SOLACE OF READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

SOLACE OF READING.

LORD.' BOSEBEBY'S ,-' ADVICE. '" The Earl of Eosebery- visited Glasgow recently, when, besides . fulfilling other engagements, he was present at the Royal Technical College to witness .ceremony of receiving the" new associates. The presentation ceremony lii the Technical College was witnessed by a crowded audience. Lord Rosebeiy,' who "met with an. enthusiastic reception, humorously described himself as an elderly and retired gentleman whose speakings powers appeared to have become, entirely rusted, with disuse. He came there as, Chancellor. of Glasgow University, to' which their college was now affiliated, and consecrate and welcome the affiliation which took place last March. It was one of the best signs of the times that higher education, both technical and in arts' and humanities, which used'to hold severely aloof from it, were now seeking a close union, and they must regard : it as one of the giant .strides which had been mado in university development during tho last; thirty years. It used to be held that a university should be conducted in, the cloister, remote,. if possible,, from a railway; that it should , produce learning and research, and'that- the people should go to the university. The great change' now had been that the universities had come to the people. . ' ' . ' '

As regards your own ..avocations, professions, and handicrafts that you . are going- to pnmie, I will only venture to give you' this piece 'of advice—throw all your energy- arid;, your.. into ..your craft, perfect it, and exalt it by. your devotion.. (Applause.) By doing so'you will infinitely extend your' own talents, arid you will, raise your whole conception ' .of a' life devoted /to;. the > profession which you havo' cliosem It'.! is; only 'by uniting those high ideal? to the .practice' 6£. life that ■ any. success under any- circumstances can be attained.- Just consider'for'a nipme"l-. If J* oo , regard, 'your owp -.vocation as .. a * daily grind, only f meant to grind money out for .your own, support,.it erases to have any good ihfliionce on Vpur life, and as-yofur. connection with it grows .longer a,' certain, repulsion grows - Up, through your not.haying exalted ,it at the-,com-mencement of your career. '. .• * .- ■ *~["■ But even this enthusiasm is-riot.without its danger/ because a complete absorption in" one-' particular avocation tends to sterilise , the mind-if it-is -riot employed in other ways.: Don't you think your'affiliation withi the. university may call tout attention to. sdrae Of the studies Which are pursued' id that university?' For your'own comfort and happiness. T: .would ufgo you to have some literary, solace, oiit'stdi»' , your own. immediate work, ,that may divert and refresh your mind after you! return to it. Of course, languages -multiply - indefinite your usefulness,. If ;■!' might' use i a : coarse expression, they - increase.' your market value. But itVis- not "of- languages .or of market value "that! wish'to say one word 1. want "■ to. . recommend literature 'to vol! as an infinite refreshment; and ? resource* : n the : avocationsjof life. ; • / -> ' •One great example is .worth- i, tbn-.ot p J*?? T V* B A'* W1 " g> v e you the example of Lord Liverpool, who for .fifteen years or thereabouts-was Prime Minister of* this country., -He- was harassed and .Sis was torn.by all sorts of colleagues, ike. many 1 rune .Ministers are apt to,be,- and ; he had & .. v « I 7 arduous time of -if. But, vhat he said, was this, that, 'the only}' secret by which -he, was enabled.to goon through-Vis arduous . .pilgrimage- of .fifteen years - was his practice, regularly, renewed ind never omitted, of reading- half 'an-hour or an hour,- before, he went .toibed.'./.'n jsome i branch . literature jvhbly,. unconnected I with .his, political and administrative - pursuits.. >.-*. '„, .", ; . * j-.tZW.'j- ','.-' _ *>;,. . ' My words -may : not come. home to - iron at-this ;moment',' wJieJi' recreation • may more probably-take, the fa <ery wise form,- toor-of athletic pursuits.' But even in Jthese 1 days 6t-yonth> and-brid: srid hope, when life large- and- easy, comparatively /before you, -it '.would - not be a bad.plan-tpt'ry the', germ; of a little liter* ture, to begin the practice,* even to-a limi- ! ted extent, because,, believe me, the timk> will » coined_ when,- you: Willi become a little short of wind, -wheutyouriegs won't ctrry you' uphill, quite as.swiftly .as 'they'do now; when they will even cease to'feel very vigorous -on ' the flat, < and 5 when ' that unfortunate.period s comefh-ilepend upon it will,come—you will find the * want of 0 ™ 0 resource-in. bf that foot-ball.Which-knows_ you ..no..more. ~ i•*..-. ; An. instance .of . andtfier- Prime ; Minister comes_into my mind; the, famous 'Sir Ro-bert'-Walople,;'iwbo< was,:, Prime* Minister for;two";and twenty years, .longer' than Lord.Liverpool. Well, he - was .compelled to' retirement-by. 'hostile, vote : of" the House :bf''Cbmm<)nßJ and retired'as ah. elderly -man "of past' 'sixty' to-his' counti v place,, and'then -found' himself -utterly wretched; He had : lost entirely th* habit of reading- for-:its, own sake- ..during, his long twenty-two years- of office, f, and 5 he found r himself thrown,! so .'to' speak', 1 , 'on his' beam-'endd,-, without,-occupatioii,-abso-lutely disconsolate, 'able to-look back repiningly to- his past grandeur power, and, *6 .. lost" : all ■ the comforts' that ■Ms wiser successor bad-provided jfbr' ; himself. -