writings OF every description. Even
II all these classes of books were not sc
injurious and deadly as they are In their
effects upon our lives, it would be folly
to waste time on them. when there is sc
much reading that is really worth while
and so little time for it In the brief span
of life