Show STUDENT LIFE nearly so because of the worthy thoughts and high ideals which we Whatever get from good hooks helps to make our lives better should he highly valued Emerson says : "We prize hooks hut they prize them most who are them- selves wise” There is so much that we should read and so little time given us to devote to reading that it becomes a matter of prudence to he select- The advice of Hacon “Some hooks are to he tasted others to he swallowed and some few chewed and digested” is expressed in many ways though probably in no better than Langford’s : "A wise man will select his hooks for he would nof wish to class them all under the sacred name of friends Some can he accepted only as acquaintances” So much is written that it would he impossible to read a tenth of it even if one cared to do so The enormous production of novels during the last few seasons has given rise to the remark that novel writing has become a disease and every one has it We cannot help respecting the judgment and courage of Mr Herbert Spencer who replied to an editor’s letter of inquiry as to which hook in his opinion was the best of the preceding year that he had read no new hooks during the time specified n Emerson’s maxim that a hook should not he read until it is a year old is serviceable for most purposes It would not he advisable to follow it strictly however for among the new books we often find a few whose superior ive oft-repeat- ed well-know- 43 merit marks them as hooks that will endure There are two hooks which stand among the books of the last few months "The Mettle of the Pasture” was written by James Lane Allen whose "Kentucky Cardinal” will always have The a warm place in our hearts other hook is "The Call of the Wild” of which a dog not a man is the hero Another book which deserves its popularity is “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” by Kate The story is Douglas Wiggin quaint and the character of Rebecca fresh and subtly conceived "Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” by Alice Hegan Rice is an older book hut it is only lately n in the West becoming It is a children’s story but men the hook and and women laugh at the antics of the little pre-emine- nt well-know- re-re- “ ad Wiggses” Winston Churchill’s "Richard Carvel” and “Crisis” have already exceeded eight hundred thousand in sales and we are all wondering whether or not “The Crossing” will maintain the standard set by his other historical novels This is the second in chronological order and is to he published this month Xew hooks may he all right for a change yet we return to the old hooks with pleasure Lowell with humor and good sense said : “For reading new hooks is like eat- ing new bread One may stand it at first hut by gradual steps he Will come to death’s door of a mental dyspepsy” |