Evening star., 1948-09-27
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Tracetoell
"P STREET.

Dear Sir:
I've read and enjoyed your column for
many years. I love your tolerance, a quality
1 sadly lack, and your love for, it seems to
me, all living things. was particularly de-
lighted with your Reading is gentle
pleasure and about Dickens.
II have read Dickens ever since was about
Is years old. II could have but one writer,
it would have to be him, though would miss
the others. read Hard Times again recently
and enjoyed it as much as ever
Il have just read again Jennette Lees
Uncle William and enjoyed it again, and
always wish I knew how he made that clam
chowder. It's a wonderful little book. It's 43
years since 1t was published-1905, I think.
love Van Looms Rembrant,' and Steinbecks
The Moon Is Down and his OF Mice and
Men and positively nothing else of his.
II love so many books and so many people
In the books.
"I've practiced medicine since 1900 I've
always loved to read. I've wanted many times
to write and tell how I like your gentleness
and fairness and tolerance
II wish you'd tell what the dirty pigeons are
good for. They are my pet peev this doesn't
look right but only 'peevish' is in my die
tionary). Sincerely, E. H., M. d.
Perhaps not many persons re-read old books
anymore
It is a good fashion unhappily out of style.
But our correspondent shows how much
pleasure can be secured from re-reading good
book, if one is in the mood, and is not too
much in thrall to the narrative alone. Story
interest is wonderful, but it is by no means
all there is to a good story. Some persons.
once they know the story, cannot get interested
In it again. This is fortunate for writers,
since it means the same mind will always be
looking for something new"
The reader who dismisses the story, itself,
@I,Svn 70 iYtar n
can find the same old characters always in
teresting. The world of books is filled with
wonderful women, for instance. Their names
are legion. Anthony Trolloppe, in his count
less novels, created some OF the best book
women of all time. Too few modern readers
know them. The feminine side of humanity
has got much the best of it in books. The
lovely women far exceed in numbers the great
men characters. Dickens was better with his
women, too; and Henry James, whose novels
are being increasingly read today "a very
good sign in an evil age) created some mar
velous women, even If they all talk and act
alike.
Since character creation is such large part
of the novel, it would seem perfectly pos
sible for any one who genuinely likes to read.
to re-read any good book again, If for no
more than to enjoy the creation of these
characters, whether good or evil. The novel is
a reflection of life, sort of mirror in which
Cllc SOOQ dlu tIlc UCot Va dA Va uo AAoA"SC w
glimmer with q sudden white light. It Is this
light that the true work Of genius throws, and
it does 1t SO well that somehow even the person
actively immersed in the affairs Of life can
still find out things he never knew or at least
never realized before by reading a good book.
This Is one of the powers of books, and 1t Is
a shame If semi permanent thing In hard
covers cannot be read again, for that Is seldom
the fate Of magazine or newspaper articles, no
matter how good 1t may be.
In the busy rush of modern affairs, the
soothing interest Of an old and familiar book
Is something to consider. Why 60 to psy-
chologist when perhaps one may get as good
results from forgetting the present, by going
back to the past? The unhappy heroine Of
1.-The Portrait Of Lady by Henry James
(the most easily secured Of his novels today
had troubles Of her own, yet somehow man
aged to come out of them with head high,
though with an aching heart Such a char
acter as Isabelle March Is a lifelong pos
session. friend of the family, not someone
Just to meet once and then forget Renewal
of acquaintance, in bookdom, is easier than
it is in real life. It is no more difficult than
the taking down from the shelf Of book and
opening to the first page. That Is why one
who genuinely loves books cannot get along
without some Of his own volumes on his own
shelves In his own room II they are old,
tried and true books, so much the better.
Something OF the breathless quality may have
gone out Of them, with the remembered hrst
reading-but there remains the character study
and what is more interesting, after al, than
humanity?