The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-14
DIR. Marden's
Uplift Talks
BY oRIsoN SWEET MARpEN.
THE PRICE OF ONE CIGAR A DAY.

Copyright BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

How can you afford all these
books?" asked a young man, calling
upon a friend; Il can't seem TO fnd
spare change for even the leading
magazines"
"Oh, that library is only my one
cigar a day." was the reply.
What do you mean?" inquired the
visitor.
Mean? Just this: when o ad-
vised me to indulge in an occasional
cigar, several years ago, l had been
reading about a young fellow who
bought books with money that others
would have burned in cigars, and |
thought would try to do the same.
You may remember that l said | should
allow myself n cigar a day."
Yes, | recall the conversation, but
don't quite see the connection"
We'll, | never smoked, but l 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
o cost no more than that! Why,
there are dollars worth of them"
Yes, l know there are. l had six
years more of my apprenticeship to
serve when you advised me to be
a man. I put by the money, which,
at five cents a day, amounted to
$1S.25 a year, or $109.50 in six years.
keep those books by themselves, as
a result of my apprenticeship cigar
money; and, II you'd done as did, you
Jul by this time have saved many,
many more dollars than l have, and
would have been better off in every
way and W a 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,
a 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 life's essentials, and even the
things that were luxuries a short time
ago, for so little money as today. The
products of the greatest minds that
have ever lived were never SO cheap.
Copies of the great masterpieces of
literature, which a century ago were
only within the reach of the rich, are
now often found in the poorest homes
and can be bought for the price OF a
cigar.
Many of our choicest friends live
between the leaves of our favorite
books. We become more intimate with
them than with any living characters.
We are not afraid to open our hearts
to n of them without reserve. There
need be no clash of opinion. Our com
-munion is heart to heart.
People are often ashamed to be seen
with some persons with whom they
desire to associate, and they are often
secretive about some of their friend
ships, but they are frank in choosing
friends In books. Hence, the volun-
tary selection of book companions is
very important, and we can quickly
estimate a mans character by his
choice. They indicate the degree of
his culture, his good taste and refine
ment or his c~oarseness and vulgarity.
The books we collect are confessions
Of what we like and of what we are.
If you are anxious to improve your
self read books which tend to elevate
your being to some purpose. Read
books which make you resolve to do
and be a little better; to try a little
harder to be somebody and to do
something in the world.