The readers who do not know the Concord philosopher Emerson, and the great names of antiquity, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Plato, have yet great pleasures to come.
Aside from reading fiction, books of travel are of the best for mental diversion; then there are Nature Studies, and Science and Poetry,—all affording wholesome recreation, all of an uplifting character, and some of them opening up study specialties of the highest order, as in the great range of books classified as Natural Science.
The reading and study of poetry is much like the interest one takes in the beauties of natural scenery. Much of the best poetry is indeed a poetic interpretation of nature. Whittier and Longfellow and Bryant lead their readers to look on nature with new eyes, as Ruskin opened the eyes of Henry Ward Beecher.
A great deal of the best prose is in style and sentiment of a true poetic character, lacking only the metrical form. To become familiar with Tennyson and Shakespeare, and the brilliant catalogue of British poets is in itself a liberal education. Rolfe's Shakespeare is in handy volumes, and so edited as to be of most service. Palgrave's "Golden Treasury" of the best songs and lyrical poems in the English language was edited with the advice and collaboration of Tennyson. His "Children's Treasury" of lyrical poetry is most attractive. Emerson's Parnassus, and Whittier's "Three Centuries of Song" are excellent collections of the most famous poems of the ages.
Of Books of Travel, here are a dozen titles, where one might easily name twelve hundred:—
Edmondo de Amicis,—"Holland and Its People," and his "Constantinople."
Frank T. Bullen's "Cruise of the Cachelot Round the World After Sperm Wales."
J. M. Hoppin's "Old England."
Clifton Johnson, "Among English Hedgerows."
W. D. Howell's "Venetian Life"; "Italian Journeys."