or sustained not by the literary quality
of a book, but by some element of
brightness or novelty, or by the charm
of narrative. Reading which finds its
reward in these things is entirely legi-
timate, but it is not the kind of read-
ing which secures culture. It adds
largely to one's stock of information,
and it refreshes the mind by intro-
ducing new objects of interest; but it
does not minister directly to the re-
fining and maturing of the nature.
The same book may be read in en-
tirely different ways and with entirely
different results. One may, for in-
stance, read Shakespeare's historical
plays simply for the story element
which runs through them, and for
the interest which the skilful use of
that element excites; and in such a
reading there will be distinct gain for
the reader. This is the way in which

[[65]]

p064 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p065w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p066

v?