Evening star., 1924-12-01

D. That the Bible is literature as
well as religion. So.
4. That detective stories have
their place.
These things are known OF all
men. of course. but often we fail
to remember them. overlooking the
simple Serities In the hustle OF our
daily lives. We are not 20 far re-
moved from the dog eat dog" stage
as some like to think.
Books. because Of their variety,
possess the power OF entertaining
any one who is willing TO let them.
OF course, the fundamental requisite
lis a love of them. One cannot ex-
pect to be enamored sunI.nlv u lit
erature In a time of need. IL he
has never given II so much as =
thought when he was well.
This is one reason why the schools
labor SO heroically. though often
fruiuessly. to tnstilI a love for good
books into the minds and hearts of the
children of this land.
The good teachers know that once
properly implanted. the love Of books
will take care of itself. That edu-
cational methods often fail of this
happy result is perhaps no fault
whatever of the teachers, who are
as much victims of educational
processes as the boys and girls they
attempt to teach.
If one only called upon books in
times of illness they would still be
more precious than any amount Of
medicine, for they are the pure es-
sence which influences the heart
and mind of man. They are attenua-
tions 50 fine that only the invisible
processes within US, the strange
quality which is life itself can re-
ceive them.
The patient gets weIl--but who ca n
say that only the medicine and
proper care did 1t? The subtle spirit
of suggestion had something to do
with IT, These forces are too imma-
teriai for the stomach. but not too
fine for the vital principle.
Most of US have dozens of books
in mind which We propose to read
never comes. Any ordinary illness.
therefore. should be seized upon as
an opportunity to read these books,
which are only SO many titles in the
chambers of the mind
Who that likes books has not vowed
to read Herbert Spencer's "First
Principles" some day, but how many
have got around to 1t? Or Don
Quixote." perhaps. or Tom Jones'
ot ali Oh SHdhSSpedTS plays.
Every one has a different. list,
known only to himself. The severity
Of the illness, of course will have a
great deal to do with the exact books
one cares to read under the circum-
stances. ! cannot recommend Descar-
tes when one has the grip, or Hume
whom one is suffering from a tooth
ache.
Illness offers an admirable oppor-
tunfty for one who has regarded the
Bible solely as religion to come to the
realization that II also Is literature.
In the abstract he may know this,
but only when he feels it personally
does it become true for him.
The beauty OF our English Bible is
inherent, placed in II in the beginning
which no translation could take away
from il. When one Views il solely
as religious documents he misses part
Of Its glory.
Only when the reader realizes for
himself the majesty and dignity of
Its very phrasing does he feel its re-
lfgious import to the full. as the sick
soldier discovered.
There are thrilling stories. too. in
our Bible. They did not call them
adventure stories" but shey are
that, in essence. What more thrilling
adventure than that Of the Red Sea?
Out-and-out modern adventure and
detective stories hold a peculiar place
in the affection of the sick, because
these writings are exciting enough
to blanket pain for the time being
This theme has been elaborated be-
fore in this column; it is mentioned
here to recall it to those who do
not know what to read when i'll