The Washington herald., 1917-10-29

u7N ProIH. For tHt -prttAfgt OF
bone. The editorial zpus based on
journalism of the University of Nj.
sirobie for the library of lporking
First. for US all comes the English
language, the tool with which the
mind works; as necessary TO the brain
as the carpenters tools, the black
smiths sledge hammer. the weaver's
loom-to the workers hand.
The English language Is all In one
book, Shakespeare.
Learn your English language from
shakespeare. And learn what human
beings have done on this earth be-
fore you arrived-thst Is. study his
ltory.
The best quotation for every intelli-
gent citizen. including the editor. Is
from Cicero:
mot to know what happened before
our time is 10 remain always a child.
What does life amount TO IL we do
not combine the memory OF past CEN
turies with the events Of the present
days?"
A sufficiently complete knowledge of
history can be obtained in a short
course OF reading. You need not know
the name of every king. the date Of
every battle, the particular extrava-
gance OF the lady upon whom the
king spent his money, or the exact
nature OF the superstitions that con-
trolled him while he controlled the
people.
The Martyrdom Of Man" by Win
wood Reade, Is a good book, in spite
OF regrettably bitter prejudice
against revealed religion,
THE Ancient Regime" by Taine, is
an admirabl work. showing what
men were before revolution gave them
! freedom. The book also emphasizes
the value OF religion, the only friend
that the poor man had. the only pro-
tector against the brutal baron in his
| castle.
Herve's History Of France" gives
an admirable view OF the ancient
days, from the Stone Age onward, up
to within sight OF what We call civ
! iliZation.
What the world needs and lacks Is
history Of human thought, human
invention and human progress that,
for the ordinary hard-working man,
would take the place OF years Of in
discriminate reading.
Read a history OF philosophy, and
see how the human brain has strug-
gled from the day of Pythagoras TO
1.-The day Of Mrs. Eddy, the pitiful ef-
fort OF a finite mind to explain the
ininite-like trying to measure the
depth OF the ocean with a yard
stick or the distance Of the nearest
4
| Lewes' The Biographical History
of Philosophy is not the most ac-
curate, but easy to read. We rec
ommend it. You will observe with
interest that philosophers lived to
old age-which shows that it pays
TO think. even IL you think foolishly
Read books that stimulate imag-
ination. The kind of book depends
upon the kind OF brain you have
Children need Dickens, Thackeray
A man OF healthy. intellectual ap.
petite should find his inspiration in
such a book as Haeckel's Riddle OF
the Universe" wallace's book or
'Darwinism." his Wonderful Cent
Jury" or Spencer's First Principles
Your thought grows on the
thought buried in boks-as the
forest grows upon the dead trees
buried in the soil.
Read Andrew ID. whites splendid
work, "A History of the Warfare OF
Science with Theology in Christen-
dom"
When you read such books by the
students and teachers, remember al
ways in their discussion Of religion
and religious characters that YOU
. L.
udice of a man living today and
unable to understand conditions and
necessities OF a day gone by.
Read Lecly's History Of European
Morals" a history OF morels IS a
history of the front brain fighting
against the animal instinct and basel
imH ulses. so called. OF the lower back
brain inherited from our animal an
costors.
Read Volney's Ruins OF Empires" &"
Read. OF course. Buckles History
Of Civilization in England''-undoubt-
odly the best worlds history written
although it was intended only as a
preface TO the Ereater work Of which
his death deprived the world.
Read the poems Of Shelley ana Keats
at intervals-to give the solemn par.
OF your brain a rest
| Read Sterne's Sentimental Journey
Through France and Italy" the most
nearly perfect English prose
Real little OF Tenny in
English poetry is like custard pie
among foods. II will rest you.
Try "Locksley Hall" for easily ab-
sorbed noble feeling.
| Read at least enough OF Voltaire to
know why he STANDS out as the king
Of fighting thinkers. Try his little
hook ''Zadig'-you can read II in a
day. Read a few chapters Of his
philosophical Dictionary" the wit
test book Of the worlds literature
and full OF wisdom.
Read a good history Of Voltaire.
Parton's history is good. Tallentyre's 5,
for the average reader. perhaps is
better.
Read little of Byron-among poets
he is like musk among perfumes.
Read a little Plato-at least his de-
scription OF the death OF Socrates. II
you don't know it Read particularly
in his Republic" the description OF
the human beings that lived in a cave
with their backs to the light. thinking
that there was nothing real except
the shadows they saw on the wall
That is exactly how 20 per cent Of US
live at this moment.
Read one Of Lubbock's books on in
sect life-his study OF ants. for in
stance; 1t will puzzle you, and hum.
BILE you.
Pay particular attention to his de.
scription OF the parasite ants They
do nothing, and the worke- ants clean
them, carry them about. bring them
| their food fight hn tiles FOR then,