The Washington times., 1920-02-26
How to Read AS Important AS
What to Read
A Reply to Many Letter

ton from Sir John Herschel on IA Taste for Reading"
One result has been the receipt Of many letters like the
following: -
Editor of The Times:
As constant reader of The Washington Times,
would feel grateful if you would instruct about
the best books to read Wish you would mention
fifteen twenty which it would be wise to start 81
with JOHN KEANE
This editorial is in answer to Mr.. Keans and many
others.
You cannot start reading with fifteen twenty books
any more than you could start meal with fifteen or twenty
kinds of SOUP
Babys food is milk simple diet full Of nouishment
The man who has not acquired the habit Of reading
Just the baby you gave the baby coned beef and pie
it might eat it, but would not be good for it. Its digestion
would upset. and day two of too hearty food and too
much Of it would result in its stopping eating altogether
until the mistake had been rectiAed
There three steps in reading.
First getting the desire to read That u.s. establishing
Second, learning how to read.
Third, learning what to read.
Most of those who written for lists Of books
to have acquired the appetite and ready for tho
There is no use in reading unless you think as you
read One page carefully, thoughtfuly read is worth
whole volume hastily and thoughtlessy skipped over.
As you read think and you think make notes Make
them the OF the leaf right next to the passage TO
which they refer.
II you find book well marked up, the pages Uttered
with memoranda and be sure that who
read benefited by the reading Don't think you
spoil book by putting pencil marks in it,
Read with a dictionary near by. When you come to
word that you do understand look mark to
be looked up as soon as you have an opportunity
It is fine thing to read good books with some one else
each taking turn in reading aloud and then at tho end
reviewing what has been read.
When you have learned how to read then tho great
problem is what to read.
Lord Broughman who was very thoughtful man, said
thing
That kind of reading will give you Unbalanced fund
Of information It will fit you understand what you hear
and comprehend something if not the whole, Of passing
events.
We not going to give list of Fifteen or twenty
books to read That has been done by thousand men
thousand times and most of the lists useless
Tastes differ Perhaps you prefer history. would be
obstacle rather than help to advise you to read books
psychology.
There are of course few books that everybody should
read that should be made the foundation Of reading
The Bible is Entirely aside from its value
inspired book and its worth basis for religion there
just good and interesting love stories the Bible
ever written Read the book Of Ruth There is poetry
Read the Psalms of David the Songs of Solomon There
adventure galore Read of the wanderngs Of the Israel
tes the story of Joseph the experiences of the Apostles
There the finest English written Read the book Of
job There is the best reporting done Read the New
Testament There is tragedy and history and
And is in style that is splendid is charming
Do not think the Bible is book hard to read It is
thrillingly interesting.
Fundamental are the works of Shakespeare
person who has read Shakespeares plays and poems
has read the greatest result literary brain produced
he has read them carefully and thoughtully he has
of education than he could get out Of equal
number of pages any book written any language
since words were first invented
you must read fiction which perhaps you call novels
read some that are worth while.
Read Hugos Lies Miserables which is real literature
Read Dickens stoesspendid studies of character Read
Thackesy"Vanity Fair is perhaps the best thing he