The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 3, 1864.

with plans and proposals, but nothing is more
arduous than to say in what manner the errors may
be rectified, In every sense of the word, such a
society as this mast be an advantage, and it is
earnestly to be trusted that Lord STANLEY'S earnest
and eloquent speech may not be unproductive of
results, both immediate and perspective, not only
in gaining the means of assistance now, but in
serving to convince some cc ho doubt, and confitm
those who waver, as to the propriety of
affording help to the establishment and sup-
port of this and of kindred institutions. As
Lord STANLEY observed, there is nothing so
expensive as poverty or that succeeds like success,
and there is plenty of room for exertion of all kinds
to conduce to the well-being of this establishment.
" And," emphatically concluded the noble lord,
" although this is but a small matter, I confidently
believe that in this, as in every other matter,
Manchester will not forfeit but increase the great
name for liberality that she has obtained during
the two years of the cotton famine."

The address of the Archbishop of YORK, at the
Huddersfield soiree the other evening, was not
without interest, and the he made on the
literature of the day contained a good deal of truth.
Generally speaking, the heads of institutes and
public libraries are far too severe in their strictures
on works of imagination. They are too rigid in
their exclusion of all that dots not directly tend to
positive instruction ; and the consequence is, that
while those who have a taste for science, history,
or other branches of study, are glad to avail
themselves of the works put within their reach, the
far larger and more mixed class of general readers
turn in disgust from the to them dry
and unattractive shelves. This is surely
a great mistake if these establishments
are intended for public use and profit, and not only
for the good of a very limited number. There is
no denying the evident truth that by far the largest
proportion of readers in every class prefer what is
styled light literature, reviews, magazines, and
works of fiction to solid treatises or learned disqui•
sitions. Surely it is batter, then, to meet the general
want with a liberal supply of good material,
rather than, by refusing to provide what is most
wanted, drive the readers to the extravagant
trash which is always within the reach of those
who have a penny or two to spare. If MIIDIE
introduced as sparing a supply of fiction into his
extensive shelves, we suspect his operations
would very soon be considerably curtailed ;
and it has undoubtedly been the mistake
of many conscientious well-wishers of the poorer
classes, instead of really catering for their wants,
and substituting good for bad of the same material,
to try to force them to live ap to strict theories and
to put inclination and habit altogether in the
shade. We suspect if these libraries and institutes
were made more attractive, we should hear fewer
complaints of thin attendance and diminishing
numbers, and it would be well if those who really
wish to cultivate the taste and raise the intelligence
of our masses would begin with the small end of the
wedge instead of the large one. Nevertheless, the
Archbishop's remarks un the evil tendencies of that
extravagant" sensational" literature which is now so
fashionable are perfectly just, and it is by employing
these wholesome and interesting works with
which our literature is so abundantly supplied, to
neutralise their attractions, that we shall best suc-
ceed in counteracting these evil influences, and
not in running altogether counter to one of the
great wants of civilized man—the gratification of
the imaginative faculties.

The National Polish Government.