BOOKS FOR HOLIDAYS 263 



Dozens of series of excellent books, one hun- 

 dred to each series, can be named, all of reason- 

 ably equal merit and each better for many 

 readers than any of the others; and probably 

 not more than half a dozen books would appear 

 in all these lists. As for a "five-foot library," 

 scores can readily be devised, each of which at 

 some given time, for some given man, under 

 certain conditions, will be best. But to at- 

 tempt to create such a library that shall be of 

 universal value is foreordained to futility. 



Within broad limits, therefore, the reader's 

 personal and individual taste must be the guid- 

 ing factor. I like hunting books and books of 

 exploration and adventure. I do not ask any 

 one else to like them. I distinctly do not hold 

 my own preferences as anything whatever but 

 individual preferences ; and this chapter is to be 

 accepted as confessional rather than didactic. 

 With this understanding I admit a liking for 

 novels where something happens; and even 

 among these novels I can neither explain nor 

 justify why I like some and do not like others; 

 why, among the novels of Sienkiewicz, I can- 

 not stand "Quo Vadis," and never tire of "With 

 Fire and Sword," "Pan Michael," the "Del- 

 uge" and the "Knights of the Cross." 



Of course, I know that the best critics scorn 



