I received only one book for Christmas this year. It would be a strange wonder if you knew me. Though, given my reluctance to hand out Christmas lists this year, it makes some sense.
Who gave it to me is interesting. A parishioner of mine whom I respect, and whom I now feel seen by. Books as gifts is my love language. And somehow, in our small, various interactions, he saw into me and knew I would enjoy receiving a book this Christmas.
The book itself is strange too. It was not on any of my wish lists. I had not heard of the book until I opened the gift. Old, thick, and smelly, it promises to have gold writ inside.
The book is titled, The Royal Path of Life: Or, Aims and Aids to Success and Happiness, written by T.L. (Thomas Louis) Haines and L.W. (Levi Walter) Yaggy. I worked to research these authors but found there are few articles about them. Google Search’s AI gave me this blurb for Haines:
T. L. Haines is an author renowned for his contributions to the historical literary genre, particularly in the context of exploring eras long past. His seminal work, ‘The Life in Ancient Times,’ provides a comprehensive overview of the social, political, and cultural landscape of ancient civilizations.
There is more content on the internet for Yaggy, as he was a known mapmaker in the 19th century. Also a businessman, inventor, and who authored several books, including at least two with Haines; another being Museum of Antiquity: A Description of Ancient Life (1880).
The Royal Path of Life was published in 1876 and remained a best seller for nearly three decades, selling 800,000 copies, “a number roughly equivalent, during Yaggy’s time, to the populations of Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans combined.”
The premise of the book is that there is a “royal path” of success and happiness in life. Such a path has been the subject of a great many philosophers and poets for centuries. This book looks to combine the thoughts and writings of these great thinkers of history and present it in “a novel and fascinating form.”
All the wisdom of the ages for various subjects is presented in 114 chapters, one for each subject, ranging from Life to Death, and all that is in between. The purpose: “to awaken the slumbering genius within the youth” and encourage them to walk in the “royal path” of life. The authors urge readers to seek this path to find happiness and success in life.
It is an interesting book; one I think I will enjoy reading casually. I may write about each subject/chapter here, telling of the wisdom and anecdotes I discover along the way.
To give you a feel for the writing, here is the preface quoted in full:
THE subject-matter of this book, Success and Happiness, has been the consideration of every eminent pen, from the days of Solomon to the present. To say any thing strictly new would be impossible; nor would we presume that our knowledge and experience would be as valuable as the maxims of the wise and the sublime truths which have become a part of the standard literature. The best, therefore, that any one can expect to do is to recombine the experience of the past, and compile such thoughts and extracts as have chimed in with the testimony of earnest and aspiring minds, and offer them in a novel and fascinating form. In the words of the poet:
“We have gathered posies from other men’s flowers,
Nothing but the thread that binds them is ours.”
In life there is a Royal Path. Alas! that so many not being urged to seek life’s prizes, fail to find them. It is hoped that this book shall be a counselor to those who have become indifferent to life’s purposes; a comfort to those who have long traveled on this Royal Path: and if it shall serve to awaken the slumbering genius within the youth, stimulate and impel them to noble thoughts and actions, and lead them on to honor, success and happiness, the authors will consider themselves amply repaid for their labor.
What is the most interesting book you received for Christmas?
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