New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-05
On Sincerity i'm Ones Reading.
(ChriStian Science MOnitor)

(ChTlSt1an science NJ On1tOr)
There are many people who read
certain books from a sense of duty
1t may be a book of fiction, it may he
a story of the war, it may be a hi
ography; but if it be a book Of the
hour. there is a certain class of read
ers who consider it their bounden duty
to absorb it. This is equally true Of
volun1e s which have become classics
M ost cultivated people would cOnside err
it a reflection upon themselve to ad-
NIT that they had not read the mas
terpieces of Dickens Scott, Stevenson
or Tolstoy; yet it is inconceivable that
all these books should appeal to all
cultivated people.
During the De Morgan rage it was
aim ost pit:ful to witness the struggles
Of some who considered it their duty
not only to read these volumes, but
to convince their friends that they en-
ioyed them. IbSen has been RESPONSE
BILE for more preVarica ton than al
most any other writer; vet why should
anyone hesitate to express an honest
opinion regarding a piece of literary
work? We are familiar with the traV-
eler who used to go through the mu-
seums on the Continent with his Bae-
those pictures which were double
starred. and Indifferent to those which
did not receive this distinction. 1t is
appa rently the same way in literature.
and of course it all comes down to a
simple statement that the aVera ge
reader or the average sightseer is not
J in his own eyes, a competent judge
of the merits Of a literary work or a
work of art.
Our reading,Aof all things, should be
an expression of our sincerity. If we
prefer an Oppenh elm novel, why place
a volume of Ibsen or Strindberg con-
spicuously upon our library table,
while the Oppenheim book is con-
cealed on a bookshelf? The literary
appetite of each person is as clear an
indication of what his personality
Graves as the appetite which is given
| to us to guide us in our selection of
food. If that literary appetite causes
-, lis to select books of which we are
| aSha med, our effort should be to
change our own character sufficiently
| to influence the literary appetite
which Graves what We believe to be
| the wrong kind of literary food. Until
VIC do that lot us at least be honest
vii h ourselves.
particularly in youth, is to form pref
| Udices against those things which we
! are compelled to do. It was many
years after my school days before I
| learned to enjoy Stevenson, because
| that author happened to be upon the
! prescribed list which I had to read in
| prepa ration for school work. If we
desire TO be looked upon as readers of
| good books. then let us train ourselves,
| lust as we would in any other line, to
! be real critics of the literature we a b.
sOrb: let us be honest in expressing
our likes and dislilleS, and fearless if
| in these we differ from those around
! us An irsipid acQuiscence in other
I peoDle's opinions is as uninSpiring in
| p literary discussion is is constant
| agreement with the ideas of others
| in every other walk Of life. We dc
not hesitate to have our own ideas in
| politics and religion; let us form ou1
| own ideas regarding literature, and be
| nrenared to defend them. Here is g
| splendid opportunity for New Y ears
| resolution.