The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-07-09
Friendly Books
(Gunnar B. Bjorson, Ainneota
MaScOt.)

ends. the DoSC 10
+ that of good books. &C. Z.
Cotton.
No one can deny the value of good
friends. They are among the worth
while things in life and, were one TO
acquire nothing else, they would De
of far more value than all the gold
that one could amass. There is no
one who will deny the value Of true
friendship. Anyone, therefore, pos
sessed of normal intelligence and VINO
agrees with the foregoing should ap-
preciate the value of good books.
Unfortunately, however, this can
not be said to be true, at least not
as unqualifiedly as it can be said OF
friendship. To diagnose the disease
which afflicts these individuals VINO
can not appreciate the valuet OF good
books is a difficult matter. The
symptoms each presents and the sew
serity of the affection varies with
each patient. Suffice it to say that
there exists a class Of people which
|.has no time" for books.
"The book is sure friend, always
ready at your first leisure, opens to
the very page you desire, and SHUTS
at your first fatigue" Such are the
last words written by that father OF
American letters, Emerson, than
whom there is none better quallhed
to speak of the true value OF books.
Let us, then, inquire into the truth
of these words. :, -
sThe book is sure friend -" Its
.companionship can be enjoyed at any
time at which it is desired. In It's
pages can be found solace for one,s
sorrows, and with it one may snare
his joys and triumphs. 1t never
thrusts itself upon one, but its pages
are ever open to him who appreciates
their true worth. 1t never bores you
with that which displeases you.
When forsaken by your friends, your
books will always be there, ready TO
receive you and minister to your care
worn soul. Through your books you
NAV meet life. Through them quaint
characters are made to stand before
Won with out-stretched hands, ready
to draw you to them with the warm
handclasp of true friendship.
When a man comes in, tired, ana
often distraught with the petty wor-
ries of small people, his books are
ready to receive him in kindly fashion
- and. in the calm of their serene COM
panionship, he is cheered and his heart
is gladdened as their smiling, familiar
faces are revealed to him by the mel
low glow of the freight. The well
come of his books is always the same.
They maintain an even tenor OF mind
and are ever in good humor. They
will never quarrel with him, nor will
they ever play him false; they have
been tried and found not wanting by
the bookman himself. He who Is
possessed of circle. of friends, OF
this class, in the world of books, need
not care whether he be rich or poor
whether he be ignored by people OF
high station-for he is outside the
world of society and its vicissitudes
Books those silent, powerful
friends of man :. his counsel in the
virile struggle of life -. his retreat
in old age. from the WEAKNESS of life
Growing dearer to him as the years
fade, they continue to minister unto
him, keeping him from becoming dis
eontented and irritated. Then, per-
haps, as he realizes that the days
during which he will be able to enjoy
the comprehensive of his books ARK
slipping away from hiM, he may
dream as did one true lover Of books
that Heaven is "book levers par.
adise" where one may browse around
amongst first editions, rare and state
ly, and vellumed volumes without
number-all to be had for the asking