AUTHORS AND READERS. 31 



a little upon it. Some may think it would be better 

 to give the knowledge itself than merely point out 

 the sources from whence it may be derived. Many 

 persons would, no doubt, consider that gift more 

 advantageous, or, at any rate, more amusing, just 

 as schoolboys sometimes like their play better than 

 they like their lessons, or, to come nearer to the 

 point, just as lazy folks like better to have things 

 given them, than to make them for themselves, or 

 to be told how to make them. But then we should 

 have some difficulties. Some readers would know 

 the subject better than we do ; others might not un- 

 derstand us, not from any want of ability (for any- 

 body may understand any thingj if the explanation 

 of it be plain and clear enough) ; and people's tastes 

 are so very different that perhaps not one in ten of 

 those to whom the information was novel and intel- 

 ligible would care about it. Besides, why should 

 the man who writes a book treat all his readers as 

 if they were beggars 1 It is disgraceful to beg any 

 thing, if we be able to get it by any other means ; 

 and there are few names that offend a man of spirit 

 more than to call him " a beggar." It appears to be 

 more humiliating, too, to beg knowledge than to beg 

 any thing else ; for few men are satisfied with their 

 wealth, but most are satisfied with their understand- 

 ing ; and, insulting as the word " beggar" is, it is not 

 half so insulting as the word " fool." 



The only ground upon which begging can be jus- 

 tified is that of inability to work on account of weak- 

 ness, disease, or decay. Indolence is too often the 

 real cause ; but it admits of no proper excuse ; and 

 shame, or even the whip, rather than alms, should 

 be given. But there is no disease or decay of the 

 mind ; and therefore the man who begs for know- 

 ledge can have no plea but idleness, and shame or 

 the whip ought to be more especially his reward. 

 There is no harm in pointing out to him where the 

 knowledge is to be got, and how he is to get it ; but 



