A STUDENT IN THE TRENCHES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 99, 22 October 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

A STUDENT IN THE TRENCHES.

AX UNUSUAL LETTER. It is unusual (remarks the "Sydney Daily Telegraph") to find a soldier writing frob Gallipoli more concerned with reading and self-im-provement than with the fighting, which is the immediate business ol his life. One of our brave men, who is "doing his bit" with the rest, writes to his brother: —"As you are well aware, I turned 22 yesterday, and whilst you were having tea, or just 'about that time, I was thinking about you all, and even flattered myself by* believing you would be thinking of me. To-day is Sunday, and we had church service as usual. This mornins I lead a book entitled 'BoyWanted.' It, with several others, was lent to me by the chaplain. I think it is the best book I ever read, with the exception of the Bible, and I want you to buy it and read it. It has greatly impressed me. You and I have wasted a good lot of most valuable time, and from this out I am going to make use of my spare moments. What we both require is Knowledge, and to get it we must erad. You should mak? it your business every day to read rue leading article in the morning paper, and always be on the look-out for good books —I do not mean religious books alone, but books composed by noble writers. Here are a few extracts from the book I want you to read so badly:—'Elihu Burritt acquired a mastery of 18 languages and 22 dialects by improving the fragments of time which he could steal from his occupation as a blacksmith.' Of course, he was an ex--ceptional man, but it shows how we could add to our knowledge in our spare time. Here is a German proverb: 'One day is worth ten to-mor-rows.' That is rather a good proverb for the Huns, isn't it? Here i& another, from Lord Lytton: 'Books are waste paper, unless we spend in action the wisdom we get from thought.' What do you think of this: 'Lost yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golcen nours, each set with 60 diamond minutes. Xo reward is offered, for they are gone for ever.' And here is scaiething from Dr. Johnson: "The habit of looking on the bright side of things is worth more than £IOOO per year.' By trying to follow the lead of this last quotation. I hare been considerably helped since joining the forces."