Weltschmerz - pronounced [?v?lt?m???ts]) mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state. 2: a mood of sentimental sadness. (Merriam Webster online dictionary)

German author Jean Paul first used the term which, according to Wikipedia, denotes the kind of feeling experienced by someone who understands that physical reality can never satisfy the demands of the mind. John Steinbeck wrote about "weltschmerz"  in "The Winter of Our Discontent" and Samuel Hamilton referred to it in "East of Eden," as did Ralph Ellison in his book, "Invisible Man."

Weltschmerz may be an exaggeration, but having been on vacation for a week in what I would call an "ideal state," I now find myself back in the midst of the "actual state of the world."
For four days I put my hands to work with my neighbors.  One day was spent completing tasks that had been left undone for far too long.  And the crown of my "ideal state" was a trip to Winchester, Virginia, to visit my grandchildren, Reagan and Reese.

It was there that I began to realize that I am firmly planted in the ranks of "three out of four."

Eight-year-old Reagan is "fired up" with her Kindle Fire, an e-reader with games, books and all the things that used to clutter up a family's living space, now condensed into a flat, compact state.

Msnbc reports that a survey following the holidays shows that one in four people now own a Tablet or e-reader.
I don't own either of those, therefore that makes me one of the three, out of four, and, as usual, I am somewhat out of step with the rest of the world.

While those around me regale me with tales about the "handiness" of such things, I hold fast to my need to have a book in my lap when I fall asleep. And rather than seeing the percentage of pages read on a Kindle or Nook, I prefer an odd assortment of bookmarks stuffed between the pages to chronicle my progress.

Sitting in my easy chair I am surrounded by colorful book jackets and titles on book spines, much like being in the company of old friends. Some books are neatly shelved, while others are stacked, sometimes haphazardly, on various tables, chests and ottomans.

I am the odd man out when it comes to texting, as well. The need for proper spelling and punctuation would make texting quite an arduous task for me.  I like a good conversation while enjoying a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and I still support the local post office with good old-fashioned letter-writing.

My sporadic visits to Winchester always include a visit to Books-a-Million with my son, Jay.

On our Saturday night jaunt there I was quickly drawn to one particular book, "Believing the Lie," by Elizabeth George.  I read the jacket cover and commented that it looked interesting.  After perusing other areas of the store, I returned, twice more, to that eye-catching book.  In the end I convinced myself that I didn't need another book as I had just received Pete Hamill's "Tabloid City" in Saturday morning's mail.

I left Books-a-Million with nothing more that the new issue of "Book Page."

As I read that publication later that night, lo, and behold, this month's question/answer section with a selected author was about none other than Elizabeth George talking about her new book, "Believing the Lie."

"It's an omen," I said to Jay on Sunday morning.

He hooked me up with a sample of the book on his Kindle, and I had my first experience of reading on the "flat screen."

I could see the benefit of this contraption as, with it, I would be able to read and eat at the same time without using a salt shaker or other device to hold my book open.

Jay and I made a quick trip to COSTCO before my departure on Sunday evening.  As we are of the same mindset, he looked at me and asked, "Shall we look at the books before we go?"
Of course, we did.

"Here's your book," Jay announced.

And sure enough, there it was and priced $12 cheaper.

"It's almost like they're giving it to me," I said.

Into the buggy it went, and I now have a new 608 page "friend" resting on the table by my easy chair, my "ideal state, where physical reality can satisfy the demands of the mind."

With all that said, I do find that I am at home and nearly addicted to the digitized version of "The Pocahontas Times.
It is quite fitting that in the January 25, 1912 edition I found articles about the Reading Circle for the Greenbank District teachers and the Reading Circle for the Little Levels District, which met at Academy.

The story from Greenbank tells of high standards, and the resistance to prodding. In other words, "weltschmerz," the struggle with "physical reality in meeting the demands of the mind."

Reading Circle

"The following is the program for the Greenbank District Teachers' Reading Circle which will convene at Durbin, Saturday, February 3, 1912, at 10 a.m.

How can the teaching of English be correlated with the teaching of other subjects?

The value of stories and conversation in the teaching of English.

Punctuation and its relation to good English.

The value of diagrams in teaching English.

The best method of correcting pupils' mistakes in English.

The value of practical English compared with technical English
The teaching of English in the primary grades.

Composition work and how to teach it.

Select Reading

Which is the more important, a knowledge of good English or a knowledge of arithmetic?

The cause of the inefficiency of the English training in our public schools.

In addition to the above program, Rev. Burr will be present and conduct devotional exercises.  A good organist will be with us also.

As this may be our last meeting for the year, it is hoped that the teachers will all come and take part in the work. Especially are we "weaklings" anxious that some of those unselfish, sagacious teachers from Greenbank and Cass be with us.

In a "write-up" last week, by the newly elected chairman and secretary of the "insurgent" wing of the Reading Circle, it was stated that their reason for electing officers was that the regular elected chairman and secretary failed to "show-up." They also had the peacock audacity to say they believed in the "recall" when officers proved to be "weaklings."  It is true, we were not at the meeting at Greenbank because the regular meeting of the Reading Circle was at Durbin on the same day, and we were there.  We may be hellish, but we are proud of the way we showed it.  We may be "weaklings" but the strange thing about it is that we cannot be led by those strong, broad minded "professional pullers" at Cass and Greenbank."

D. F. Hull, Chairman

Rebecca McKeever, Sec.

Jaynell Graham may be reached by email at jsgra ham@pocahontastimes.com