New Britain herald., 1924-02-21

uOubtS aDOuI santa 1iauS, mas III
 somnia: the child who believes has
 good nights rest
 i If our faith gives up peace, ii doe
 not mean that We are to neglect tn
 natural, educational or other advan tages that are ripe about us. Tn
 oldest men among US may have goot
 reasons why the sweetness and ligh
 of culture may not have been theii
 portion and inheritance. They ar'
 pre-occupied with better things, sucf
 as the raising and supporting of large families. At least I presume to set
 you in the light of the surrounding
 which framed my own parents.
 scarcely ever saw my father but il
 oycralls, even when l accompanieo
 him at times to mass, but the best 1 the sanest. the wisest advice ] ever
 got on the necessity and beauty and 1 joy of education fell from his lips ] Whatever apologies may be advanced
 by the oldest among us, no excuse is
 possible for men and women of ten-
 derer years. Apart from the multi plicity of schools. and easy entrance
 thereto. public libraries beautiful to
 the eye. cosy within, and filled with books on every subject under heaven. 1 have their doors thrown open 10 you daily, and if you fail to take ad- vantage of them, the fault is no longer in our stars but in ourselves,
 that we are not culturally and re- finedly educated. Ton must not think that q college education is necessary
 and alone gives culture. Someone
 has recently said with some cynicism
 and perhaps much truth. "A college
 is a place where pebbles are smoothed
 and diamonds are dimmcd.'
 "The body has it's pleasures. the
 mind has its joys. To achieve the
 latter. you have only to cultivate real love for good books and reading.
 'It may be useful 10 illustrate this
 love that associates itself with books and reading. I love to recall the Happiness that the poet Keats had for his solitude which he shared only with authors and which he confessed in a letter to his brother, George: Notwithstanding your happiness. I hope shall never marry. Though the most beautiful creature were awaiting for me al the end of journey or walk; though the carpet were Of silk, the curtains of the morning clouds, the chairs and sofa stuffed with eygnets' down: the food mama, the wino beyond clarot, the window opening for windmere, II should not feel or rather my happi- ness would mol be so iinn as my soli- tude is sublime, The roaring of the wind Is my wife and fhc stars shining through the window.pane arc my children
 This same love. though expressed l in different way. is true of others 1 who arc nicely educated and well i read. but do not possess poetical I genius. Some time ago I read book | of travel. written by an Engllshman. | a graduate of Cambridge. He went l Canada, from ocean to ocean, 1 and had as companions three faith 1 less men and three faithful dogs, l His account Of the winter passed in l the heart Of Canada is more thrilling f than any movie | ever witnessed. | The hut was of course rudciy made | and illuminated only by inc radiance of t small fireplace and candle light. Tho winds were terrific, as sharp as l sword, and snow and ice stretched away 10 the horizon line in every direction. The requiem of tho winds . silence that could easily breed insanity. Tho only music that never failed him was the snarling and barking of his dogs In constant leath struggles with famishcd wolves. This was his fate for months and fei he declares he knew no ennui, no .edium, no loncaomencss. because he had brought with him couple of his 'ayoritc books.
 "If you are wise you will appro- priate this unspcakable joy that is he fruit of reading good books. If tou only knew the joy of it: If you ,nly knew the happiness Of it' MT. of the Giants recently dis ,overed the shortstop Of the Brook yrs in Paris specializing in Latin. And was ii not tho heavyweight champion pngilist of ths world who 'ecentiy said he would give at least half of his fortune for the Oxford 'ducation of certain college boxer presently abroad. These arc but in- iications Of the fact that now and specially in tho near future. the man who isn't nicely educated and well cad, may be q good fellow. even 'ich, but living without joys 10 which le has right and which are more precious than gold. T
 "lt is only proper, after highly books and reading. 10 prescribe an author. My counsel is 0 read, 10 study, 10 make yourselves aniliar and intimate with the works ,f Cardinal John Henry Newman. I an recommend him without fear. Whilst lovc the other giants in prose ind poetry, hc is my preferred and ny hobby. He fascinated me early md 1nred nc into 2 friendship. which ike the garments Of God. refuses 10 TOW old. do not pretend Of course Q have kept pace with his rare in effect but 1 do admire him from atar md lift up my voice carly and late in raise of his holiness and learning. When I am dcep in one or his books
 am like ihe child at thc sea shore. on the shore indeed. but ] by the sea. His iife is hIled ritb high romance and his mind un- eiIcd in some 40 odd volumes. Is 1ore interesting than a novel. He } a poet and possessed perhaps the est knowledge Of the first six cen- lrics Of church history. He is otelist and if he had concentrated n the violin. he would easily haye4 all your kreis1ers and ,ubeliks. He believed a violin has
 soul as firmly as he believed angels