Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-30

81 never read book unless the first
paragraph interests me-" said the hrst
man.
Then you miss some mighty good
books" said his friend.
The fact Is that some Of the finest
books in the world are very slow in
getting under way. One has to think
no further than those classics of child
hood, Cooper'S Last Of the Mollicans, "
1.-THE Deerslayer" and The Pioneers"
No boy would read them If he in
sisted on interest from the first para
graph, or the first page, or even the
| first chapter.
1t takes half the book, as we recall,
to work up genuine interest in 1.-THE
Pioneers" Nor are these works excep-
tional. Many Of Americas beloved
early. authors are similarly slow in the
opening.
Interest, after all, must not be the
criterion. The amusement bent of the
twentieth century may be indicted on
several points, but perhaps the most
serious charge is that Of miSplacing
the accent.
We ask Of melody that it tickle the
toes instantly, of a comedian that he
arouse our laughter upon his entrance,
OF base ball game that we be given
plenty Of home runs, and Of book
that 1t seize our interest"
4 n ~
The purpose of an author, not the
interest he arouses, is the main con-
sideration If q reader Is to do Justice
to the grand aspects of literature.
A hurdy gurdy and q monkey on a
string may interest, but a symphony
orchestra does something else.
The grand aspects Of books must be
kept in mind even in the lightest sort
OF efforts. Miss LooS in her famous
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" accom-
pliShed what she set out to do.
1t happened, In that book, that in
terest was aroused with the very frst
sentence, but such was inherent, not
necessary, in the type Of work. 1t
could have been Just as good without
f1rst-page interest.
When we come to more serious tracts,
OF whatever length, we see that the
quality of interest. while Of great i'm
portance, has nothing to do with the
essential worth of the subject.
Let us admit that there is a paradox
here. Interest, from one standpoint, is
everything, from another nothing. It
may be explained by the question Of
accent. whether, in reading, we think
tlrst OF the author or of the reader.
0A NOADShbAOlA bAlhb Vic duL1lOl
has the first say, and therefore should
have the first consideration. Interest,
IN SO far as he achieves it, is important
to him from q monetary consideration,
since it will lure readers who other
wise would pass up his work
Yet even he who Is given to the light
est type Of fiction reading will be ready
to admit, we believe, that there is a
great deal more to books, as to life, than
novelty, which is the essence Of interest.
\
Then. too. the kind Of interest must
be considered.
Interest is not just interest, every
where the same, wherever found, but
there are as many interests as there are
readers and writer's.
One OF the best enthusiasts q reader
may have Is for the sort Of interest
known as style. What may impress an
other reader as dull, appeals to the dis
eliminating on account Of an intangible
quality known as style"
Even long descriptions of scenery, the
pet OF old-tirne authors and the bane
OF most readers, can be done so meri-
toriously as to hold the interest Of all