BOOKS FOR HOLIDAYS 261 



and the second at least does not show moral 

 turpitude. At times in the tropics I have been 

 exceedingly sorry I could not learn to like 

 bananas, and on round-ups, in the cow country 

 in the old days, it was even more unfortunate 

 not to like prunes; but I simply could not make 

 myself like either, and that was all there was 

 to it. 



In the same way I read over and over again 

 "Guy Mannering," "The Antiquary," "Pen- 

 dennis," "Vanity Fair," "Our Mutual Friend," 

 and the "Pickwick Papers"; whereas I make 

 heavy weather of most parts of the "Fortunes 

 of Nigel," "Esmond," and the "Old Curiosity 

 Shop" — to mention only books I have tried to 

 read during the last month. I have no question 

 that the latter three books are as good as the 

 first six; doubtless for some people they are 

 better; but I do not like them, any more than 

 I like prunes or bananas. 



In the same way I read and reread "Mac- 

 beth" and "Othello"; but not "King Lear" 

 nor "Hamlet." I know perfectly well that the 

 latter are as wonderful as the former — I 

 wouldn't venture to admit my shortcomings 

 regarding them if I couldn't proudly express 

 my appreciation of the other two! But at my 

 age I might as well own up, at least to myself, 



