A College Education at Home

"Tumbling around in a library" was the phrase Oliver Wendell Holmes used in describing in part his felicities in boyhood. One of the most important things that wise students get out of their schooldays is a familiarity with books in various departments of learning. The ability to pick out from a library what is needed in life is of the greatest practical value. It is like a man selecting his tools for intellectual expansion and social service. "Men in every department of practical life," says President Hadley of Yale, "men in commerce, in transportation, or in manufactures—have told me that what they really wanted from our colleges was men who have this selective power of using books efficiently. The beginnings of this kind of knowledge are best learned in any home fairly well furnished with books."

“Tumbling around in a library” was how Oliver Wendell Holmes described one of the pleasures of his boyhood. One of the most important things wise students gain during their school years is familiarity with books on many subjects. The ability to find the books one needs in a library is extremely useful in life. It is like choosing tools for intellectual growth and service to society. President Hadley of Yale says, “Men in every field of practical life have told me what they really want from our colleges. Whether they work in commerce, transportation, or manufacturing, they want men who can select and use books efficiently. A home with a fair number of books is the best place to begin learning this skill.”

Libraries are no longer a luxury, but a necessity. A home without books and periodicals and newspapers is like a house without windows. Children learn to read by being in the midst of books; they unconsciously absorb knowledge by handling them. No family can now afford to be without good reading.

Libraries are no longer a luxury. They are a necessity. A home without books, magazines, and newspapers is like a house without windows. Children learn to read by being surrounded by books. They absorb knowledge without realizing it by handling them. No family today can afford to be without good reading material.

Children who are well supplied with dictionaries, encyclopedias, histories, works of reference, and other useful books, will educate themselves unconsciously, and almost without expense, and will learn many things of their own accord in moments which would otherwise be wasted; and which, if learned in schools, academies, or colleges, would cost ten times as much as the expense of the books would be. Besides, homes are brightened and made attractive by good books, and children stay in such pleasant homes; while those whose education has been neglected are anxious to get away from home, and drift off and fall into all manner of snares and dangers.

Children who have plenty of dictionaries, encyclopedias, histories, reference works, and other useful books will educate themselves without realizing it. They will do so at almost no expense. They will learn many things on their own in moments that would otherwise be wasted. Learning those things in schools, academies, or colleges would cost ten times as much as the books. Good books also brighten homes and make them attractive, and children stay in such pleasant homes. But children whose education has been neglected are eager to leave home. They drift away and fall into all kinds of traps and dangers.

It is astonishing how much a bright child will absorb from being brought up in the atmosphere of good books, being allowed to constantly use them, to handle them, to be familiar with their bindings and titles. It is a great thing for children to be brought up in the atmosphere of books.

It is astonishing how much a bright child absorbs from growing up surrounded by good books. Having constant access to books, handling them, and becoming familiar with their covers and titles all make a difference. It is a wonderful thing for children to grow up surrounded by books.

Many people never make a mark on a book, never bend down a leaf, or underscore a choice passage. Their libraries are just as clean as the day they bought them, and, often, their minds are just about as clean of information. Don't be afraid to mark your books. Make notes in them. They will be all the more valuable. One who learns to use his books in early life, grows up with an increasing power for effective usefulness.

Many people never mark a book, fold down a page, or underline a favorite passage. Their books are as clean as the day they bought them. Often, their minds are just as empty of information. Don't be afraid to mark your books. Make notes in them. Your books will be all the more valuable. People who learn to use their books early in life grow increasingly able to be useful and effective.

It is related that Henry Clay's mother furnished him with books by her own earnings at the washtub.

It is said that Henry Clay's mother bought him books with money she earned washing clothes.

Wear threadbare clothes and patched shoes if necessary, but do not pinch or economize on books. If you can not give your children an academic education you can place within their reach a few good books which will lift them above their surroundings, into respectability and honor.

Wear worn-out clothes and patched shoes if necessary, but do not skimp on books. If you cannot give your children a formal education, you can give them access to a few good books. These books will lift them above their surroundings, into respectability and honor.

Is not one's early home the place where he should get his principal training for life? It is here we form habits which shape our careers, and which cling to us as long as we live. It is here that regular, persistent mental training should fix the life ever after.

Isn't the home where we grow up where we should get our main training for life? There we form habits that shape our careers and stay with us as long as we live. There, regular, persistent mental training should shape the rest of our lives.

I know of pitiable cases where ambitious boys and girls have longed to improve themselves, and yet were prevented from doing so by the pernicious habits prevailing in the home, where everybody else spent the evenings talking and joking, with no effort at self-improvement, no thought of higher ideals, no impulse to read anything better than a cheap, exciting story. The aspiring members of the family were teased and laughed at until they got discouraged and gave up the struggle.

I know of sad cases where ambitious boys and girls longed to improve themselves. But harmful habits at home prevented them from doing so. Everyone else spent the evenings talking and joking, making no effort to improve themselves. They gave no thought to higher ideals and had no desire to read anything better than a cheap, exciting story. The family members who wanted to improve themselves were teased and laughed at until they became discouraged and gave up trying.

If the younger ones do not want to read or study themselves, they will not let anybody else so inclined do so. Children are naturally mischievous, and like to tease. They are selfish, too, and can not understand why anyone else should want to go off by himself to read or study when they want him to play.

If the younger children do not want to read or study, they will not let anyone else do so either. Children are naturally mischievous and like to tease. They are selfish, too. They cannot understand why anyone would want to go off alone to read or study when they want him to play.

Were the self-improvement habit once well established in a home, it would become a delight. The young people would look forward to the study hour with as much anticipation as to playing.

If a family established a strong habit of self-improvement, it would become a delight. The young people would look forward to study time as much as playtime.

Were it possible for every family that squanders precious time, to spend an evening in such a home, it would be an inspiration. A bright, alert, intelligent, harmonious atmosphere so pervades a self-improving home that one feels insensibly uplifted and stimulated to better things.

If every family that wastes precious time could spend an evening in such a home, they would be inspired. A home devoted to self-improvement has a bright, alert, intelligent, and harmonious atmosphere. Without even realizing it, one feels uplifted and inspired to do better.

I know a New England family in which all the children and the father and mother, by mutual consent, set aside a portion of each evening for study or some form of self-culture. After dinner, they give themselves completely to recreation. They have a regular romp and play, and all the fun possible for an hour. Then when the time comes for study, the entire house becomes so still that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone is in his place reading, writing, studying, or engaged in some form of mental work. No one is allowed to speak or disturb anyone else. If any member of the family is indisposed, or for any reason does not feel like working, he must at least keep quiet and not disturb the others. There is perfect harmony and unity of purpose, an ideal condition for study. Everything that would scatter the efforts or cause the mind to wander, all interruptions that would break the continuity of thought, is carefully guarded against. More is gained in one hour of close, uninterrupted study, than in two or three broken by many interruptions, or weakened by mind wandering.

I know a New England family whose parents and children agree to set aside part of each evening for study or self-improvement. After dinner, they devote themselves entirely to recreation. They romp, play, and have as much fun as possible for an hour. Then, when it is time to study, the entire house becomes so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone is in place, reading, writing, studying, or doing some other mental work. No one is allowed to speak or disturb anyone else. If a family member feels unwell or does not feel like working for any reason, they must at least stay quiet and not disturb the others. The family shares a sense of harmony and purpose, creating ideal conditions for study. They carefully guard against anything that could distract them or interrupt their train of thought. One hour of focused, uninterrupted study accomplishes more than two or three hours filled with interruptions or weakened by a wandering mind.

Sometimes the habits of a home are revolutionized by the influence of one resolute youth who declares himself, taking a stand and announcing that, as for himself, he does not propose to be a failure, that he is going to take no chances as to his future. The moment he does this, he stands out in strong contrast with the great mass of young people who are throwing away their opportunities and have not grit and stamina enough to do anything worth while.

Sometimes one determined young person can transform the habits of a household. He takes a stand and declares that he refuses to be a failure. He will leave nothing to chance when it comes to his future. The moment he does this, he stands out sharply from most young people. They throw away their opportunities and lack the grit and stamina to do anything worthwhile.

The very reputation of always trying to improve yourself in every possible way, of being dead in earnest, will attract the attention of everybody who knows you, and you will get many a recommendation for promotion which never comes to those who make no special effort to climb upward.

A reputation for always trying to improve yourself in every possible way and for being truly serious will attract everyone’s attention. As a result, you will receive many recommendations for promotion that never come to those who make no special effort to advance.

There is a great deal of time wasted even in the busiest lives, which, if properly organized, might be used to advantage.

Even in the busiest lives, a lot of time is wasted. If properly organized, that time could be put to good use.

Many housewives who are so busy from morning to night that they really believe they have no time for reading books, magazines, or newspapers would be amazed to find how much they would have if they would more thoroughly systematize their work. Order is a great time saver, and we certainly ought to be able to so adjust our living plan that we can have a fair amount of time for self-improvement, for enlarging life. Yet many people think that their only opportunity for self-improvement depends upon the time left after everything else has been attended to.

Many housewives are busy from morning to night and truly believe they have no time to read books, magazines, or newspapers. They would be amazed at how much time they could find if they organized their work more thoroughly. Order saves a great deal of time. We should certainly be able to arrange our lives so that we have a reasonable amount of time to improve ourselves and broaden our lives. Yet many people think their only chance for self-improvement depends on the time left after everything else is done.

What would a business man accomplish if he did not attend to important matters until he had time that was not needed for anything else? The good business man goes to his office in the morning and plunges right into the important work of the day. He knows perfectly well that if he attends to all the outside matters, all the details and little things that come up, sees everybody that wants to see him, and answers all the questions people want to ask, that it will be time to close his office before he gets to his main business.

What would a businessperson accomplish if they put off important matters until they had time for nothing else? A good businessperson goes to the office in the morning and dives straight into the day’s important work. They know what will happen if they handle all the outside matters, details, and little things that come up. If they see everyone who wants to see them and answer every question people want to ask, the office will close before they get to their main work.

Most of us manage somehow to find time for the things we love. If one is hungry for knowledge, if one yearns for self-improvement, if one has a taste for reading, he will make the opportunity.

Most of us somehow find time for the things we love. If we hunger for knowledge, long to improve ourselves, or enjoy reading, we will make time for it.

Where the heart is, there is the treasure. Where the ambition is, there is time.

Your treasure is where your heart is. You find time for what you are ambitious about.

It takes not only resolution but also determination to set aside unessentials for essentials, things pleasant and agreeable to-day for the things that will prove best for us in the end. There is always temptation to sacrifice future good for present pleasure; to put off reading to a more convenient season, while we enjoy idle amusements or waste the time in gossip or frivolous conversation.

It takes both resolve and determination to put essentials ahead of things that do not matter. We must set aside what is pleasant and enjoyable today for what will be best for us in the end. There is always a temptation to sacrifice future good for present pleasure. We may put off reading until a more convenient time while enjoying idle amusements or wasting time on gossip or trivial conversation.

The greatest things of the world have been done by those who systematized their work, organized their time. Men who have left their mark on the world have appreciated the preciousness of time, regarding it as the great quarry.

The greatest things in the world have been done by people who organized their work and their time. Men who have left their mark on the world understood how precious time is. They saw it as a great quarry.

If you want to develop a delightful form of enjoyment, to cultivate a new pleasure, a new sensation which you have never before experienced, begin to read good books, good periodicals, regularly every day. Do not tire yourself by trying to read a great deal at first. Read a little at a time, but read some every day, no matter how little. If you are faithful you will soon acquire a taste for reading—the reading habit; and it will, in time, give you infinite satisfaction, unalloyed pleasure.

If you want to discover a delightful new pleasure, a feeling you have never experienced before, start reading good books and magazines every day. Do not wear yourself out by trying to read too much at first. Read a little at a time, but read every day, no matter how little. If you keep at it, you will soon develop a taste for reading and make it a habit. In time, reading will give you endless satisfaction and pure pleasure.

In a gymnasium, one often sees lax, listless people, who, instead of pursuing a systematic course of training to develop all the muscles of the body, flit aimlessly from one thing to another, exercising with pulley-weights for a minute or two, taking up dumb-bells and throwing them down, swinging once or twice on parallel bars, and so frittering away time and strength. Far better it would be for such people to stay away from a gymnasium altogether, for their lack of purpose and continuity makes them lose rather than gain muscular energy. A man or woman who would gather strength from gymnastic exercise must set about it systematically and with a will. He must put mind and energy into the work, or else continue to have flabby muscles and an undeveloped body.

In a gym, you often see unmotivated, listless people who drift aimlessly from one activity to another. Instead of following a systematic training program to develop all their muscles, they exercise with pulley weights for a minute or two. Then they pick up dumbbells and put them down, or swing once or twice on parallel bars. In this way, they waste their time and strength. Such people would be better off staying away from the gym altogether. Their lack of purpose and consistency makes them lose muscular energy rather than gain it. Anyone who wants to gain strength through exercise must approach it systematically and with determination. They must put their mind and energy into the work, or their muscles will remain flabby and their body undeveloped.

The physical gymnasium differs only in kind from the mental one. Thoroughness and system are as necessary in one as in the other. It is not the tasters of books—not those who sip here and there, who take up one book after another, turn the leaves listlessly and hurry to the end,—who strengthen and develop the mind by reading.

A physical gym differs from a mental gym only in the kind of exercise it provides. Both require thoroughness and a systematic approach. People do not strengthen and develop their minds by merely sampling books. They do not do it by picking up one book after another, turning the pages without interest, and rushing to the end.

To get the most from your reading you must read with a purpose. To sit down and pick up a book listlessly, with no aim except to pass away time, is demoralizing. It is much as if an employer were to hire a boy, and tell him he could start when he pleased in the morning, work when he felt like it, rest when he wanted to, and quit when he got tired!

To get the most from your reading, you must read with a purpose. It weakens your discipline to pick up a book without interest, just to pass the time. It is like an employer hiring a boy and telling him he can start whenever he likes in the morning. He can work when he feels like it, rest when he wants to, and quit when he gets tired!

Never go to a book you wish to read for a purpose, if you can possibly avoid it, with a tired, jaded mentality. If you do, you will get the same in kind from it. Go to it fresh, vigorous, and with active, never passive, faculties. This practise is a splendid and effective cure for mind-wandering, which afflicts so many people, and which is encouraged by the multiplicity of and facility of obtaining reading matter at the present day.

Whenever possible, avoid reading a book for a purpose when your mind is tired and worn out. If you do, you will get the same kind of tiredness from it. Approach the book fresh and alert, with your mind active, never passive. This practice is an excellent and effective cure for mind-wandering, which afflicts so many people. Mind-wandering is encouraged by the great variety of reading material available today and the ease of obtaining it.

What can give greater satisfaction than reading with a purpose, and that consciousness of a broadening mind that follows it, and growth, of expansion, of enriching the life, the consciousness that we are pushing ignorance, bigotry, and whatever clouds the mind and hampers progress a little further away from us?

What could be more satisfying than reading with a purpose? It broadens our minds, helps us grow, and enriches our lives. We feel ourselves pushing ignorance, bigotry, and everything that clouds the mind and hampers progress a little farther away.

The kind of reading that counts, that makes mental fiber and stamina is that upon which the mind is concentrated; approaching a book with all one's soul intent upon its contents.

The reading that counts, that builds mental strength and stamina, is reading done with concentration. Approach a book with your whole soul focused on its contents.

How few people ever learn to concentrate their attention. Most of us waste a vast amount of precious time dawdling and idling. We sit or stand over our work without thinking. Our minds are blank much of the time.

How few people ever learn to focus their attention. Most of us waste a great deal of precious time dawdling and doing nothing. We sit or stand over our work without thinking. Our minds are blank much of the time.

Passive reading is even more harmful in its effects than desultory reading. It no more strengthens the brain than sitting down in a gymnasium develops the body. The mind remains inactive, in a sort of indolent revery, wandering here and there, without focusing anywhere. Such reading takes the spring and snap out of the mental faculties, weakens the intellect, and makes the brain torpid and incapable of grappling with great principles and difficult problems.

Passive reading is even more harmful than unfocused reading. It strengthens the brain no more than sitting in a gym strengthens the body. The mind stays inactive, drifting lazily from one thought to another without focusing on anything. This kind of reading drains the mind of its energy and sharpness. It weakens the intellect and leaves the brain sluggish, unable to grapple with great principles and difficult problems.

What you get out of a book is not necessarily what the author puts into it, but what you bring to it. If the heart does not lead the head; if the thirst for knowledge, the hunger for a broader and deeper culture, are not the motives for reading, you will not get the most out of a book. But, if your thirsty soul drinks in the writer's thought as the parched soil absorbs rain, then your latent possibilities and the potency of your being, like delayed germs and seeds in the soil, will spring forth into new life.

What you get out of a book is not necessarily what the author puts into it, but what you bring to it. Your heart must lead your mind if you are to get the most out of a book. You must read with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for a broader and deeper education. But if your thirsty soul drinks in the writer’s thoughts as dry soil absorbs rain, your hidden potential will spring to life. Like dormant seeds in the soil, the power within you will grow into new life.

When you read, read as Macaulay did, as Carlyle did, as Lincoln did—as did every great man who has profited by his reading—with your whole soul absorbed in what you read, with such intense concentration that you will be oblivious of everything else outside of your book.

When you read, read as Macaulay, Carlyle, and Lincoln did. Read as every great man who has benefited from reading did. Put your whole soul into what you read. Concentrate so intensely that you are unaware of everything outside your book.

"Reading furnishes us only with the materials of knowledge," said John Locke; "it is thinking that makes what we read ours."

"Reading gives us only the materials for knowledge," said John Locke. "Thinking makes what we read our own."

In order to get the most out of books, the reader must be a thinker. The mere acquisition of facts is not the acquisition of power. To fill the mind with knowledge that can not be made available is like filling our houses with furniture and bric-à-brac until we have no room to move about.

To get the most out of books, a reader must think. Simply gathering facts does not give us power. Filling our minds with knowledge we cannot use is like filling our homes with furniture and knickknacks until we have no room to move.

Food does not become physical force, brain, or muscle until it has been thoroughly digested and assimilated, and has become an integral part of the blood, brain, and other tissues. Knowledge does not become power until digested and assimilated by the brain, until it has become a part of the mind itself.

Food does not become physical energy, brain tissue, or muscle until it is fully digested and absorbed. It must become part of the blood, brain, and other tissues. Knowledge does not become power until the brain has digested and absorbed it, making it part of the mind itself.

If you wish to become intellectually strong, after reading with the closest attention, form this habit: frequently close your book and sit and think, or stand and walk and think—but think, contemplate, reflect. Turn what you have read over and over in your mind.

If you want to become intellectually strong, read with close attention and develop this habit. Often close your book and sit and think, or stand and walk and think. But think, consider, and reflect. Turn what you have read over and over in your mind.

It is not yours until you have assimilated it by your thought. When you first read it, it belongs to the author. It is yours only when it becomes an integral part of you.

It is not yours until you have made it part of your own thinking. When you first read it, it belongs to the author. It becomes yours only when it becomes a part of you.

Many people have an idea that if they keep reading everlastingly, if they always have a book in their hands at every leisure moment, they will, of necessity, become full-rounded and well-educated.

Many people think that constant reading will necessarily make them well-rounded and well-educated. They believe this if they have a book in hand at every free moment.

But they might just as well expect to become athletes by eating at every opportunity. It is even more necessary to think than to read. Thinking, contemplating what we have read, is what digestion and assimilation are to the food.

But they might as well expect to become athletes by eating whenever they get the chance. Thinking is even more necessary than reading. Thinking about what we have read is like digesting and absorbing food.

Some of the biggest fools I know are always cramming themselves with knowledge. But they never think. When they get a few minutes' leisure they grab a book and go to reading. In other words, they are always eating intellectually, but never digesting their knowledge or assimilating it.

Some of the biggest fools I know are always cramming themselves with knowledge. But they never think. Whenever they have a few minutes of free time, they grab a book and start reading. In other words, they are always eating intellectually, but never digesting or absorbing what they learn.

I know a young man who has formed such a habit of reading that he is almost never without a book, a magazine, or a paper. He is always reading at home, on the cars, at the railway stations, and he has acquired a vast amount of knowledge. He has a perfect passion for knowledge, and yet his mind seems to have been weakened by this perpetual brain stuffing.

I know a young man who has made reading such a habit that he is almost never without a book, magazine, or newspaper. He reads all the time at home, on trains, and at train stations. He has gained a vast amount of knowledge. He has a passion for knowledge, yet his mind seems to have been weakened by constantly stuffing it with information.

By every reader let Milton's words be borne in mind:

Let every reader keep Milton's words in mind:

When Webster was a boy, books were scarce, and so precious that he never dreamed that they were to be read only once, but thought they ought to be committed to memory, or read and re-read until they became a part of his very life.

When Webster was a boy, books were scarce and precious. He never imagined reading a book only once. Instead, he thought books should be memorized or read again and again until they became part of his life.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning says, "We err by reading too much, and out of proportion to what we think. I should be wiser, I am persuaded, if I had not read half as much; should have had stronger and better exercised faculties, and should stand higher in my own appreciation."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning says, "We make a mistake when we read too much and think too little about what we read. I am convinced I would be wiser if I had read less than half as much. My mental abilities would be stronger and better exercised, and I would have a higher opinion of myself."

Those who live more quietly do not have so many distracting influences, and consequently think more deeply and reflect more than others. They do not read so much but they are better readers.

People who live quieter lives have fewer distractions, so they think more deeply and reflect more than others. They do not read as much, but they are better readers.

You should bring your mind to the reading of a book, or to the study of any subject, as you take an ax to the grindstone; not for what you get from the stone, but for the sharpening of the ax.

Approach reading a book or studying a subject as you would take an ax to a grindstone. You do it not to get something from the stone, but to sharpen the ax.

The greatest advantage of books does not always come from what we remember of them, but from their suggestiveness, their character-building power.

The greatest benefit of books does not always come from what we remember. It comes from the ideas they suggest and their power to build character.

"It is not in the library, but in yourself," says Fr. Gregory, "in your self-respect and your consciousness of duty nobly done—that you are to find the 'Fountain of Youth,' the 'Elixir of Life,' and all the other things that tend to preserve life's freshness and bloom.

“You will find the ‘Fountain of Youth,’ the ‘Elixir of Life,’ and everything else that preserves life’s freshness and bloom, not in the library but in yourself,” says Fr. Gregory. “You will find them in your self-respect and your awareness of duty nobly done.”

"It is a grand thing to read a good book—it is a grander thing to live a good life—and in the living of such life is generated the power that defies age and its decadence."

“Reading a good book is a wonderful thing. Living a good life is even greater. Living such a life creates the power to resist aging and its decline.”

It is not the ability, the education, the knowledge that one has that makes the difference between men. The mere possession of knowledge is not always the possession of power; knowledge which has not become a part of yourself, knowledge which can not swing into line in an emergency is of little use, and will not save you at the critical moment.

It is not a person's ability, education, or knowledge that makes the difference between people. Simply possessing knowledge does not always give you power. Knowledge is of little use if it has not become part of you or cannot be put to use in an emergency. It will not save you at the critical moment.

To be effective, a man's education must become a part of himself as he goes along. All of it must be worked up into power. A little practical education that has become a part of one's being and is always available, will accomplish more in the world than knowledge far more extensive that can not be utilized.

To be effective, a man's education must become part of him as he learns. All of it must be turned into power. A little practical education that has become part of a person and is always available will accomplish more in the world than far greater knowledge that cannot be used.

No one better illustrates what books will do for a man, and what a thinker will do with his books, than Gladstone, who was always far greater than his career. He rose above Parliament, reached out beyond politics, and was always growing. He had a passion for intellectual expansion. His peculiar gifts undoubtedly fitted him for the church, or he would have made a good professor at Oxford or Cambridge. But, circumstances led him into the political arena, and he adapted himself readily to his environment. He was an all round well read man, who thought his way through libraries and through life.

No one better illustrates what books can do for a person, and what a thinker can do with books, than Gladstone. He was always far greater than his career. He rose above Parliament, reached beyond politics, and never stopped growing. He had a passion for expanding his mind. His particular gifts undoubtedly suited him for the church. He also would have made a good professor at Oxford or Cambridge. But circumstances led him into politics, and he adapted readily to his surroundings. He was a well-read man with a broad range of knowledge, who thought his way through libraries and through life.

One great benefit of a taste for reading, and access to the book world, is the service it renders as a diversion and a solace.

One great benefit of enjoying reading and having access to books is the distraction and comfort they provide.

What a great thing to be able to get away from ourselves, to fly away from the harassing, humiliating, discouraging, depressing things about us, to go at will to a world of beauty, joy, and gladness!

How wonderful it is to escape ourselves and fly away from the troubling, humiliating, discouraging, and depressing things around us! We can go whenever we wish to a world of beauty, joy, and happiness!

If a person is discouraged or depressed by any great bereavement or suffering, the quickest and the most effective way of restoring the mind to its perfect balance, to its normal condition, is to immerse it in a sane atmosphere, an uplifting, encouraging, inspiring atmosphere, and the most good in the world is found in the best books. I have known people who were suffering under the most painful mental anguish, from losses and shocks which almost unbalanced their minds, to be completely revolutionized in their mental state by the suggestive power which came from becoming absorbed in a great book.

If someone is discouraged or depressed by a great loss or suffering, the quickest and most effective remedy is immersion in a healthy atmosphere. An uplifting, encouraging, inspiring atmosphere can restore the mind to perfect balance and its normal state. The best books contain the greatest good in the world. I have known people who suffered intense mental anguish after losses and shocks that nearly unbalanced their minds. Becoming absorbed in a great book completely transformed their state of mind through the power of its ideas.

Everywhere we see rich old men sitting around the clubs, smoking, looking out of the windows, lounging around hotels, traveling about, uneasy, dissatisfied, not knowing what to do with themselves, because they had never prepared for this part of their lives. They put all their energy, ambition, everything into their vocation.

Everywhere we see wealthy older men sitting around in clubs, smoking and looking out the windows. They lounge around hotels and travel, uneasy and dissatisfied, not knowing what to do with themselves. They never prepared for this part of their lives. They put all their energy, ambition, and everything else into their work.

I know an old gentleman who has been an exceedingly active business man. He has kept his finger upon the pulse of events. He has known what has been going on in the world during his whole active career. And he is now as happy and as contented as a child in his retirement, because he has always been a great reader, a great lover of his kind.

I know an older man who was a very active businessman. He kept up with current events throughout his working life. Now he is as happy and contented as a child in retirement, because he has always loved reading and people.

People who keep their minds bent in one direction too long at a time soon lose their elasticity, their mental vigor, freshness, spontaneity.

People who focus their minds in one direction for too long soon lose their mental flexibility, vigor, freshness, and spontaneity.

If I were to quote Mr. Dooley, it would be:—"Reading is not thinking; reading is the next thing this side of going to bed for resting the mind."

If I were to quote Mr. Dooley, it would be: “Reading is not thinking. For resting the mind, reading is second only to going to bed.”

To my own mind, however, I would rather cite that versatile Englishman, Lord Rosebery. In a speech at the opening of a Carnegie library at West Calder, Midlothian, he made a characteristic utterance upon the value of books, saying in substance:

I would rather quote the versatile Englishman Lord Rosebery. At the opening of a Carnegie library in West Calder, Midlothian, he spoke about the value of books in his characteristic way. In essence, he said:

"There is, however, one case in which books are certainly an end in themselves, and that is to refresh and to recruit after fatigue. When the object is to refresh and to exalt, to lose the cares of this world in the world of imagination, then the book is more than a means. It is an end in itself. It refreshes, exalts, and inspires the man. From any work, manual or intellectual, the man with a happy taste for books comes in tired and soured and falls into the arms of some great author, who raises him from the ground and takes him into a new heaven and a new earth, where he forgets his bruises and rests his limbs, and he returns to the world a fresh and happy man."

"There is, however, one case where books are certainly an end in themselves: when they refresh and restore us after fatigue. Sometimes the goal is to feel refreshed and uplifted and to lose worldly cares in the world of imagination. Then the book is more than a means to an end. It is an end in itself. It refreshes, uplifts, and inspires the reader. A man who loves books may come home from manual or intellectual work tired and bitter. He falls into the arms of a great author, who lifts him from the ground. The author takes him into a new heaven and a new earth, where he forgets his bruises and rests his limbs. Then he returns to the world refreshed and happy."

"Who," asks Professor Atkinson, "can overestimate the value of good books, those strips of thought, as Bacon so finely calls them, voyaging through seas of time, and carrying their precious freight so safely from generation to generation? Here are finest minds giving us the best wisdom of present and past ages; here are the intellects gifted far beyond ours, ready to give us the results of lifetimes of patient thought, imaginations open to the beauty of the universe."

"Who," asks Professor Atkinson, "can overestimate the value of good books? Bacon beautifully calls them strips of thought, sailing across the seas of time. They carry their precious cargo safely from one generation to the next. Here, the finest minds share the best wisdom of the present and past. Minds far more gifted than ours are ready to share the results of lifetimes of patient thought. Their imaginations are open to the beauty of the universe."

The lover of good books can never be very lonely; and, no matter where he is, he can always find pleasant and profitable occupation and the best of society when he quits work.

A lover of good books can never be very lonely. Wherever he is, he can always find enjoyable and rewarding activities and the best company when he finishes work.

Who can ever be grateful enough for the art of printing; grateful enough to the famous authors who have put their best thoughts where we can enjoy them at will? There are some advantages of intercourse with great minds through their books over meeting them in person. The best of them live in their books, while their disagreeable peculiarities, their idiosyncrasies, their objectionable traits are eliminated. In their books we find the authors at their best. Their thoughts are selected, winnowed in their books. Book friends are always at our service, never annoy us, rasp or nettle us. No matter how nervous, tired, or discouraged one may be, they are always soothing, stimulating, uplifting.

Who can ever be grateful enough for the art of printing? Or grateful enough to the famous authors who have made their best thoughts available for us to enjoy whenever we wish? In some ways, getting to know great minds through their books is better than meeting them in person. The best of them lives in their books, without their unpleasant quirks and objectionable traits. In their books, we find authors at their best. Their thoughts have been carefully chosen and refined. Our friends in books are always at our service. They never annoy or irritate us. No matter how nervous, tired, or discouraged we may be, they always soothe, stimulate, and uplift us.

We may call up the greatest writer in the middle of the night when we can not sleep, and he is just as glad to see us as at any other time. We are not excluded from any nook or corner in the great literary world; we can visit the most celebrated people that ever lived without an appointment, without influence, without the necessity of dressing or of observing any rules of etiquette. We can drop in upon a Milton, a Shakespeare, an Emerson, a Longfellow, a Whittier without a moment's notice and receive the warmest welcome.

When we cannot sleep, we can call on the greatest writer in the middle of the night. He is just as glad to see us as at any other time. No part of the great literary world is closed to us. We can visit the most famous people who ever lived without an appointment or connections. We do not need to dress up or follow any rules of etiquette. We can drop in on Milton, Shakespeare, Emerson, Longfellow, or Whittier without a moment’s notice and receive the warmest welcome.

"You get into society, in the widest sense," says Geikie, "in a great library, with the huge advantage of needing no introductions, and not dreading repulses. From that great crowd you can choose what companions you please, for in the silent levees of the immortals there is no pride, but the highest is at the service of the lowest, with a grand humility. You may speak freely with any, without a thought of your inferiority; for books are perfectly well bred, and hurt no one's feelings by any discriminations."

"In a great library, you enter society in the widest sense," says Geikie. "You have the great advantage of needing no introductions and not fearing rejection. From that great crowd, you can choose whatever companions you please. In the silent gatherings of the immortals, there is no pride. With great humility, the highest are at the service of the lowest. You may speak freely with any of them without thinking of your own inferiority. For books are perfectly well mannered and never hurt anyone's feelings by treating people differently."

"It is not the number of books," says Professor William Mathews, "which a young man reads that makes him intelligent and well informed, but the number of well-chosen ones that he has mastered, so that every valuable thought in them is a familiar friend."

"A young man does not become intelligent and well informed by reading many books," says Professor William Mathews. "He becomes intelligent and well informed by mastering well-chosen books, until every valuable thought in them is a familiar friend."

It is only when books have been read and reread with ever deepening delight, that they are clasped to the heart, and become what Macaulay found them to be, the old friends who are never found with new faces, who are the same to us in our wealth and in our poverty, in our glory and in our obscurity. No one gets into the inmost heart of a beautiful poem, a great history, a book of delicate humor, or a volume of exquisite essays, by reading it once or twice. He must have its precious thoughts and illustrations stored in the treasure-house of memory, and brood over them in the hours of leisure.

Only when we read and reread books with growing delight do we hold them close to our hearts. Then they become what Macaulay found them to be: old friends who never change their faces. They remain the same to us in wealth and poverty, in glory and obscurity. No one reaches the heart of a beautiful poem, a great history, a book of delicate humor, or a collection of exquisite essays by reading it once or twice. We must store its precious thoughts and examples in the treasure house of memory and ponder them in our leisure hours.

"A book may be a perpetual companion. Friends come and go, but the book may beguile all experiences and enchant all hours."

"A book can be a lifelong companion. Friends come and go, but a book can bring pleasure to every experience and delight to every hour."

"The first time," says Goldsmith, "that I read an excellent book, it is to me just as if I had gained a new friend; when I read over a book I have perused before, it resembles the meeting with an old one."

"The first time I read an excellent book," says Goldsmith, "it is as if I have made a new friend. When I reread a book, it is like meeting an old friend."

"No matter how poor I am," says William Ellery Channing, "no matter though the prosperous of my own time will not enter my obscure dwelling; if the sacred writers will enter and take up their abode under my roof—if Milton will cross my threshold to sing to me of Paradise; and Shakespeare to open to me the worlds of imagination and the workings of the human heart,—I shall not pine for want of intellectual companionship, though excluded from what is called the best society in the place where I live."

“No matter how poor I am,” says William Ellery Channing, “the prosperous people of my time may never enter my humble home. But if the sacred writers will enter and live under my roof, I shall not long for intellectual companionship. If Milton will come in to sing to me of Paradise, and Shakespeare to reveal worlds of imagination and the workings of the human heart, I shall not miss such companionship. This is true even if I am excluded from what is called the best society where I live.”

"Books," says Milton, "do preserve as in a violl, the purest efficacie and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. A good Booke is the pretious life-blood of a master spirit, imbalm'd and treasur'd up on purpose to a Life beyond Life."

"Books," says Milton, "preserve, as if in a vial, the purest essence and power of the living mind that created them. A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, preserved and treasured for a life beyond life."

"A book is good company," said Henry Ward Beecher. "It comes to your longing with full instruction, but pursues you never. It is not offended at your absent-mindedness, nor jealous if you turn to other pleasures, of leaf, or dress, or mineral, or even of books. It silently serves the soul without recompense, not even for the hire of love. And yet more noble, it seems to pass from itself, and to enter the memory, and to hover in a silvery transformation there, until the outward book is but a body and its soul and spirit are flown to you, and possess your memory like a spirit."

"A book is good company," said Henry Ward Beecher. "It meets your longing with plenty to teach, but never pursues you. It is not offended when your mind wanders. It is not jealous if you turn to other pleasures, such as leaves, clothes, minerals, or even other books. It silently serves the soul without payment, not even asking for love in return. More wonderfully still, the book seems to leave itself and enter your memory. There it hovers, transformed into something silvery. The physical book becomes merely a body. Its soul and spirit have flown to you, filling your memory like a spirit."