READING ALOUD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 68

READING ALOUD.

AN EDUCATION FOR ALL.

COMPARTMENTS FOR “TALKERS.” LONDON, December 21.

“ The Habit of Reading ” was the subject of an interesting address by the Dean of St. Paul’s at a luncheon of the City Livery Club, an organisation which occupies as sub-tenants part of the Chapter House at St. Paul’s. Dean Inge said , that it had been calculated that in this country 18,000,000 people read, on the average, 12 novels a year. When, however, he went on occasions into Mudie’s, he came away with the impression that some, at least, must read 100 novels a year.— (Laughter.) Some people absorbed what they read; others what they heard. It was often found that those who were accustomed to read were slow in assimilating a lecture, whole those who were accustomed to listen did not read with any pleasure. Some people had the distressing habit of continually talking, and he often wished railway companies, instead of having special compartments for smokers, would label some of them for “talkers.”—(Laughter.) Taking notes was useful, but could be carried too far. A friend of his, an extension lecturer, seeing a very intelligent working man in the front row, offered him pencil and paper in case he should like to take a few notes. The reply of the man was: “ What is my head for ? ” — (Loud laughter.)

Reading, Dean Inge frankly confessed, was the great pleasure of his life. One of the best ways of spending a day was to take a long journey to Scotland, with no changes, a comfortable carriage, and an interesting book. How people could prefer an uncomfortable, cramped motor car where one could not read he could not imagine. By reading a book aloud one could enjoy better its style, and one did not read too rapidly. His mother used to read aloud to her family for hours a day, Shakespeare, history, and all sorts .of books. It was an exceedingly helpful way of educating oneself, and it was a good thing to teach one’s children.