Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-22

another opportunity of offering few remarks
IN behalf Of those who read novels.
Well, I'll give you over to Mr. IL entireiy'
and let him deal with you as he thinks proper
| wish he may be ableto convince you that you
ought to burn every novel yon own. Ii. me
have YOUR pencil (After writing short note,
.be handed il 10 me.) There-if you answer
Mr.. 81" be sure TO communicate this TO him.-
ought. in Justice, 10 let it be known now muen
feel indebted to him fol ais timely ana Poli'e
interference.
Agreeably to this request, az" will here ind
the note which was addressed to him oy Inc
lady:-
"Mr. L has my thanks for stepping up SO
"courteously, and gallanlly rescuing me rom
",he ,Ceighfy arguments with which was sur
"rounded by"C." If he will proceed ana ut-
fsterly demolish those arguments, and turn my
friend from the "evii Of his ways" he shall re-
ceiye more thanks from CHARLOTTE. -
And now, the lady having left us, let us pro-
coed to examine this matter a little more at
large. 1t must be recoected that | am no aa'
yocate Of indiscriminate novel reading. ih's
was mentioned in the beginning. On Inc coh-
trary, object TO many of the romances which
fill the shelves OF our Libraries The standard
novels are the ones, and the only ones which
contend should be read. And that they should
be read, argues
LIST. Because they tend to inculcate vlrtuons
habits, and a love for virtuous feelings. This
idea, know, appears strange to some; never
theless, il examined, il will be found correct
81" thinks my alusion to religious novels un-
fortunate, and asks If then tendency be to corr
rect and improve human nature. what shall we
think of novels Of exactly contrary character
The fact is, there is no novel. (none at least oil
those 10 which reference is now made,) which
does not contain moral. In all, vice is expos
I'd in its horrid deformi,y, virtue arrayed In her
most attractive dress; the bad passions and
principles Of our nature held up 10 scorn and
ridicule, and the amiable- qualities OF the heart
to the admiration Of every one. And shall we
say that works Of this character do not, and are
incapable Of, improving the morals oil mem
IL" cannot lay his hand upon one OF the Wa
verly novels which does no, contain some natu.
raj and affecting picture Of The happiness which
| sooner or later attends yiruous course OF con-
duct, or the misery which follows life spent
in The commission of crime 1t is in vain to
say that our attention is directed only TO the
story, and our sympathy is SO much excited Tor
the hero or heroine Of the tale, that we lose
sight Of every thing else. That very sympathy
makes US pleased with the actions OF those cha"
| raCteTS we lmUlOC Will iSS'"6S
We admire their amiabe and pleasing qualities,
and we resolve 10 initiate them. And so, also,
we learn to hate and detesr those bad qualities
which we find in the uiltains Of novels. We
see how odious they appear and strive to be as
unlike them as possible And il is very natural
that this should be the case We there see HUI
man life in miniature When we read novel,
we seem as il we were listening to the CONVEX
sa,ions and viewing the actions OF beings like
In ~ hat thew
say and do, and are apt 10 be influenced accur1.
ingIy trust it is clear that this influence can
not be exerted to- the de,riment of our morals
because vice is never represented in favorable
point Of view. Much more could be said upon
this part OF The subject, but it is unnecessary.
| The more we reflect upon it, the more we will
| be convinced Of the truth oil what l have as
serted.
I'd Because they make US better acquainted
with "the manners and customs of the people
/ they represent" than history possibly can. 1t
is not in the palaces of kings, nor in the halls
OF mobiles, that we are TO learn the character of
people. The movements of armies, and the
sub,leties of statesmen~will give us but faint
conceptions Of the actual condition OF nation
We must 70 into the shop Of the tradesman,
and into the cottage Of the peasant, TO learn
this. And where shall we look for descrip-
ton Of these shops and cottages and their in
mates but in the pages of our novelists? 81"
acknowledges that nothing can be objected 10
this argument, but adds, that it is single and
,rifiing advantage. lido not consider it to be
so think il is a great Recommendation For
my own part feel pleased and gra'ifed when
/ reflect that the novelist can as easily open the
door Of an inn, and ser medown among Its jol-
ly customers and lei me become acquainted
with all their little secrets, as he can usher me
into the splendid courts aud lofty halls OF Ken
ilworth, there to follow in the train OF Queen
Elzabeth. Resides, it viii be recolected that
this acqpaipxslce with, wha, L may call. the
donaesli6 .eon,ll epf people, is very useful
J, give sisyx Of the laws, &c. which
bind them, sisn 81 their institutions and
other mstteTt h have an intimate cohhex
ion with TIE 30 "a themselves. 81. :
"L"will p<es$isr thai fhave advanced no new
argumcnts-No was Unnecessary that should,
IT can prove all that ssid in my conversation
with the lady TO be corress, il is sufficient For
the present, must stop. Z.
From the Glugov Free Press.
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