The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-24
Good Starters

great many persons are DESTROYS of making
a start in some kind of reading or study, but
don't know where or how to begin. Il want to
know something about psychology" they say, or
botany, or economics, or whatever the case may
be, 'but am 50 unfamiliar with the literature on
the subject don't know what to ask for"
Recommending reading to another is almost
as precarious thing as prescribing diet for an
other and we have no intention Of so doing, but
there are few books which serve admirably as
starters and which are so written that almost
anybody can vibrate to them. Few can make
any mistake in trying them out. Such, we hope,
are these we suggest in few fundamental lines.
If. one wants to make start in Literature an
excellent guide for the first is w. J. Dawson. He
has written three volumes which constitute SER
les and which he has entitled makers of Modern
English" These are interesting and refreshing
studies of the work of many of the better known
modern writer's from Samuel johnson down and
are written with such simplicity, such freshness
and cast such an illumination about the subject
that the man who doesn't find himself going aft
er the books he reviews is not Of the nature that
will care much for literature.
Professor Cody has another SERIES not of re-
views and criticisms, but composed entirely of re-
prints of the masterpieces Of the best writer's.
poetry, and the third gives one the most power
full orations. These volumes cover large terri
tory and serve as an unexcelled introduction.
After one has gotten into the way Of reading
''the best that has been thought and said in the
world" he will be ripe for such book Prof.
R. G. Moultons world Literature" This will
take one to high peak from which he can see
the broad outlines of the whole worlds achieve
ments in the wonderful art of writing.
If it is Science that bankers for, Tyn-
dalls essays, fragments of Science" would in
troduce one into that fairyland we'll almost
any other work. While consulting a spiritist
medium (for purposes of investigation Tyn-
dalPs guide" spoke of him as ''the poet of sci
ence'' and that is about as good characterize
ton as could be made.
Henry Smith Williams, David Starr Jordan
and Thomas Huxley have also written a number
of volumes on science that whet ones appetite
for more
| If one happens to care for Psychology and
wants something easily understood to start with,
President Henry Churchill Kings Rational Liv-
ing is as good as anything to be had. Aside
from the excellent clarity of his treatment the
book is very practical and also offers full list
of other books on the subject.
Those who care to try Sociology will find few
better guides IN beginning than the Rochester
professor, Walter Rauschenbusch. His "Chris-
tianity and the Social Crisis and his "Christian-
izing the Social Order will put one into mood
for something sitter and pave the way to the
great source books such Spencer's SOCIOLOGY
and Lester F. Wards Dynamic Sociology
If it is the political and economic side of the
question that appeals, Walter Weyps "New
| Democracy" and Herbert Croly's Promise OF
| American Life stimulating and suggestive
/ If one cares for the stars but is frightened al
mathematical Astronomy or such weighty books
as Newcomb's "The Stars" he will find Garrett
P Serviss' popular volumes on the heavens to in
spire him to go farther into the subject.
Some works, especially in literature, are al
once great and simple, at once profound and pop
ular. If person will ever care for Emerson hi
probably will take to him as much in the be
ginning at the end. The Essays" appeal tt
youth and to genius. All of us have the forme
once, few the latter always. And what is tru
of Emerson is true of many Others 1t is we'll t.
avoid the fallacy that because book is great, i
must be hard to read. The opposite is very Otter
the case