The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-06-18
APPRECIATION OF LITERATURE.

Real literature is any written or printed
production of the human mind which is
marked by elevation, vigor, catholicity of
thought, by fitness, purity and graces of
style and artistic construction. We have
need within US, and we cater to it, for facts,
for knowledge and intellectual wealth; but
we cherish higher need than that, and
that need is for the elevating and inspiring,
for whatever is power-giving. Whatever
in prose or verse embodies thought and
ideas which can confer such elevation of
feeling and inspiration or power is litera-
ture. 1t is best of thought and its most
perfect expression. Therefore Dean Stan
ley classes as literature ''the great works
that rise above professional and common
place uses and take possession of the mind
of whole nation or of whole age.'
Countless are the volumes that go under
the name of literature; works and books;
newspapers and periodicals that for long
time have been and are now daily being
produced; textbook and books of refer
ence; encyclopedias and technical books
on every subject; the papers edited and
magazines issued; the novels and short
stories placed before US. Even the news
papers have to include variety o. topics
and the selection of matter pertaining to
every conceivable branch of knowledge.
To know has been the cry of man for many
ages and is far from being satisfied. Of
course, to make money is potent and un-
DERIVING and energizing motive. But over
and above that motive is the demand for
accurate knowledge, for facts-commer-
cial, historical, physical, scientific, me-
chanial, religious, intellectual. We are a
reading people, and are never satisfied UNI
til We arrive at the solution of problems, or
the attainment of what we want to know.
Scores of books exist on every subject
of human inquiry and investigation-of
invention and discovery, and daily addi-
tional kindred ideas and new viewpoints
are presented in numerous pamphlets and
magazines. There can be no just cause
for complaint if we remain ignorant, and
we are all alive to the necessity of knowing
or studying-of filing our minds with in
tellectual facts and wealth. Education is
nearly universal. Everybody knows how
to read, and plenty is given US to read.
But in the multitude of reading matter
put before US only very small part can be
classed as true, real, genuine literature,
good and worth reading. And one would
be just as well off if he never heard of it
all. For they do not call forth the noblest
expression of human thought and power
to elevate human life. They pamper to the
merely physical good and vapidly sensa-
tional, and contain nothing of the truly
grand and beautiful, nothing of the power
and supereminent excellence to be found
and garnered in what are considered the
best works of literary art.
What should be ones object in reading?
Why do we learn to read? Primarily. of
course, to know. We search libraries and
delve into huge tones for information.
We study to acquaint ourself with the
doctrines and teachings that are laid down
as facts. We study to know the truth
that light in all matters of human INQUIRY
should flood our mind. The mind was made
for truth and must of necessity stretch out
for beauty and goodness and power and
strength in this world of ours. It must
exercise itself to attain possession OF all
the facts it can. Truth is the food Of the
mind.
But just as we eat not only to grow and
wax strong, not only to preserve the life Of
the body, but more-that the body be capa-
bic Of all the exertion to which it is fitted,
and that it use its various faculties to the
best results-that we go forth into the sum
shine and contemplate the wonders and
beauties of nature, take in the glory and
power of the universe, drink il the ozone
OF pure atmosphere and thus enjoy the
place Of our earthly sojourn-so though