PUTTING MONEY INTO BOOKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11642, 27 January 1900, Page 4

PUTTING MONEY INTO BOOKS.

Every intelligent man feels the heed of a fine reference library. It 13 more than a heed; for the attainment of wide information, for keeping abreast.of the events of the day, and for the acquirement of a broad general knowledge, which is so valuable nn asset in intorcourae with one's fellows, a good library is a necessity. John Mol-ley spoke about this at Afbroath not long ligd. '.'lt is from books alone," he said, '" that you ciui have the quickening of the intelligence, the awakening of the drowsy thoughts and slumbering impulses," and he pkpresjoi Ins amazement that people would go oil reading the newspapers day after day without making the interesting things which the newspapers suggest the basis of wider and deeper fending. But very few people possess the books for this wider and deeper reading. The right selection of a really valuable collection of books is one of tho most difficult of tasks. Very few people choose a library on any definite plan. They usually buy their books one at a time in a random fashion— » novel or a history now and then—wit>h the, result that even when they attain to the semblance of a, library it is ill-assorted,, inadequate, and incomplete. It is for a like reason that one finds so many people whose knowledge is co curiously limited; and whose general ideas ?,re either narrow or vague. They have not a source of clear arid instant information, at hand. They go on year nfler year without providing themselves with the best books, and without cultivating the thrifty habit of gathering knowledge day"by day. Par such as' these* not.less liian for the man of broad knowledge, who desires a never-failing source of reference foi every conceivable topic in which he may V. interested,'the " EncyclopretliS Britannlci." ii a veritable boon. Residents of New Zealand now havo an excellent opportunity far aecilririg this work, as will bo learned from the London Times advertisement on page three of -this issue.