crystal drops from the fountains of poetic thought. Often they express
in picture language the deepest lessons that mankind have learned; and
one who wishes to gather to himself the intellectual wealth of the
nations must not neglect them. In the section of the book devoted to
remarks upon the Guidance of Children, the literature of this subject
receives more extended attention. Among the books that will most
interest the student of this subject may be mentioned the works of Fiske
and Bulfinch, named below, Baldwin's "Story of the Golden Age,"
Ragozin's "Chaldea," Kingsley's "Greek Heroes," Cox's "Tales of Ancient
Greece," Hanson's "Stories of Charlemagne," Church's "Story of the
Iliad" and "Story of the AEneid," and the books mentioned in connection
with the "Morte D'Arthur," note 323 following:--
[263] "Fairy Tales," "Shoes of Fortune," etc. (Denmark, 19th cent.)
[264] The inimitable French poet of Fable. (France, 17th cent.)
[265] The world-famous Greek fabulist. His popularity in all ages has
been unbounded. Socrates amused himself with his stories. (Greece, 6th
cent. B. C.)
[266] "Household Tales." (Ger., early 19th cent.)
[267] "Reineke Fox." (Bohn Lib.) (Ger., early 19th cent.)
Kipling's "Indian Tales." (Eng., 19th cent.)
[268] "Age of Fable," "Age of Chivalry," etc. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[269] Fables in his poems. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[270] A French fabulist, next in fame to La Fontaine. (18th cent.)
[271] Greek Fables. (About com. Christ. era.)
[272] "Tales." (Ger., 19th cent.)
[273] "Metamorphoses." An account of the mythology of the ancients. Ovid
was one of Rome's greatest poets. (Rome, 1st cent. B. C.)
Curtin's "Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland," "Myths and Folk-Tales of the
Russians," etc. (U. S., 19th cent.)
Fiske's "Myths and Myth Makers." (U. S., 19th cent.)
TRAVEL.
Nothing favors breadth more than travel and contact with those of
differing modes of life and variant belief. The tolerance and sympathy
that are folding in the world in these modern days owe much to the vast
increase of travel that has resulted from growth of commerce, the
development of wealth, and the cheapness and rapidity of steam
transportation. Even a wider view of the world comes to us through the
literature of travel than we could ever gain by personal experience,
however much of wealth and time we had at our disposal; and though the
vividness is less in each particular picture of the written page than if
we saw the full original reality that is painted for us, yet this is
more than compensated by the breadth and insight and perception of the
meaning of the scenes portrayed, which we can take at once from the
writer, to whom perhaps the gaining of what he gives so easily has been
a very costly, tedious process, and would be so to us if we had to rely
on personal observation. Voyages and travels therefore are of much
importance in our studies, and delightful reading too. Stanley's
opinions have been much relied on in selecting the following books:--
[274] Voyages. (Eng., 18th cent.)
[275] Cosmos; Travels. (Ger., 1762-1832.)
[276] Naturalist on the Beagle. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[277] Travels. (Venice, 14th cent.)
[278] Arctic Explorations. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[279] South Africa. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[280] Through the Dark Continent; In Darkest Africa. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[281] Travels in Africa. (France, 19th cent.)
[282] On Egypt. (Germany, 19th cent.)
[283] Abyssinia. (Eng., 19th cent.)
[284] India.
[285] Niger.
[286] South America.
[287] Upper Niger.
[288] Persia.
[289] Central Africa.
[290] West Coast of Africa.
[291] Travelled for thirty years, then wrote the marvels he had seen and
heard; and his book became very popular in the 14th and 15th centuries.
(Eng., 14th cent.)
[292] The Nile.
GUIDES.
In this column of "Guides" are placed books that will be useful in
arriving at a fuller knowledge of literature and authors, in determining
what to read, and in our own literary efforts.
[293] "What to Read on the Subject of Reading," by William E. Foster,
Librarian of the Providence Public Library. Every one who is interested
in books should keep an eye on this thorough and enthusiastic worker,
and take advantage of the information he lavishes in his bulletins.
[294] The "Pall Mall Extra," containing Sir John Lubbock's "List of the
Best Hundred Books," and letters from many distinguished men.
[295] English Literature.
[296] English Literature.
[297] "English Literature." The most philosophic work on the subject;
but it is difficult, and requires a previous knowledge of the principal
English authors.
[298] Handbook of Universal Literature.
[299] Dictionary of Authors.
[300] Bartlett's "Familiar Quotations" is one of the most famous and
valuable of books.
[301] "Edge-Tools of Speech." Brief quotations arranged under heads such
as Books, Government, Love, etc.
[302] "Library of Poetry and Song;" but for the general reader
Palgrave's exquisite little "Golden Treasury" is better.
[303] "Primer of English Literature." The best very brief book on the
subject.
[304] Bibliographical Aids.
[305] "Motive and Habit of Reading."
[306] "Choice of Books."
[307] "Sesame and Lilies."
[308] "The Love of Books."
[309] "History of Prose Fiction."
Baldwin's "Book Lover" is valuable for its lists of books bearing on
special topics.
C. K. Adams' "Manual of Historical Literature" is invaluable to the
student of history. There ought to be similar books relating to
Philosophy, Fiction, Science, etc.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In the column "Miscellaneous" are placed a number of books which should
be at least glanced through to open the doors of thought on all sides
and to take such account of their riches as will place them at command
when needed.
[310] One of the noblest little books in existence; to read it is to
pour into the life and character the inspiration of hundreds of the best
and most successful lives. Every page should be carefully read and
digested. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[311] An exquisite book; one of Robert Collyer's early favorites. Put
its beauty in your heart. (U. S., 19th cent.)
[312] A book that should be read for its breadth. (Eng., early 17th
cent.)
[313] Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward" is one of the same class of
books to which Bacon's "New Atlantis," More's "Utopia," etc., belong,
and may be read with much pleasure and profit along with them. It is
really a looking forward to an ideal commonwealth, in which the labor
troubles and despotisms of to-day shall be adjusted on the same
principle as the political troubles and despotisms of the last century
were settled; namely, the principle that each citizen shall be
industrially the equal of every other, as all are now political equals.
It is a very famous book, and has been called the greatest book of the
century, which, happily for the immortality of Spencer and Darwin,
Carlyle and Ruskin, Parkman and Bancroft, Guizot and Bryce, Goethe and
Hugo, Byron and Burns, Scott and Tennyson, Whittier and Lowell, Bulwer
and Thackeray, Dickens and Eliot, is only the judgment of personal
friendship and blissful ignorance. But while the book cannot feel at
home in the society of the great, it is nevertheless a very entertaining
story, and one vastly stimulative of thought. The idea of a coming
_industrial democracy_, bearing more or less analogy to the political
democracy, the triumph of which we have seen, is one that has probably
occurred to every thoughtful person; and in Bellamy's book may be found
an ingenious expansion of the idea much preferable to the ordinary
socialistic plans of the day, though not wholly free from the injustice
that inheres in all social schemes that do not aim to secure to each man
the wealth or other advantage that his lawful efforts naturally produce.
(U. S., 19th cent.)
[314] Everywhere a favorite. It opens up wide regions of imagination.
Ruskin says he read it many times when he might have been better
employed, and crosses it from his list. But the very fact that he read
the book so often shows that even his deep mind found irresistible
attraction in it. (First introduced into Europe in 17th cent.)
[315] The most colossal lies known to science. (Ger., 18th cent.)
[316] The poem of "Beowulf" should be looked into by all who wish to
know the character of the men from whom we sprang, and therefore realize
the basic elements of our own character. (Eng., early Saxon times.)
[317] Should be glanced at for the light it throws on English history
and development. (9th-12th cents.)
[318] Froissart's "Chronicles" constitute a graphic story of the States
of Europe from 1322 to the end of the 14th century. Scott said that
Froissart was his master. Breadth demands at least a glance at the old
itinerant tale-gatherer. Note especially the great rally of the rebels
of Ghent.
[319] This masterpiece of Old German Minstrelsy is too much neglected by
us. Read it with the three preceding. (Early German.)
[320] _Saga_ means "tale" or "narrative," and is applied in Iceland to
every kind of tradition, true or fabulous. Read the "Heimskringla,"
Njal's Saga, and Grettir's Saga, (9th-13th cents.)
[321] Along with the last should be read the poems of the elder Edda.
(Compiled by Samund the Wise, 12th cent.)
[322] The epic of Spain, containing a wonderful account of the prowess
of a great leader and chief. (Spain, before the 13th cent.)
[323] A collection of fragments about the famous King Arthur and his
Round Table. They crop out in every age of English literature. Read the
book with Tennyson's "Idylls of the King,"--a poem inspired by Malory's
"Morte D'Arthur,"--Cervantes' "Don Quixote," and Twain's "Yankee in the
Court of King Arthur," Lanier's "Boy's King Arthur," Ritson's "Ancient
English Metrical Romances," Ellis' Introduction to the Study of the
same, Preston's "Troubadours and Trouveres," Sismondi's "Literature of
Southern Europe," Chapon's "Troubadours," and Van Laun's "History of
French Literature" may be referred to with advantage by the student of
Malory.
[324] A collection of Chinese odes.
[325] This and the last are recommended, not for intrinsic merit, but
for breadth, and to open the way to an understanding of and sympathy
with four hundred millions of mankind who hold these books in profound
veneration. (China, as early as 5th cent. B. C.)
[326] This is the Bible of the Sufis of Persia, one of the
manifestations of that great spirit of mysticism which flows like a
great current through the world's history, side by side with the stream
of Rationalism. It found certain outlets in Schelling, Swedenborg,
Emerson, etc., and is bubbling up even now through the strata of
worldliness in the United States in the shape of Theosophy. (7th cent.)
[327] Read Saint Hilaire's "Buddha" and Arnold's "Light of Asia." They
will open great regions of thought.
[328] These are epitomized by Talboys Wheeler in his "History of India."
Very interesting and broadening. (Very ancient.)
[330] Not valuable reading intrinsically, but as opening the doors of
communication with the minds and hearts of whole races of men, most
useful. The Vedas are the Bible of the Hindus, and contain the
revelation of Brahma (15th cent.). The Koran is the Mohammedan Bible
(6th cent.). The Talmud belongs to the Rabbinical literature of the
Jews, and is a collection of Jewish traditions (3d cent.).
[333] The works of Hooker, Swedenborg, Newton, Kepler, Copernicus,
Laplace, should be actually _handled_ and _glanced through_ to form a
nucleus of experience, around which may gather a little knowledge of
these famous men and what they did. This remark applies with more or
less of force to all the names on the second shelf. Few can hope to
_read all_ these books, but it is practicable by means of general works,
such as those mentioned in Column 13, to gain an idea of each man, his
character and work; and there is no better way to put a hook in the
memory on which such knowledge of an author may be securely kept, than
to take his book in your hands, note its size and peculiarities (visual
and tactual impressions are more easily remembered than others as a
rule), glance through its contents, and read a passage or two.
SHORT COURSES.
When the reader has a special purpose in view, it is of the greatest
advantage to arrange in systematic order the books that will be most
helpful in the accomplishment of his purpose, study them one after the
other, mark them, compare them, make cross references from one to
another, digest and assimilate the vital portions of each, and seek to
obtain a mastery of all that the best minds of the past have given us in
reference to the object of his effort. For example: a person who has
devoted himself exclusively to one line of ideas will be greatly
benefited by reading a short course of books that will give him a
glimpse of each of the great fields of thought. One who is lacking in
humor should get a good list of fine humorous works and devote himself
to them, and to the society of fun-loving people, until he can see and
enjoy a good joke as keenly as they do,--not only to quicken his
perception of humor, but that the organ of fun (the gland that secretes
wit and humor) may be roused into normal activity. Again, if a gentleman
finds that he does not appreciate Shakspeare, Dante, Irving, etc., as he
sees or is told that literary people do; if he prefers his newspaper to
the English classics as a source of pleasure and profit; if he sees
little difference between Tennyson and Tupper, enjoys Bill Nye as much
or more than Holmes, and is able to compare the verses he writes to his
sweetheart with Milton without any very distinct feeling except perhaps
a disgust for Milton,--if any of these things are true, he has need of a
course to develop a literary taste.
In the three tables following will be found a suggestion of several
important short courses, and others will be found on page 123 _et seq._
TABLE II.
A short special course, to gather _ideas_ of practical importance to
every life, and to make a beginning in the gaining of that _breadth of
mind_ which is of such vital value by reason of its influence on morals
and the aid it gives in the attainment of truth.
1. Physiology and Hygiene. Read and digest the best books. See Table I.
Col. 3.
2. "Our Country," by Strong; the Constitution of the United States; the
Declaration of Independence, and Washington's Farewell. (All m. R. D.)
3. Mill's Logic; at any rate, the Canons of Induction and the Chapter on
Fallacies, (m. R. D. C. G.)
4. Smiles's "Self-Help." (m. R. D.)
5. Wood's books on Natural History; especially his anecdotes of animals,
and evidences of mind, etc., in animals (e. R. D.). Proctor's books on
Astronomy, "Other Worlds than Ours," etc. (e. R. G.). Lubbock's
"Primitive Condition of Man" (m. R.). Dawson's "Chain of Life" (m. R.).
In some good brief way, as by using the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," read
_about_ Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Darwin, Herschel, Lyell,
Harvey, and Torricelli.
6. Spencer's "First Principles." (d. R. D. G.)
7. Green's "Short History of the English People" (m. R. D. G.).
Bancroft's "History of the United States" (m. R. D. G). Guizot's
"History of Civilization" (m. R. D. G.).
8. Max Mueller's philological works, or some of them (m. R.). Taylor's
"Words and Places" (m. R.).
9. In some public library, if the books are not accessible elsewhere,
get into your hands the books named in Columns 12 and 13 of Table I.,
and not already spoken of in this table, and glance through each,
reading a little here and there to make a rapid survey of the ground,
acquire some idea of it, and note the places where it may seem to you
worth while to dig for gold.
TABLE III.
A short course of the choicest selections from the whole field of
general literature. It may easily be read through in a year, and will
form a taste and provide a standard that will enable the reader ever
after to judge for himself of the quality and value of whatever books
may come before the senate of his soul to ask for an appropriation of
his time in their behalf.
Very few books are requisite for this course, but it will awaken a
desire that will demand a library of standard literature. No. 1, No. 2,
etc., refer to the numbers of the "100 Choice Selections." Monroe's
"Sixth Reader" and Palgrave's "Golden Treasury" are also referred to,
because they contain a great number of these gems, and are books likely
to be in the possession of the reader.
For the meaning of the other abbreviations, see the last section of the
Introductory Remarks.
GROUP I.--_Poetry._
[*] in headings denotes "Degree of Difficulty."
+-------------------------------------+-----+----------+---------------+
| | [*] | Manner | |
| | | of | Where found. |
| | | Reading. | |
+-------------------------------------+-----+----------+---------------+
| 1. SHAKSPEARE. | | | |
| | | | |
| Hamlet, especially noting Hamlet's | | | Shakspeare's |
| conversations with the Ghost, | | | Plays are |
| with his mother and Ophelia, his | | | published |
| advice to the players, his | | | separately, |
| soliloquy, and his discourse on | d. | R.D.C.G. | and also |
| the nobleness of man | | | together, |
| Merchant of Venice, especially | | | Richard Grant |
| noting the scene in court, and | | | White's |
| the parts relating to Portia | e. | R.D.C.G. | edition being |
| Julius Caesar, especially noting the | | | the best. |
| speeches of Brutus and Antony, | | | |
| and the quarrel of Brutus and | m. | R.D.C.G. | |
| Cassius | | | |
| Taming of the Shrew | e. | R.G. | |
| Henry the Eighth | m. | R.D. | |
| Henry the Fourth, read for the wit | | | |
| of Falstaff | m. | R.D. | |
| Henry the Fifth, noting especially | | | |
| the wooing | m. | R.D. | |
| Coriolanus, noting especially the | | | |
| grand fire and force and | | | |
| frankness of Coriolanus | m. | R.D.C.G. | |
| Sonnets in Palgrave's Golden | | | |
| Treasury, Nos. 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, | | | |
| 14, 18, 36, 46 | m. | R.D.C. | |
| | | | |
| 2. MILTON. | | | |
| | | | |
| The Opening of the Gates of Hell, | | | |
| one of the sublimest conceptions | | | |
| in literature. It is in Paradise | | | |
| Lost, about six pages from the | | | |
| end of Book II. Read sixty lines | | | |
| beginning, "Thus saying, from her | | | |
| side the fatal key, Sad | | | |
| instrument of all our woe" | d. | R.D.G. | Milton's |
| Satan's Throne, ten lines at the | | | Poems. |
| beginning of Book II. | m. | R.D.G. | |
| Opening of Paradise Lost, 26 lines | | | |
| at the beginning of Book I. | m. | R.D.G. | |
| The Angels uprooting the Mountains | | | |
| and hurling them on the Rebels. | | | |
| Fifty lines beginning about the | | | |
| 640th line of Book VI., "So they | | | |
| in pleasant vein," etc. | m. | R.D.G. | |
| "Hail, Holy Light," fifty-five | | | |
| lines at the beginning of Book | m. | R.D.G. | |
| III. | | | |
| Comus, a masque, and one of the | | | |
| masterpieces of English | d. | R.D.C.G. | Milton's |
| literature | | | Poems. |
| L' Allegro, a short poem on mirth | d. | R.D.C.G. | The last |
| Il Penseroso, a short poem | | | three of this |
| on melancholy | d. | R.D.C.G. | list are in |
| Lycidas, a celebrated elegy | d. | R.G. | Palgrave. |
| | | | |
| 3. HOMER. | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | Homer has had |
| | | | many |
| Pope's translation. At least the | | | translators, |
| first book of the Iliad. A | | | Pope, Derby, |
| simple, clear story of battles | | | Worsley, |
| and quarrels, and counsels, | | | Chapman, |
| charming in its sublimity, | | | Flaxman, |
| pathos, vigor, and naturalness. | | | Lang, Bryant, |
| The world's greatest epic | e. | R.D.C.G. | etc. |
| | | | |
| 4. AESCHYLUS. | | | |
| | | | Potter, |
| | | | Morshead, |
| Prometheus Bound, the sublimest of | | | Swanwick, |
| the sublime. Be sure to reach and | | | Milman, and |
| grasp the grand picture of the | | | Browning have |
| human race and its troubles which | | | translated |
| underlies this most magnificent | | | AEschylus. The |
| poem | d. | R.D.C.G. | first two are |
| Agamemnon, the grandest tragedy | | | the best. |
| in the world | m. | R.D.G. | Flaxman's |
| | | | designs add |
| | | | much. |
| | | | |
| 5. DANTE. | | | |
| | | | |
| Divine Comedy. Read Farrar's little | | | Translated by |
| Life of Dante (John Alden, | | | Longfellow, |
| N. Y.), and then take the Comedy | | | Carey, John |
| and read the thirty-third canto, | | | Carlyle, |
| the portions relating to the | | | Butler, and |
| Hells of Incontinence and of | | | Dean Church. |
| Fraud, thepicture of Satan, and | | | |
| the whole of the Purgatorio | d. | R.D.G. | |
| | | | |
| 6. SPENSER. | | | |
| | | | |
| Faerie Queen, noting specially the | | | |
| first book and the book of | | | |
| Britomart, endeavoring to grasp | | | |
| and apply to your own life the | | | |
| truths that underlie the rich and | | | |
| beautiful imagery | d. | R.D.G. | Spenser's |
| Hymn in Honor of his own Wedding | d. | R.D.G. | Poems. The |
| Fable of the Oak and the Briar, in | | | Calendar is |
| Shepherd's Calendar, February | m. | R. | published |
| | | | separately. |
| | | | |
| 7. SCOTT. | | | |
| | | | |
| Lady of the Lake | e. | R. | Scott's Poems,|
| Marmion | e. | R. | or separate. |
+-------------------------------------+-----+----------+---------------+
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's note: Numbers 8 and 9 are missing in the |
| original. |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
GROUP II.--_Short Poetical Selections._