The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-02-18
THE HIGHER
THE FEWER
There's Always Plenty of Room
At The Top
By
NANCY J. MIDGET


who have formed the habit since
childhood of reading in bed until
realize that I am ready for
sleep, mostly by the book or mag
azine falling kerflop on my chest,
which brings me back to life with
a bleary cross-eyed gaze until 1
gather enough strength to put out
and other times it is just in the
my hand and turn off the light.
Sometimes l read because I'm
interested in what I am reading
and other times it is just in the
form of sleeping pill to get my
mind off the daily routine or any
irksome jobs that may be bother
ing me, for l am one of those who
read in detailed manner, trying
to pick up most of the words
though not dwelling on them too
long. I used to read much faster
in the skip and run manner but
found that l had often got hold
of the wrong impression, at least
so it seemed by the final outcome
of the novel or article. Fast read
ing is, in my estimation, good and
necessary if one is a quick think
er, has the gift of continuity of
thoughts and facts and a certain
basic knowledge to know what
those facts are on which the
writer has framed his story or
article.
Without this foundation of
knowledge, a person taught to
merely read fast misses much of
the implications portrayed by the
actual printed word, and also
loses many opportunities to learn
more, for with the Unborn urge to
read on and get to the end, many
will not stop to give thought to
what is meant by certain pass
age, whether the facts stated are
correct, or from what other
sources these facts could be
checked. l have so often heard,
when in reference to a question
asked it has been suggested that
such and such a check be made,
ooh, it's too much bother" In my
humble opinion, the desire to
learn and the "knowhow" of learn
ing should be taught, before the
actual hardthinking sets in.
NY bed time fare covers any,
thing from "Dead mans gulch" to
Golfers, Saturday Evening Post,
Readers Digest, and of course the
Book that l myself feel / have in
the past sadly neglected since my
early youth, when having covered
it, learned the meanings of the
sayings and parallels of Our
Lord as known and understood by
my headmistress who taught us
the scriptures, presumably felt
that l knew it all. 1t takes living
to find out how much one doesn't
know, in fact the older | get, che
more there seems to be to learn.
Last night l flopped into bed at
the more or less usual hour of 10
pm. or Whereabouts and reached
out for my copy of "a book of
Both Sorts" by John Masefield. l
started reading through some of
my favorite poems, then turner to
one 1 had not read or only snatch
es of it Shopping in Oxford. Ok
ford is the seat of Oxford Univer-
sity in Oxfordshire, England, and
of course quite a town in it's own
right. AS l read on, getting fur
Their and further away from my
day just passed, I was deposited
right back into it by part of tine
poem:
"Then, too, the Printers, piled UP
to the roofs
With old work done and drying
poster proofs,
With letterings in red, announce
ments, sales,
And damp, smudged galleys
fluttering from nails;
The perfume of the drug that
poets drink
(The brew they sometimes die
of), printers ink;
And close at hand the music poet:
bless,
The lift and trample of the
printing press.
What memories I have, correcting
versions
Of proofs for Recitations and
Diversions,
In days of peace when every
years July
Brought us Festival of Poetry.