Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-11-19
DIR. Marden's
Uplift Talks
BY oRIsoN SWEET MARpEN.
THE PRICE OF ONE CIGAR A DAY.
Oopyright By Mcclure Newspaper syndicate


How can you afford all thes
Dooks?" asked q young man, calm
upon a friend; Il can't seem to fin
spare change for even the leadin
magazines"
"oh. that library is only my on
cigar a day." was the reply.
What do you mean?" inquired tn
visitor.
Mean? Just this: when you ad
Vised me to indulge in an occasiona
cigar several years ago, / had beer
reading about young fellow whC
bought books with money that Others
would have burned In cigars, and
thought | would try to do the same
You may remember that said should
allow myself one cigar a day."
Yes, I recall the conversation, but
don't quite see the connection"
We'll, l never smoked, but put by
the price Of a flve-cent cigar every
day; and, as the money accumulated.
bought books-the very books you
see."
You don't mean to say that your
books cost no more than that! Why,
there are dollars worth OF them"
Yes. know there are. had six
years more OF my apprenticeship to
serve when YOU advised me to be
a man. ! put by the money, which,
at five cents day, amounted to
$lS.25 year, or $10950 in six years.
keep those books by themselves, as
result of my apprenticeship cigar
money; and, II you'd done as l did, you
would by this time have saved many,
many more dollars than l have, and
would have been better on In every
way and own library besides"
Surround yourself with good books.
There is something in the very at
mosphere Of books which is helpful
and inspiring. One seems to absorb
culture from the presence OF books
and contact with them. The mind
changes; our ideals enlarge when we
are surrounded by good books. One
can learn to love books, and derive |
much pleasure from them, too, by con-
stantly being in their presence and get.
ting acquainted with them.
Good books are frightening and |
Frightening the lives Of a multitude |
OF people. How many a wretched one,
poor and forsaken perhaps by the
world, has found solace in his poverty
and a refuge from his want and woe,
\ pleasant substitute for his gloomy
thoughts, as he has delved like a
prince in some great book!
We hear a great deal about the in
creased cost Of living, but never In
history could poor people get so much
Of LIES essentials, and even the
things that were Injuries a short time
ago, for SO little money as today. The
products Of the greatest minds that
have ever lived we're never so cheap.
Copies Of the great masterpieces Of
literature, which a century ago were
only within the reach Of the rich, are
low often found in the poorest homes
md can be bought for the price Of q
,igar.
Many Of our choicest friends live
between the leaves of our favorite
looks. We become more intimate with
hem than with any living characters.
We are not afraid to open our hearts
o one Of them without reserve There
iced be no clash Of opinion. Our COM
nunion is heart to heart.
People are often ashamed to be seen {
With some persons with whom they 1
esire to associate, and they are often 8
ecretive about some of their friend 1
hips, but they are frank in choosing I
riends in books. Hence, the volun- |
airy selection Of book companions is '
cry important, and we can quickly I
stimate a mans character by his
hoice. They indicate the degree OF
is culture, his good taste and refine
lent or his coarseness and vulgarity. 4,
he books we collect are confessions
what we like and Of what we are. :
II you are anxious to improve your .
slf read books which tend to elevate =
our being to some purpose. Read :
ooks which make you resolve to do =
nd be q little better; to try a little =
arder to be somebody and to do :
,mething in the world.