Why Do We Read?
Perhapsno other thing has such power to lift the poor out of his poverty,the wretched out of his misery, to make the burden-bearer forget hisburden, the sick his suffering, the sorrowed his grief, as books.They are friends to the lonely, companions to the deserted, joy tothe joyless, hope to the hopeless, good cheer to the disheartened, ahelper to the helpless. They bring light into darkness, and sunshineinto shadow.
We may be poor,socially shut out from all personal associations with the great andthe good, and yet be in the best society in the world, in books. Wemay live in palaces, converse with princes, be familiar with royalty,and associate with the greatest and noblest of all time.
The trend of many alife for good or ill, for success or failure, has been determined bya single book. The books which we read early in life are those whichinfluence us most.
What to Read?
The best books arethose which stir us up most and make us the most determined to dosomething and be something ourselves. The best books are those whichlift us to a higher plane where we breathe a purer atmosphere. As weshould associate with people who can inspire us to nobler deeds, sowe should only read those books which have an uplifting power, andwhich stir us to make the most of ourselves and our opportunities.
Libraries are nolonger a luxury, but a necessity. A home without books andperiodicals and newspapers is like a house without windows. Furnishyour house with books rather than unnecessary furniture, or evenpictures if you cannot afford all. One of the most inharmonioussights in the world is an elegant house with costly furniture,paintings of the masters, imported statuary, costly carpets, and yetwith scarcely a standard work in the library.
Wearthreadbare clothes and patched shoes if necessary, but do noteconomize on books. If you cannot give your children an academiceducation you can place within their reach a few good books whichwill lift them above their surroundings, into respectability andhonor. A college education, or its equivalent, and more is possibleto the poorest boy or girl who has access to the necessary books.
Perhapsno other thing has such power to lift the poor out of his poverty,the wretched out of his misery, to make the burden-bearer forget hisburden, the sick his suffering, the sorrowed his grief, as books.They are friends to the lonely, companions to the deserted, joy tothe joyless, hope to the hopeless, good cheer to the disheartened, ahelper to the helpless. They bring light into darkness, and sunshineinto shadow.
We may be poor,socially shut out from all personal associations with the great andthe good, and yet be in the best society in the world, in books. Wemay live in palaces, converse with princes, be familiar with royalty,and associate with the greatest and noblest of all time.
The trend of many alife for good or ill, for success or failure, has been determined bya single book. The books which we read early in life are those whichinfluence us most.
What to Read?
The best books arethose which stir us up most and make us the most determined to dosomething and be something ourselves. The best books are those whichlift us to a higher plane where we breathe a purer atmosphere. As weshould associate with people who can inspire us to nobler deeds, sowe should only read those books which have an uplifting power, andwhich stir us to make the most of ourselves and our opportunities.
Libraries are nolonger a luxury, but a necessity. A home without books andperiodicals and newspapers is like a house without windows. Furnishyour house with books rather than unnecessary furniture, or evenpictures if you cannot afford all. One of the most inharmonioussights in the world is an elegant house with costly furniture,paintings of the masters, imported statuary, costly carpets, and yetwith scarcely a standard work in the library.
Wearthreadbare clothes and patched shoes if necessary, but do noteconomize on books. If you cannot give your children an academiceducation you can place within their reach a few good books whichwill lift them above their surroundings, into respectability andhonor. A college education, or its equivalent, and more is possibleto the poorest boy or girl who has access to the necessary books.
