English Belles-Lettres: From A. D. 901 to 1834 (Classic Reprint)

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Excerpt from English Belles-Lettres: From A. D. 901 to 1834

Writers never weary themselves in sounding the praise of reading, though their readers sometimes weary of the iteration. And truly there is a ﬂat monotone in this sol emn preaching of the duty of persistence in courses of book-study. Even the lighter literature is mechanically systematized in blocks of periods, authors, schools, and so on, the latest specialist subdividing the divisions of his immediate predecessor.

This is much like an attempt to substitute spade hus bandry for steam cultivation. Its wisdom and utility de pend upon the acreage to be tilled and the ambition of its owner. Hard work in specific studies is necessary to fit a man for his calling. Then comes pleasure-reading in lei sure hours. It may be that some have grown so used to harness that their very recreation must be by rigid rule. For such the delights of roaming at large over the Open champaign of breezy literature have no temptation. May they find happiness in cultivating their carefully fenced back yards.

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