BOOKS FOR HOLIDAYS 271 



the "Heimskringla"; and there is a sense of 

 disconnection if after the " Heimskringla " one • 

 takes up the "Oxford Book of French Verse." 



Another matter which within certain rather 

 wide Umits each reader must settle for himself 

 is the dividing hne between (1) not knowing 

 anything about current books, and (2) swamp- 

 ing one's soul in the sea of vapidity which over- 

 whelms him who reads only ''the last new 

 books." To me the heading employed by some 

 reviewers when they speak of "books of the 

 week" comprehensively damns both the books 

 themselves and the reviewer who is wiUing to 

 notice them. I would much rather see the 

 heading "books of the year before last." A 

 book of the year before last which is still worth 

 noticing would probably be worth reading; 

 but one only entitled to be called a book of the 

 week had better be tossed into the waste- 

 basket at once. Still, there are plenty of new 

 books which are not of permanent value but 

 which nevertheless are worth more or less care- 

 ful reading; partly because it is well to know 

 something of what especially interests the mass 

 of our fellows, and partly because these books, 

 although of ephemeral worth, may really set 

 forth something genuine in a fashion which for 

 the moment stirs the hearts of all of us. 



