The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-07-20
:. LIBRARY REFS
READING
By Mr.. c. R. s.

sand, 1t runs IN and out and leaves vestlge
behind. second is like sponge, which imbbes
everything, and returns it in the same state, only
little drtier. third is like jelly bag allowing
all that is pure to pass away, and retaining only the
refuse and dregs. The fourth is like the slaves in
the diamond mines of Golconda, who, casting aside
all that is worthless obtain only pure gems.
Ones reading is usually fair index of his
character. Observe in almost any home you visit
the books which lie customarily on the table; or
note what are taken by preference from the public
or circulating library, and you may Judge, in no
small degree, not only the intellectual taste and the
general intelligence of the family, but also-and
what is of far deeper moment-you may pronounce
the moral attainments and the spiritual advance
ment of most Of the household.
The temptation to corrupt reading is usually
strongest at the period when the education of the
schoolroom is about closing The test of the final
utility, however, is the time when our youth leave
these schools. If The mind be now awakened to a
manly independence, and start a course of vgor-
GUS elf-cuture, all will be WE'LL But if on the
other hand, it sinks into state of inaction indfer
en to its needs, and TO all the highest ends and
aims of life, then to the man, for few, very few,
rouse themselves in md-fe to a new intelec
tual taste and untried application of their time
powers Creator
formed and endowed them
Abstain from all those books which, while they
have some good things about them, have also ad-
mixture of evil. You have read books that had the
two elements in them-the good and the bad. Which
stuck to you? The Bad! The heart of most people
is like sieve, which lets the small particles of gold
fall thru, but keeps the great cinders. Once in
while there is mind like loadstone, which,
plunged amid steel and brass filings gathers up the
steel and repes the brass; but it is generally just
the opposite. If you attempt to plunge thru
hedge of burrs to get blackberry. you Will get
more burrs than blackberres. You cannot afford to
read bad book however good you are You say,
The influence is insignificant but tell you that
the scratch of pin has sometimes produced lock-
jaw. Alas. If thru curiosity, many do, you pry
into an evil book, your curiosity is dangerous
that of the man who should take torch into gun
powder mill merely to see whether it would blow up
or not.
Inferior books to be rejected, in age and
time when counted by whole libraries, and
when no mans life is long enough to compass
those which are good and great and famous. Why
should we bow down at puddles. when APP
proach freely to the crystal spring heads of science
and letters? Half the reading of most people is
snatched up at random Many supefy themselves
the dullness of authors who ought never to
have escaped Oblivion.
The invention of paper and printing especially
the production of both by a new motive power
may be said 10 have overdone the matter and made
it to be born into the world of authorship. The
would be benefited by invention for
strangling nine out of ten that sue for publicity.
No man can do his friend child real SER
vice than to snatch from his hand the book that re-
lakes and effemnates him, lest he destroy the solids
and make his fibre faccd by the Stops and hashes of
a catch penny press. But especially is he bene-
factor who instills the principle that compost
ton should be deliberately sought, which is not
good, beneficial, and above mediocrity.
Consider that what carry to book is al
ways quite important as what we receive from it.
We may strike the keys of the best instrument from
earliest to latest night. but unless there be
while. to earnest, inqulring sef-polsed mind,
"a good book is the plectrum by which else ST.
lent Tyres are struck"
Master your reading, and let it never master
you: then it will serve you with ever-increas-
ing fidelity. Only read books Alright, and they will
charge your mind with the true electric fires Take
them MP as among your best friends and every
volume you peruse will join the great company of
joyous servtors who will wait around your mmor-
tai intellect Then, too, daily character will
bear the signatures of the great minds you commune
with in secret And, as the years pass on, you will
walk in the light of enarging multitude of