Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-29
THIS AND THAT


paper. 1t takes more than paper, type
and print. backed by human intelli-
gcnce, to make q soul
The reader who likes his Dickens will
read him. Notwithstanding; and he will
read scores of other books by great
authors of the past whom he has prom
Used himself to read for many years.
There will be no person reading here
today who has not long ago made a
mental card index of certain books
which he must read" This must" is
his own command none others, and he
will be true to himself if he obevs it.
after careful consideration of his
present tastes.
No individual is today exactly who or
what he was last year Sometimes in
dividual experiences change one for bet
ter or worse. in literary tastes as in
other affairs Of life.
Books today. instead Of being one of
the few rccreatiOnS, must compete with
the whole host of lure. including the
movies. automobiles. the radio, and that
strange child of modcrnity, the party"
In the face of these diversions, books
have held their own very well. Some
thousands Of new ones are published
in the United States annually, as shown
SO graphically on the charts mentioned
The problem of the individual reader
Is to keep a proper personal proportion
between this steady stream and the
grand repository of books which the
world has agreed to call good.
Since these latter works far outnum-
Der the new ones, and their degree of
W, riH 1fIt,
that of most of the newcomers, no mat
ter how glowing their praise by some
contemporary critic. it would seem the
part of wisdom to make their reading
of prime importance.
If any one believes that any person.
no matter who he is. Is able TO put his
finger on any book just issued. and in
falibly declare. This is Tor this is
not masterpiece" or This book will
rank cor it will noD as a classic in the
future" he would do we'll to look up
some Of the books published say so
years ago. and TO pcruSe we'll the adj
ycrtiScmcntS Of other volumes put out
at the same time by the same pub
fishers.
Here he will see novels and other
books utterly unknown today praised
by various reviewers of that day with
dDobluLtIS tIIt saint oiAib iIiiSp tot u
today to herald the output of new
works. Yet these books so lavishly
praised then have been sunk without a
trace, for 10! these many years. Some
of them. in their day. sold many thou
sands Of copies. They were best sellers!
There is a certain fascination about
keeping up with the new books, "
however. Who would not rejoice to
discover a new Conrad. or to read on
the date of publication the first short
story Of a new De MaupaSsant?
This is the eternal lure Of the latest
books They appeal to that desire for
being one with progress which lies.
although sometimes latent III most men.
While our personal belief Is that 10
read the time tried books is ones first
duty to himself. as a bOOklovcr, We
would say no word against the attempt
TO keep up with the new.
Literature Is a moving pageant. re-
flecting life as 1t Is lived by the human
race from century 10 century. The
Little Flowers Of ST Francis" could
not have been written IN 1923 any
more than "Jalna" could have been
produced in the twelfth century.
The wise bookloyer will try his best
, 10 keep up not only With the new
books. but also with the Fest Of the
old books. in order TIA. when bis time
comes TO leave all books behind he will
not sigh to himself. ITO think Of all the
fine things that l have miSsed.'