not his possessions) from this planet; or until the broker
seizes his belongings, and guide-books, together with other
books, are disposed of in packages by the auctioneer.

In all this we see that guide-books are very important to us,
and that there is little or no fault to be found with them,
since even the worst give some guidance and enable us in
after times mentally to revisit distant places. It may then
be said that there are really no bad guide-books, and that
those that are good in the highest sense are beyond praise. A
reverential sentiment, which is almost religious in character,
connects itself in our minds with the very name of Murray. It
is, however, possible to make an injudicious use of these
books, and by so doing to miss the fine point of many a
pleasure. The very fact that these books are guides to us and
invaluable, and that we readily acquire the habit of taking
them about with us and consulting them at frequent intervals,
comes between us and that rarest and most exquisite enjoyment
to be experienced amidst novel scenes. He that visits a place
new to him for some special object rightly informs himself of
all that the book can tell him. The knowledge may be useful;
pleasure is with him a secondary object. But if pleasure be
the main object, it will only be experienced in the highest
degree by him who goes without book and discovers what old
Fuller called the "observables" for himself. There will
be no mental pictures previously formed; consequently what is
found will not disappoint. When the mind has been permitted
to dwell beforehand on any scene, then, however beautiful or
grand it may be, the element of surprise is wanting and
admiration is weak. The delight has been discounted.