Evening star., 1924-10-11
THIS AND THAT
BY C. E. ,TRACEHELL
Great book that nobody reads.

Great book that nobody reads!
Ono is reminded Of the classic re-
tort in "Pinafore'' when it was an
nounced that the admiral never swore.
"What--never?"
The answer was. as every one re-
members. well. hardly ever"s s
There are certain well known book .
that most persons have aimed to read.
at one time or other, bat probably
have never got round to yet, and IN
all likelihood VIII end their mundane
existence without getting round to
them.
These books are like great peaks
that the residents OF the vicinity
make up their minds to climb. Each
year they say they will make the
ascent next yoar. but the next year
finds them no nearer the top than the
last
These great books occupy much the
same positions. in ffgurative sense.
that the Washington Monument and
the National Geological Park do to
many living in Washington.
Undoubtedly there are persons liv-
ing here all their lives who never
have been up-.in the Washington
Monument. They intend to go--ycs,
we will go next weeA--but something
happens ana tnSJ never go.
Only a few years ago 7o-year-
woman made her first trip TO the Zoo
to "sec the chickens and other crit
ters," as she phrased it.
AS probably the least read OF the
great books today. ! offer Bunyan's
''P.lgrim's Progress" Personally, !
have intended reading that work
since ! was child. The nearest !
ever got Was looking at the title page.
have asked many persons II they
have read "Pilerim's Progress" and
never have received an affirmative an
swer. and this from persons Of good
general intelligence and in many
cases OF unusual intelligence.
Now, every one knows that "Pif-
rrim's Progress" is great book.
Haven't we had that dinned into US
since Cat spells cat?' We most
certainly have. and We most surely
admit that "Filgrim's Progress" is
great.
We have general conception OF
Great Heart. We know a bit about
the famous Slough Of Despond." We
even remember something about 81
Dreamed a Dream
The purity and excellence Of this
we'll of English We are ready-nay
eager-to admit. No argument2tive
cuss can make Us say otherwise. We
are firm in the helief that John Bun.
yam wrote masterpiece when he
penned "Piigrin's Progress"
Didn't he write II in prison, before
the days OF typewriters, when a man
money didn't earn him a soft berth
in jail? Sure. -Pilgr;m's Progress" is
u great book,
Only we haven't read it Nor do
We ever expect to, TO be perfectly
frank about it. Nor are We say
ing IT," as certain great man Is
Julius Caesar" Says he, IT have
I know that If I were dying ! would
get well right sray when ! remem-
; bered that l yet had to read tina,
pla-.
Then there is Mllton's Paradise
Lost"
A great book. you bet your last
dollar,
Every one has read extracts from
il, something like this:
4 gult profound as that Serbonian
bog
Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius
old.
Where armies whole have sunk; the
parehing air
Burns frore. and cold performs tn
erect or Hre.
! Thither by harpy-fcoted Furies hale
| At certain revolutions all the damn d
| Are brought, and feel by turns the
bitter change
! or ficrrc observation-disclosures By
change more fierce;
From beds OF raging fire to starve in
ice
! Their soft ethereal warmth, and there
to pine
! Inmovable, infixed. and frozen round
| Periods of time: thence hurried back
to fire.
| Great stuf-especialy that part
, about the parching air burns frore. :.
! Shelley used that word "frore, too