lations,andletthemswingroundtheretilltheyarerusty,andnotcomedownatalltobotherhonestmenwiththeirpranks.ThenexttimethenovelistringsthebellIwillnotstirthoughthemeeting-houseburndown.“TheSkipoftheTip-Toe-Hop,aRomanceoftheMiddleAges,bythecelebratedauthorof‘Tittle-Tol-Tan,’toappearinmonthlypartsagreatrushdon’tallcometogether.”Allthistheyreadwithsaucereyes,anderectandprimitivecuriosity,andwithunweariedgizzard,whosecorrugationsevenyetneednosharpening,justassomelittlefour-year-oldbencherhistwo-centgilt-coverededitionofCinderella,—withoutanyimprovement,thatIcansee,inthepronunciation,oraccent,oremphasis,oranymoreskillinextractingorinsertingthemoral.Theresultisdulnessofsight,astagnationofthevitalcirculations,andageneraldeliquiumandsloughingoffofalltheintellectualfaculties.Thissortofgingerbreadisbakeddailyandmoresedulouslythanpurewheatorrye-and-Indianinalmosteveryoven,andfindsasurermarket.
Thebestbooksarenotreadevenbythosewhoarecalledgoodreaders.WhatdoesourConcordcultureamountto?Thereisinthistown,withaveryfewexceptions,notasteforthebestorforverygoodbookseveninEnglishliterature,whosewordsallcanreadandspell.Eventhecollege-bredandsocalledliberallyeducatedmenhereandelsewherehavereallylittleornoacquaintancewiththeEnglishclassicsandasfortherecordedwisdomofmankind,theancientclassicsandBibles,whichareaccessibletoallwhowillknowofthem,therearethefeeblesteffortsanywheremadetobecomeacquaintedwiththem.Iknowawoodchopper,ofmiddleage,whotakesaFrenchpaper,notfornewsashesays,forheisabovethat,butto“keephimselfinpractice,”hebeingaCanadianbybirthandwhenIaskhimwhatheconsidersthebestthinghecandointhisworld,hesays,besidethis,tokeepupandaddtohisEnglish.Thisisaboutasmuchasthecollegebredgenerallydooraspiretodo,andtheytakeanEnglishpaperforthepurpose.OnewhohasjustcomefromreadingperhapsoneofthebestEnglishbookswillfindhowmanywithwhomhecanconverseaboutit?OrsupposehecomesfromreadingaGreekorLatinclassicintheoriginal,whosepraisesarefam