CHAPTER VI. Reading for Leisure Hours. YOUNG men, in this country, so often begin their studies under great disadvantages, and without any well qualified person to direct them to the most important objects and the most useful authors, that it is thought a few suggestions, as to the employment of their leisure time, will not be useless. The hours spent in school will, probably, be faithfully occupied with well chosen studies. But even when this is done, the long mornings of summer, and the evenings in winter, rainy days in vacation, and the heavy time between the preparation of a plan of amusement and the execution, offer many a golden hour of leisure, which may be freely given to reading, and which, thus employed, will "sweeten liberty" whenever it comes. The intention of the few observations which I shall make, and which the narrow limits of an appendix will oblige me to make very brief, is to point out sources of information, by means of which the young will be enabled, 1. To avail themselves of the advantages by which they are surrounded in early youth, particularly in the country; 2. to lay a foundation for future reading, and to understand better what they shall read; 3. to form the habit of, and obtain materials for, thought and reflection; 4. to derive the greatest advantage from the opportunities which are offered in the higher seminaries of education and in the world. One of the most delightful and useful means of relaxation from severe study, which can be afforded to a thoughtful person at any age, is found in natural history. This directs the attention to numberless curious objects in the vegetable creation, and in the appearance and habits of animals. The opportunities for observing them are more frequent, and the means often more accessible, in youth, than afterwards. Smellie's Philosophy of Natural History has the effect of opening the eyes of the young to the wonders of the world in which they live, and of showing how many opportunities of receiving instruction and improvement are continually offered them, even in situations the least promising. Very interesting works upon natural history will be found in the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, a work which, on other subjects as well as this, fully deserves the title which has been given it. The operations of nature, on a large scale, are carried on in conformity with the laws of chemistry; and a knowledge of this science renders a great many operations, which are constantly going on, unheeded, before us, intelligible, and, consequently, most interesting and delightful. Such, for instance, are the processes of freezing, combustion and breathing. Before we understand them, they are apt to excite no attention, but to be viewed as matters of course; when once understood, they immediately strike us with their beauty, and always after are viewed with interest. In passing through a thick forest, one is sometimes inclined to think, that the best means are not used for conveying moisture to the roots of trees, as we frequently see earth just at the foot of a tree dry, while every thing is moist at a little distance. The extended branches, while they afford a place of refuge from the storm, to man and the larger animals, seem to turn off to a distance the genial drops which are descending upon them for their nourishment. The truth is, the moisture is admitted to the ground just at the distance at which it is wanted; and this is one instance among thousands, that the provisions of nature are, in reality, wisest, where they seem to be most defective. There is not time, in this place, to add examples; those mentioned are such as are most likely to occur to a person who has read the Conversations on Chemistry, and on Botany, which have been before and are again recommended. We may also add Conversations on Natural Philosophy, which, although superficial, are very clear and satisfactory, as far as they go. But of all the wonderful parts of the Creator's works, none is more so than the human body. This is treated of, with admirable clearness and success, in a work in which, from its title, a young reader would be least likely to look for it-Paley's Natural Theology. From the world without, a young person of inquisitive mind will be often tempted to turn inwards his thoughts, to that which is within his own mind. And, in tracing and cultivating his various faculties, he will receive aid from a little work, called Watts on the Mind, or from Mason on Self-Knowledge. However beautiful and interesting the world around us is, the most beautiful and interesting object in it is man. We are men, and whatever concerns our brethren of the human family is interesting to us. To a young person, what relates to individuals is more attractive than the history of nations; biography, therefore, or the lives of eminent men, is one of the most entertaining, as well as one of the most useful, kinds of reading. Our own country offers two lives for the instruction of the race. The Life of Washington and of Franklin should be familiar to every American, from his earliest years. Among the ancients, there is no life like Washington's. But among them are glorious names, which will excite the young to great purposes and lofty deeds. Many of these have been handed down to us by Plutarch, whose "Lives" should, at some period, be read by every person, and are to none more acceptable than to the young. The Life of Howard is of a higher kind than any of these; so is Southey's Life of John Wesley. The Life of Henry K. White is the life of a poet and a Christian. Irving's Life of Columbus is written by an American, for Americans. Parts of it have all the interest of romance. "Not to History is a study of great and permanent interest. know what was before you were, is to be always a child." It cannot be begun too soon. It can never be exhausted. The beginning of human history, as the foundation of man's hopes, is found in the Bible. Every thorough course of history begins with this sacred volume. The history of our own country, as it is most important, so is it most interesting to us. Robertson's America is the first book to be read upon our history; but it is only in writings which were published after his death, that Dr. Robertson enters upon the history of that portion of the continent which we call our own country. Adams's New England is short, but faithful. Willard's Republic of America recommends itself by the excellent apparatus of maps, by which it is accompanied. Marshall's Life of Washington is a large work, but well worth reading through, and of the highest authority. The first part, upon the early history of America, has been published separately. The histories of particular states are numerous, and some of them excellent. Belknap's History of New Hampshire deserves a high place. Williams's Vermont, and Sullivan's Maine, are interesting to others as well as the citizens of those states. Hutchinson, Minot and Bradford are the historians of Massachusetts. Trumbull is that of Connecticut. Tudor's Letters on the Eastern States will make known much which is desirable to be noticed. His Life of James Otis is one of the best lives that have been written in America. The "Foresters" may be read for the amusement of a leisure hour, and serve to fix in the memory some of the events of history. Flint's Travels and Residence in the Valley of the Mississippi contains much valuable information in regard to that country. His Geography is larger, and still more valuable. History receives an additional charm, when it is made to turn on the fortunes of an individual. Such is the case with Robertson's Charles V.; Aikin's Memoirs of Elizabeth, and of James I.; Scott's Napoleon; Belknap's Biography. It would be going too far, to lay down a course of history for every foreign and ancient nation. English history, as most connected with American, is of the first interest; Grecian and Roman, respectively, show the genius, and the extent of power, of those two nations. Tytler's History, or Worcester's, will point out what portions of the history of the world are most deserving of study, and to what points the reader's attention should be directed. The same end will be accomplished by Whelpley's Compend of History; and one of these, or a similar work, should be repeatedly read, to give a correct idea of the order of the great events of history. The history of Greece, Rome and England may be read in the volumes of Goldsmith. That of England by Sir James Mackintosh is now in a course of publication, and, to judge from what has already appeared, is more valuable than any other short history of that country. Young readers will be attracted by Scott's Tales of a Grandfather. The present state of Europe may be learned from a work called "Europe," and much concerning America from one called "America, by a citizen of the United States." Perkins's Historical Sketches of the United States contain a full and clear history of events from 1815 to 1830. A knowledge of geography is essential to the right understanding of history. Malte-Brun's Geography is a large work, containing a vast deal of information upon all the countries of the world. Hale's Geography has the advantage of being very recent, illustrated by sixty maps, very correct, and cheap. There are many other excellent treatises on geography, too well known to need to be mentioned. Towards accomplishing that most important but difficult object, the writing of themes, much valuable assistance will be found in Newman's Rhetoric. All the books which have been recommended will afford materials, and to these you may add the Adventurer, the Spectator, the Rambler, the Sketch Book, and, in short, any book which presents ripe and pleasant thoughts, agreeably expressed. Any one who wishes for a selection of beautiful passages in poetry, from the best poets in the language, is referred to Cheever's Studies in Poetry. Young readers are apt to be more pleased with Scott's Poems than with any other; and if they begin with the Lady of the Lake, and have any natural taste for poetry, they may easily become lovers of poetry. There may be some among our readers, so young as not to have heard that Shakspeare's plays and Milton's poems are among the best of all poetry. Whatever has been written in this way by Goldsmith, Gray, Wordsworth, Bryant, may be safely read, and will form a true taste. As much may be said for the following writers in proseScott, Johnson, Addison, Burke, Edgeworth, H. More, Franklin-and, indeed, of many others. Most of Miss Edgeworth's writings, beginning with the Parent's Assistant, are particularly suited, and particularly delightful, to the young. Voyages and travels, and books on geography, are a neverfailing source of the best and most rational amusement. In regard to what is safe and what is dangerous reading, no better rule can be given than that which the excellent mother of John Wesley gave, to enable him to judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure :-"Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things—in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind-that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." QUESTIONS ON THE POLITICAL CLASS BOOK. Sections. WHAT knowledge does reason, or the light of nature, impart? 1. 2. What inference does reason draw, as to the Author of crea tion?........ From what authority are mankind made to know, certainly, what reason cannot teach? In what manner do we get knowledge? How does the mind act on impressions made through the senses? . What are the powers of the mind?. What is that faculty which distinguishes man from all other animals?.. By what means are thoughts preserved and transmitted?. 9. 10. Are there differences in the qualities of individuals; and what are the effects of cultivation, or neglect? .11. 12. What is intended to be taught by this volume?.. Has the Creator enabled mankind to learn the laws which govern their individual and social being?. What is the duty implied in the gift of reason? What does reason teach as to social duty?. How do rules of action and customs arise?. What was the first social state of mankind?. How did the division of labor arise; and what is the common measure of the products of labor?.. Whence does money come, and how used?. Whence comes the value of metals, used as money?.... What occasions subdivision of labor, and increase of population and of wealth?.. Whence comes the necessity of laws to govern society? What is one consequence of society, and what is the best condition of society? .25. 26. What have been the most usual forms of government; and what is despotism and tyranny?. .26. 27. What is oligarchy, and how arising?. What was the usual form of government in the middle ages? What is a commonwealth?. |