The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-08-10
Books and Brain Power
Here Is Advice to Men and Women Who Want to
Improve Their Minds.

"YOa shall know truth and the truth shall set
Jon free"
To that text add another "Proye all things hold fast
that which is good In these two inspired sayings you
have the solution Of human troubles You have also suf
hcsnt to the who tells you that we cannot
know the truth for ourselves that must not ask ques
ons but rely supernatural power to guide Us IN every
thing We told to prove all things that is to LVESTI
GATE Them for ourselves and hold fast that which is
good, that which is TRUE.
We are told that we shall know the truth and that
the truth shall make free And gradually truth is de-
vecped and stored away in the books that record human
thought.
The truth does make men Free and nothing but the
truth can do it. You may live in republic and vote, and
think that you make your laws But you not free
less you know the truth about government and the wants
Of man This page shall be developed to answering briefly
and most nadequate necessarily the many readers that
say TEL what to read since you often speak Of good
books
An education based on reading and begun perhaps
rather late should begin with general knowledge after
the individual has learned to READ MTELLIGENTLY,
which is the greatest art in the possession Of
First you want to know what and where this earth is
which Jon live Read good simple book astronomy
Flan1aaEicns Astronomy is good So is Balls STORY Of
While you are reading your astronomy read good
supple book geology get recently written
Your librarian book dealer viii recommend one This
geology win tell you what has happened to the earth during
around the sun.
Then read 8 book on evolution which viii tell you
about the development Of animal life the earth and how
you have gradually arisen TO erect position and learned
70 study the stars instead Of studying ways to kill and
eat your neighbor Wallaces book on DarWnism is good
Altar you understand something about the universe in
which your earth is little traveller, something about
geology and evolution, read good book on psychology
and learn somethng about yourself how becomes posi-
BE Tor your brain to and understand the world around
you and the distant Prof James has written an
admirable book psychology Get il.
Than get history of philosophy which means the
history Of human thought and abstract speculation.
The history OF philosophy written by George LeWes
husband Of George Eliot is easy and pleasant to read and
sutacsutly although not perfectly, accurate.
While reading all other books make it point to read
Shakespeare for at least fifteen minutes every day Other
books feed different parts Of the mind Shakespeare feeds
the entire brain.
Read little at a time and changing from one book
% another, the following books:
BAooN's ESSAYS. He was one of the worlds three
greatest thinkers He died in disgrace which shows that
intellect is sometimes apart from character
Read the essays Of Montaigne and the maxins of La
Rochefoucaud At the same time, although readers
md rather hard read slowly Montesuueus Esprit of
Laws Keep the last three books by you and read them
Internationally in the course of year. You will find in
Moutesqueu the history of mans struggle to attain Justice
In Montagne You will admire solid wisdom and keen s+re
The brilliant Duke Of La Rochefoucauld will show you how
to use language and wit most brilliantly
you want to know something about education for
yom ch1drens sake, read Herbert Spencer's book on
Education" and Rousseau's Emile" Add to these if
yOu are industrious works education by Frobe and
Fesaoz But Spencer and Rousseau enough for the
average parent
TO make you think enable you to Judge the events of
today and think inegently about the future in the light
Of the past read these admirable books:
Buckles History of Civilization in ENGLAND" Lecky
History Of European Morals and Guizots History of
Civilization" You will find it difficult to buy the last
named but can get it at public library
Such books these should be read with an encyco-
ea ct hand and frequently consulted Never read and
pass on without understanding what you have read or
knowing about the important characters mentioned To-
read books without knowing what you read is like swal
lowing food whole it does good and causes indigestion