Evening star., 1933-01-07

On the long, long shelf Of English
literature there are no books to be
found which have exactly the flavor of
the novels written by Jane Austen
They are unique.
This column has carried this state
ment, in varied FORM from time to time
during the past 10 years. and each time
it has been followed by number of
letters applauding the sentiments.
We cite this fact, not because we are
proud of such good letters, though We
are. nor in any effort to lecture man
kind on its failings, but solely to bring
home how easy it is. in such a world
as this, to miss exactly what we would
like if we we're acquainted with 1t.
Especially is this true of books.
No one reader can read everything
The more one loves books. the more
sure he may be that he is missing a
great deal and some of it just exactly
what he would love the most.
Now there is no intellectual disgrace
attached to this state Of affairs.
1t is highly proper, indeed, to say
nothing of being eminently natural.
The man who seriously tried to read
all the books in the world would go
crazy before he got started.
IL ilG SuIkCCdSNs 4iC NbNiAo OC AWAY
more than a walking encyclopedia.
The thing to do especially with f1c-
ton, is to read what appeals to one,
for any number of a variety of good
reasons.
Down through the ages certain
authors, In all lands, have written for
each one of us.
Something or other about their minds
and hearts Just clicks with the same
element in our own makeup.
Often enough there is great latl-
tude here: the books of one author make
instant appeal to thousands of persons,
varying widely to all outward appear
anceS, but surely united in some degree
upon certain fundamentals OF human
nature.
Thousands of pages have been de-
voted to a consideration of this matter,
there is little hope of adding much to
it at this date, except to say that it is
not wrapped in mysticism or even in
the high-sounding technicalities OF
those dreary persons, the professional
critics.
There is no such a thing as a COM
pletely universal appeal. For every
one who loves Shakespeare there will
be another who does not, although he
may not say so. Many readers proclaim
Dante divine, but others-of equal men
tality-find him WEAKNESS to the
reading flesh.
If We never do anything else in this
world, We will consider ourself to have
rendered a real service by attacking at
all times the intellectual Snobbery which
would draw up list and proclaim
This is what you must read; if you do
not. you are fool"
The only fool is the one who draws
up such a list and who makes, either
openly or covertly, that statement.
Every man reads from his own mind
and heart, and no one else can get in
side to see what he must or must not
have. Yet the world is full of knoW-it-
alls, here as elsewhere, busily engaged
in the self-satisfaction OF laying down
the literary law.
In regard to the novels of Miss Jane
Austen, not every one will like them,
but those who do will like them very,
very much.
And they will find them so. whether
they discover them at the age of 10
years, or 40 years, or 10 years, or 100
years.
No doubt hundreds of thousands of
readers have departed this life without
ever having discovered Jane Austen
hundreds OF thousands, we mean, who