ON READING. 41 



take in the words while the mind makes scarcely an effort to grasp the 

 thought. This we all know is eminently the result of novel reading, 

 of which more will be said hereafter. But it is also the result of gen- 

 eral miscellaneous reading : that is, the reading of a great variety of ar- 

 ticles on different subjects, or a great number of various books without 

 connection, and without any definite plan. Such a course has a direct 

 tendency to weaken the power of attention and fixedness of mind. 

 Such a variety and quantity of subjects passing rapidly before the mind, 

 distract it, and prevent its giving proper attention to any — and thus is 

 created a habit of careless and profitless reading. 



To this source, without doubt, is to be attributed the waste of much 

 mental power. Very wrong ideas are entertained on this subject, and en- 

 couragement is given to the evil by false, or injudicious admiration. 

 Men are praised for being great readers, that is, readers of a great num- 

 ber of books. People seem not to know, or if they know, to forget, 

 that one good volume carefully read, thought over and well digested, 

 is worth a library hastily skimmed, or swallowed whole. There have 

 been men. Dr. Johnson, for instance, who could read hastily and throw 

 a book aside with but a glance, and yet by that glance have made them- 

 selves masters of its contents — and all who are Dr. Johnsons may do 

 the same. We do not find fault simply with reading a nvmher of books. 

 If you can read twenty books as they ought to be read, certainly it is 

 better than reading one. But it is because in attempting to read twen- 

 ty, not one is properly mastered that the evil ensues. 



It is somewhat amusing and interesting to observe various traits of 

 character with reference to this subject. Some men have an irresistible 

 appetite for books : aud seize upon all within their reach. And when 

 this appetite is connected with a superior mind, and excellent memory, 

 there will inevitably be much gained from what is read. AVe have met 

 with such a man; who at a very early age had read hundreds of vol- 

 umes of every variety ; and he had garnered up much of their beauty 

 and richness, and all his writings and speeches sparkled with jewels 

 thus gathered. Yet his was a case which finds few parallels : and even 

 he, we fear, will be found to fail in that which requires strength of 

 mind and independent thought. 



Some are ambitious to be called great readers, and so they acquire a 

 slight acquaintance with many authors for the sake of talking aiow/ them. 



Others, again, read for the sake of quotations. Take up the writings 

 of one of this class, and you find it full of quoted beauties, a sort of 

 Anthology, if he has any taste — a literary Mosaic work, in which his 

 own weak thought scarcely affords ground foi the inlaid pieces. 

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