The Farmington times., 1919-03-14
The Cultivation Of a Literary Taste

OF art is like drawing the string from
q necklace of pearls, We get the mar
rative but the gems are lost. Choice
Passages from great writers should
be memorized.
Think for exemple Of the jewels we
may gather from Shakespere's works
from Tennyson and Browning and
Burns, and of the advantage Of COM
mitting many Of the shorter poems,
as well as prose classics.
These exquisetly clothed thoughts,
oft recurring to the mind through the
associations of life, can not fail to re-
fine our literary taste.
When possible the study Of the class
les should be observed as one Of the
most effective menas Of expanding
and deepening our capacity to enjoy
hooks.
Conversation with cultivated peo-
pies or membership in literary cir
cles may be mentioned as helpful fac
tors.
Permit me to say in conclusion that
the cultivation Of the moral sense is
Of paramount importance to the high
| est appreciation of good literature.
The noblest sentiment is powerless to
stimulate the heart, unless it strikes
responsive schord, ,and as the highest
| development of our heart life is in
! seperably united with the great doc
trines of the Bible, we believe for this
reason alone that its study is most
important. $500
| But apart from this the Bible is it
tself the greatest and best classic Of
the ages; happily called "a well of
pure English" The beauty of Sts
diction, the sublimity Of its thought.
the wide compass of its history, and
the infinite range Of its imagination,
have made it fountain Of influence
from which many Of the worlds great
writer's and speakers have obtained
their Inspirations.
| The best literature and oratory as
well abound in references to the BIZ
bic ani we must know something Oh
! ii to understand them.
One evening in distinguished
company where literature was the sub
| iect of discussion, a Christian scholar
present, declared that the Sible, while
n revelation from God, was also the
l.oblest of all literature The asser-
4 ton was at once challenged. Where
/ upon the scholar offered to match the
] expression of any great ethical truth
! from the worlds literature with a quo
4 tation from the Bible, wherein the
same truth should be expressed as
happilyA and often times more effec-
lively.
He at once became the target,
at whom was directed wise sayings OF
i immortals, and it is said not once to
have failed.
| One said, snatch this from Ten
h,'son Better fifty years Of Europe
titan a cpcie Of Cathay.' " At once
came the response, 81 had rather be .
door-kceper in the house of my God
than to reign in the tents of wicked
ness. Another quoted Milton
t"Peacc hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war" The answering
chord from the Bible, "Blessed are the
peace makers, for they shall be
called the children of God" Wads'
worth was quoted, "The primal vir'
tues shine aloft like stars" The an
swer, "What doth the Lsrd require
| of thee, but to do justly and to love
mercy and to walk humbly with thy
God" Shakespeare was given" Wh'
steals my purse steals trash, I'll!
something, nothing; Twas mine, til
his, and has been slave to thousands
, But he that filchec from me my goot
name, robe me of thai which him en-
richeth not, and lcaves me poor in
deed" The reply, "a good name j
: rather to be chosen than great riches.
n LAS the exercise went on, feelinl
iof awe settled upon the company an
: every one was thrilled with a neN
: sense of the sublimity and supremac
: of the Bible. s,
n The introduction of the Bible Mt
e new fields invariably marks the IN
tellectual and moral elevation Of tn
+ people. -.
s Does it not follow then that assirni
;. Llation to its ideals Is the most effet
d tive means of preparing to enjoy o
g that is best in literature and in lii
k as well. F..