Evening star., 1934-11-21
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Is paying universal mankind, and 20
himself. a genuine tribute.
He who refuses to read likewise re-
fuses to pay this tribute where de-
served.
Hence he Is the loser, because he
fails to give credit where credit Is due.
One may think that one Of the most
severe losses is not so much the vast
amount of money through unneces-
sary illness, as through the failure
to give credit where really due.
Mankind is tied up with traditions,
large and small, which have hardened
into institutions, In which the pioneer
has no place, and receives no credit
until long after he is gone.
This failure to give credit where
due is a spiritual loss, because 1t pre-
vents many from trying anything
new. hence throttles aspiration among
many millions who do not have the
precise combination of qualities to trt-
umph over obstacles.
** Il +
This is theory, no doubt. The fall
ure to read something about what one
is interested in, whether politics or
bears, statescraft or postage stamps, Is
not theory at all, but actuality.
1t is a mildly amazing fact that
many otherwise sensible persons never
seem to think that 1t is possible to
look into a book for information.
Not only is this true, but 1t Is even
more amazing that in order to prevent
themselves from doing it they have In
vented a pretended sneer at looking
into books.
He who dares to run to some book
or other is called "a walking encyclo-
pedia," or some other mild epithet,
as If there we're something entirely
wrong in putting credence in the pow
er of the human mind to set down
its findings on all subjects.
There is a large part Of the populace
which is willing to ask other human
beings for advice, but not at all will
ing. it seems, to ask a man in book
Now this man in book Is alive, too
MANY an author is more alive y his
writings than elsewhere, II the truth
were known. Writing often is re-
Election of the best part OF a human
being. The real Charles Dickens, for
instance, may have been choleric
fellow. especially in his later years
but the man in the books lives forever
a Jolly. sympathetic observer OF ordi-
nary human beings. He never drew
the portrait of gentleman, 1t l:
said, largely because he was too pre-
occupied with observing men who
would have looked out Of place IN
drawing room.
What is 1t, who is it We consult In
a book?
A book is not something inert, just
so much paper and type in binding
If any one thinks so, let him look ur
Gertrude STEMS latest production
No. that is Miss Stein, all right, nc
doubt about it, and the reader mus
take her or leave her "as is" And
on the same shelf, is old Dan Chaucel
himself, put in entirely modern dress
(translation), in the sort OF English
| We know nowadays. And somebody
ought to do the same thing for Mis-:
Stein, only the result wouldn't bt
Gertrude at all any more than this new
, ,, translation" of Chaucer is really he
A book is a human being, first ant
foremost; therefore when a sensible
man wants to know something about
| dogs, or fishes. or insects, or golf. Of
| tennis, or music. or sails on old-tim,
clipper ships, or how to plant Lobelis
| cardinals, he turns to book just a!
! naturally as a sunflower to the sun.