EFFECTIVE READING.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 604, 26 May 1876, Page 3

EFFECTIVE READING.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sir, —I trust 1 shall not be accused of presumption in making the following remarks, in the form of a letter, in your columns. Although I am fully aware that it requires a far abler and more experienced mind than mine to examine thoroughly the importance of the subject chosen, still I venture to do so with the hope that my observations may not be totally devoid of interest, and my sincerity of purpose will be allowed to atone for all errors of opinion I may be guilty of in setting them forth. In the present day, when everybody reads, when the printing press—"great engine of literature"—pours forth a neverceasing stream of books on every subject, history, philosophy, poetry, and romance; some of which are skimmed through, and put aside never to be looked at again, others are left uncut, others again are read through, but only a few are "read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested." Not alone is literature offered in the shape of books, for daily, weekly, and monthly our press issues a host of periodicals ; the daily papers, where every question of the day is mooted and discussed, according to the views of each individual paper ; the weekly reviews, which sum up past events ; the monthly magazines, which contain stories, thrilling enough in themselves to entice romantic minds ; all these have a constant and ever-increasing number of readers, whose views are moulded according to the fashion of the literature they patronise. Amidst this mass it is hard to select what may be usefully read: such being the case the natural question then occurs—What shall I read ? To this I would add —How shall I read it ? It is a clear, and a well-known fact, that one cannot read everything; even if a man were to spend his whole life in reading he would fail to read more than a fraction of the books which exist. So, in choosing books it would, I think, be well to observe two rules :

1. Do not choose, generally, authors that are not standard writers.

2. Do not aim at reading many authors, but much, or, as the old proverb has it, "Non multa sed multum."

It is no use choosing authors who are not standard writers; for, in the matter of books, people are lrd by men who are qualified to form opinions. Again, it is no use to try and read many books, because it will be so slight that the practical result attained will be unworthy the trouble expended in attaining it. By saying this I do not for a moment wish to discourage those who are fond of reading who try to read and remember what they read, but I do those who think, because they have skimmed through a large number of books, they are "well read." No greater mistake could be made. A man or woman, boy or girl, who reads one book really carefully, and reflects over it, does himself or herself more good, and is better " read," than the one who has read through twenty, and knows no more of what he or she has been reading than they did before they began. Therefore, to those who wish to read, I would pay read carefully, and, whatever it is, let it be good. If history, let the historian be the most popular. If poetry, let the poet be the best known. If philosophy, let the work be one which has commended itself to the intelligence of thinking men and thinking women If romance, such works which give most faithfully the scenes they are intended to represent, and, elevate the min<? by pictures the most natural and events the most consistent. To those who excuse themselves on the plea that they do not know what to read in order to gain good information and gain self-knowlege, I would mention such works as the writings of Macau ay, Fronde, Hall»m ; the poems of Tennyson, Shakespeare, Milton, Pope ; the novels of Sir Walter Soott; and the essays of Lord Bacon and Macaulay. Such works are the f onndation of reading; and, as no one is so well taught as by himself or herself, everyone ought to be acquainted with the popular writers of his own day, as they most faithfully represent the feelings and ideas of the age in which they were written. I next come to—How shall I read ? The answer to this is, read carefully. But there are some who will say, " How am I to read carefully ? when there are (to use an expression) so many shoals and quick3ands to be avoided, and these presenting themselves in the shape of amusement or recreation, are we not to sacrifice duty to pleasure ? " There are few things more enchanting than social intercourse and athletic exercise, but they have a tendency, if unchecked, to absorb the mind and stunt literary energy. If used as recreations, they are not only pleasant but necessary; if abused, so as to become an occupation, they are not only wrong, but useless. Besides these there is another difficulty, to which I have referred before -the idea that by reading much a man becomes " well read." It is a great mistake, for the

main object of those who wish to be " well read," or rather, well-informed," should be to master one thing at a time. I have said my say, and, therefore, one word at parting. Probably many who read this letter in your columns will find it dry, stale, and " bosh." I hope that the number of these will be small; for, though lam conscious I have treated the subject very feebly, still I am not unconscious of the importance of it, and urge all who care at all for such pursuits as elevate the mind and enlarge the understanding to seek them "in holding converse with those mighty minds whose thoughts have ruled the intellectual powers of the world." And let all realise the words of our poet who, in the following lines, beautifully assigns to knowledge and wisdom their proper places : " Who loves not Knowledge ? who shall rail Aagainst her beauty ? May she mix With men and prosper! who shall fix Her pillars ? Let her work prevail. A higher hand must make her mild If all be, not in vain ; and guide Her footsteps, moving side by side With wisdom, like the younger child : For she is earthly of the mind, But wisdom heavenly of the soul; 0, friend, who cannot to thy goal Go early, leaving me behind. I would the great world grew like thee, Who grewest not alone in power And knowledge ; but by year and hour. In reverence and in charity." \_ln Memoriam, cxiii.] Apologising for the length of my letter, I am, &c, C.8.M.8.