124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



in Egypt," "John Halifax, Gentleman," "My Opinions 

 and Betsy Bobbitt's," "Mary Queen of Scots," "The 

 Heavenly Twins," " Lorna Doone," "All he knew," fin- 

 ishing a month's reading with ' ' Old Bethlehem " ? These 

 are all good books in a way, but bear about as much rela- 

 tion to each other as the almanac bears to the history of 

 China, Japan, or Arnold's " Light of Asia." 



The reason for this hap-hazard way of doing is that so 

 few read for lasting good and to make the most of time and 

 opportunity. Some read to kill time ; others to prepare for 

 a nap ; some to keep cool ; others dawdle over books with 

 minds half asleep ; some read from habit ; others to be 

 thought literary. We must admit, however, that it is 

 better to read good books in this way than to be idle or 

 misemployed. A great number of students are working in 

 the homes. The evening hours, the waiting times and 

 spare moments are made available for any line of study 

 chosen, and good work is being done. 



Putting aside students and systems, the question, "What 

 shall we read?" confronts us. What shall not be read may 

 be a much easier query to answer, because what to read sim- 

 ply as desultory reading depends much on the intellectual 

 status of the reader. The obvious truth is, some do and 

 always will read what they like, irrespective of any other 

 object or guidance. But literature belongs to that kind of 

 knowledge which is power ; therefore, to read nothing but 

 newspapers and novels is not only a waste of time, but 

 tends to weaken the powers of attention and concentration 

 and relax the mental fibre. Howells says, "The women 

 are in fact the miscellaneous readers in our country. They 

 make or leave unmade most literary reputations." Another 

 noted author says that "Genius is subject to the same laws 

 which regulate the production of cotton and molasses, — 

 the supply adjusts itself to the demand." There being 

 many women, there is an enormous demand. To meet this, 

 a host of writers have entered the field who make a good 

 livelihood, yet lack moral stamina. They fashion too much 

 after French models. The workmanship of the French is 

 superior to ours, but the subjects have demoralizing tenden- 



