Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRAcEwELL.

terest alone, is a writer able to reach
the neart or the reader, without which
Inc mind plays but q sterile part.
Length, which permits the writer to
WORK up In the reader this genuine
lnterest' IS therefore necessary. The
danger. Of course, is that the book may
pore. What Of that? What can there
DE TO life itself more? Life sometimes
pores, despite the inherent thrill. Ennui
creepS even into the most beautiful
places, tending to corrode.
BOOKS, no more than men, and
certainty no less, must run their chances
OF causing yawns. The mistake Is not
IN the yawn, but in the individual
reader thinking that his yawn is .
Judgment. A yawn, while reading q
DOCK, Is still a yawn, an involuntary
reaction OF certain sets of muscles It
may mean that the book is tiresome.
ana again 1t may mean that the reader
Is not yet fit to read the book which
he holds in his hand.
A recent issue of popular weekly
young lady sleeping before a FIRE. She
held in her hand a large book, and
beside her on a table were other
volumes, plainly labeled The Decline
ana Fail OF the Roman Empire" She
should have been playing bridge. She
did not know enough about Rome to
pc interested In 1t. A good movie"
would have kept her awake, because
ner race showed her to be q master of
aspects.
The fact that she was sound asleep
was no criticism Of Edward Cibbon,
Maybe the soothing influence of quiet
and a warm fire was too much for her.
We would not recommend that reader,
however physically perfect, sit in front
OF an open fire. Warmth and quiet
make for sleepiness. No, 60 into a
cool room, If you want to read Gibbon.
Above all, do not plunge into Roman
history so unceremoniously. but take a
preliminary course before dipping into
the great stream of the decline and
fall, or you will surely drown your
self or fall asleep.
Good selection of books has more to
do with ones enjoyment and profit,
whether In Winter or Summer, than
many trusting persons suspect. Just
as no two people are exactly alike in
physical being, so no two are counter
parts in mentality, yet all are called
upon to read the same books. It can
not be done. Because a friend recon-
mends q book Is no reason why you
should read 1t. Accept 1t from his
hands, II he insists on loaning 1t to
you, but forget to read 1t, unless you
are convinced yourself that it is Just
the book for you.
The mood Of the moment has a great
deal to do with It, 1t is impossible
for one to do justice to grand history
II he is In the mood for something
light and frivolous, such as "Is Sex
Necessary" Reading is a serious BUSH
ness, at bottom, not just something else
to do. We have more respect for those
who never read at all than for those
who make a bluff Of reading, when all
the time they are boring themselves.
Why read, If you don't want to? But
for those who do read, and who enjoy
reading, who get more satisfaction out
of it than from going downtown, or up
town, or across town, the Winter
months remain as possibly the best
season OF the year for their indoor
sport.
Now, II ever, come those perfect
nights which may be devoted ia the
undisturbed contemplation of ideas and
ideals. Wander with Hemingway'S
harsh realism, in his "A Farewell to
Arms" or walk the streets of London
town with the idealistic Bob of Pat
rick Hamilton's THE Midnight Bell. !"
Do whatever suits you, but be sure,
first Of all, that 1t suits you. A book
reviewers book may not suit you, nor
may the latest selection by a book
club. To your own self be true, In
books as in life; you may not please
your best friends, but who can, after
all?