Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17

come to distinguish the modern Christ
mas was incorporated once and Tor all
in "A Christmas Carol" Yet the spirit
ual side is not left out, and this combi-
nation is what makes the story unfor-
gettable. The perfect balance mas peen
realized.
Those who beguile sorrow with books
could seek out no better volume at this
time of year. Yet there are as many
others as there are books. One has but
to think of those subjects which inter-
est him most. Many readers who nave
slccumbed to what may be called the
inertia of the years, and have failed 10
keep up with their own resolves Tor
reading, will be amazed at the number
of good things in Bookdom which they
have passed up with the always exist
ing excuse that they nave SO mucn 10
do"
Reading takes time, but nowadays
many people seem to have plenty of
time to go to the movies, and to DO
other things they want to do. Books,
we believe offer more SurceaSe from
sorrow to the square inch than any of
these, because they demand the use OF
the brain at every minute OF the way.
One may read, of course, with other
thoughts trickling through, but this is
careless, Indifferent reading, ana little
better than none at all.
Rapid reading is the sort which is
most profitable. Even books without
narrative interest possess sort of rush
of thought content, which makes them
| almost have a plot. Have you ever
thought of all books as possessed OF
plots? Most of them have, because
their writer's were engaged in dispute
with the eternal enemy, ignorance.
They had. to use the modern slang ex.
preston, something which they wanted
to put over. They put their best think
ing in the book, to put 1t over with you,
the reader, and the fictional interest,"
comes when you and the writer fight it
right out there on the printed page.
\ \ X +
It is perhaps better to read rapidly
and miss part of what one reads than
to go SO painstakingly along that one
is forever tagging Behind the. rush OF
narration. This Is a matter In which
any reader can improve himself II ne
tries. He may be held in leash by the
old acknowledgements attitude that one
should digest" what he reads. great
deal of harm, has been done by Sucn
statements. The brain and the intes-
final tract do not function In the same
way; the understanding OF the one Is
by no means the digestion OF the otner.
It is better to be forced to read q
book twice, each time rapidly, In ORDER
to get the full meaning of writer
than to labor slowly over the mastery
of every sentence as one goes along
Who cares if eminent men have ad-
vised young readers to go slowly? Great
men always advise young readers So
and even the youngest OF them nave
enough common sense to do as they
please.
Fast reading is the kind which Sc
cures for the reader not only the nara
tive flown any type of WORKOUT
also the full amount of happiness and
especial surcease from sorrow, a not
inconsequential power resident In all
good books. Come and take choice OF
all my library and SO beguile thy sor-
row" Picture myself as a mental
steam shovel. blowing through a IL
brary, throwing out books as you go
filling the mind with new thoughts, in
which the keen edge Of unhappiness be-
comes blunted bit by bit. Wine, women
and song are Anticipated and unethical,
but books are forever bright and new.