Evening star., 1932-07-27

Thus the reader takes himself in
hand and does what he wants to do.
There is always a certain satisfac-
ton in that.
The truth probably Is that one reads
better on q hot day than on a mod
crate one, If one first gets the idea
into his head that 1t is good for the
health of his mind to do so.
When the day is sultry, and physical
action makes one hotter than ever,
there Is a very good excuse for merely
sitting, as reading requires.
Americans are such children of ac-
ton, often in aggravated forms, that
it is good for them, upon occasion, to
have adequate excuses for themselves.
There is many gentleman in this
land who has looked forward for years
to reading certain lengthy works, such
as the monumental histories of Momm-
sen, Grote, Gibbon, and SO on.
In leash to old thoughts, however,
and especially to the pioneer traditions
Of race of action, they do not find
it altogether easy to take the time
which such proceeding requires.
1t may be of benefit to them, there
fore, II they will look upon hot Sum-
mer as sent especially for their benefit.
1t is cooler at home than almost
any other place, even than in a Spe-
cially cooled theater. The lesser
amount Of clothing one may wear in
the home precincts surely equalizes
matters.
There is no time Of the year quite
so good for one of these lengthy works
we will not call them heavy-as the
so-called dog days" when 1t Is too
hot for anything else. almost.
He who has not tried it will dis
cover that in q few days he is able
to go through something which he for
merly regarded with extreme doubt.
He doubted that he would ever tackle
it, much less ever finish it.
1t is exactly here that the firm d.
rection to the mind comes in. It Is
just another case of he can who thinks
he can.
AS in most such cases, an initial
physical step is helpful
Therefore in telling yourself what you
want yourself to do 1t is well if ones
hand reaches into a bookcase and
actually removes a wanted volume.
1t is a small action, but it Is q
mighty one.
Once the book is out of the case 1t
has 100 per cent better chance Of
being read.
Once actually begun, a book has about
1000 per cent better opportunity Of
being finished than it had on the shelf
Think of all the delightful books re-
posing on shelves unread by the very
people who should read them!
Every reader knows certain books,
in his own experience, which he is
quite sure would be the very books
loved and praised by other readers If
he could induce them to read them.
Here he meets a curious hitch.
In recommending books to others he
meets the old stumbling block of self
pride.
Many an otherwise intelligent person
refuses to read what he has not dis
covered
He does not do this In so many
words, openly, Of course, but only by
a tacit refusal to carry into action the
words he speaks.
I'll get it," he says, after you have
recommended something to him.
You know at the same time that he
will not get it at all, except by the
SheereSt chance.
You feel sure that If you could get
the book into his hands, he would
read it, and no doubt like it.
The same thing is more true, even,
OF those long books, or sets of books,
which most readers have been plan
ming to read for long time.
Hot weather is the best season of
all to begin on them. This age is hap
PLY freed from the old superstition that
one has to read by the thermometer,