Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
235
The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft
·
George Gissing
61
XXII.
Were
one
to
look
at
the
literary
journals
only,
and
thereafter
judge
of
the
time,
it
would
be
easy
to
persuade
oneself
that
civilization
had
indeed
made
great
and
solid
progress,
and
that
the
world
stood
at
a
very
hopeful
stage
of
enlightenment.
Week
after
week,
I
glance
over
these
pages
of
crowded
advertisement;
I
see
a
great
many
publishing-houses
zealously
active
in
putting
forth
every
kind
of
book,
new
and
old;
I
see
names
innumerable
of
workers
in
every
branch
of
literature.
Much
that
is
announced
declares
itself
at
once
of
merely
ephemeral
import,
or
even
of
no
import
at
all;
but
what
masses
of
print
which
invite
the
attention
of
thoughtful
or
studious
folk!
To
the
multitude
is
offered
a
long
succession
of
classic
authors,
in
beautiful
form,
at
a
minimum
cost;
never
were
such
treasures
so
cheaply
and
so
gracefully
set
before
all
who
can
prize
them.
For
the
wealthy,
there
are
volumes
magnificent;
lordly
editions;
works
of
art
whereon
have
been
lavished
care
and
skill
and
expense
incalculable.
Here
is
exhibited
the
learning
of
the
whole
world
and
of
all
the
ages;
be
a
man's
study
what
it
will,
in
these
columns,
at
one
time
or
another
he
shall
find
that
which
appeals
to
him.
Here
are
labours
of
the
erudite,
exercised
on
every
subject
that
falls
within
learning's
scope.
Science
brings
forth
its
newest
discoveries
in
earth
and
heaven;
it
speaks
to
the
philosopher
in
his
solitude,
and
to
the
crowd
in
the
market-place.
Curious
pursuits
of
the
mind
at
leisure
are
represented
in
publications
numberless;
trifles
and
oddities
of
intellectual
savour;
gatherings
from
every
byway
of
human
interest.
For
other
moods
there
are
the
fabulists;
to
tell
truth,
they
commonly
hold
the
place
of
honour
in
these
varied
lists.
Who
shall
count
them?
Who
shall
calculate
their
readers?
Builders
of
verse
are
many;
yet
the
observer
will
note
that
contemporary
poets
have
but
an
inconspicuous
standing
in
this
index
of
the
public
taste.
Travel,
on
the
other
hand,
is
largely
represented;
the
general
appetite
for
information
about
lands
remote
would
appear
to
be
only
less
keen
than
for
the
adventures
of
romance.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
