Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-19
PRINTED AhO PUBLISHED,
DAILY,
TUESDAY. JUNE :e. 1927,
For the Phenix Gazette.

lbltSSTS. [uNW0
your paper, permit ne to call the attention OF
1o,el readers TO few remarks | shall make in
relation TO what they deem the most proffa6ie
wav of spending their time
The imagination is an abundant source Of
enioymen, 10 ali mankind; so that Whatever
nleases the imagination, peases the man. It's
for this reason that novels, romances, and all
productions of the imagination, fail not 10 be
generally popular But TO go farther than this,
and assert that the perusal OF productions OF
the imagination is highly favorable 10 the mo-
raj and Intellectual interests of the man, is out
s;rippine the boundaries of truth and reason
For example, here is Il novel reader-he pre-
fsrs novti to any other book and it is natural
tina, he should do so. especially if he happens
10 have lively imagination. But when he en-
dra,ors 10 make il appear that he reads novels
from principIe, he goes much too far. Truth IS
the raiur, f,od Of The human mind, and what
ever is fictitious invariably tends 10 vllate me
TASTE and corrupt the mind.
It cannot be denied that novel is a most un-
suitable book 10 be pu, into the hands Of chill
dren: habit of novel reading would forever in
capacia,e Them for relishing more useful or
substantial reading; and it will be readily ad
mirted, tha, nothing would BE- so injurious 10
are so difficult to be restrained, and reason holds
so httle sway In manhood, the hustle and Sc
rious business Of active life will no, permit the
dis racuon of mind which novel re aiding would
no, fail to create: and novel reading for old age
is entirely out of the que,tion;-od age, as we
all know, is the last short hour OF a snort LIE,
given to prepare for an eternal world.
Caius was my friend. II, was Young man
of he mos, brilliant talents saw him week
or two before he had graduated at the universi-
,y, and at that time, (strange as it may ,eem) he
had never ope ned novel in his life. Unfor,u-
na,,lv, he possessed a warm and vivid imagi
nation; and on. day, having taken up Wa
verly novel to pass away an idle hour, after
reading few pages, he was in rapturrs; and
ever since that unfortunate hour to the present
time, period OF five years, he has MOI opened
scarcely any book but a novel. To him philo-
sophy and the belles-lslues are now insipid,
and logic and n athematics not to be Ell.
dured And thus have talents which might
have done honor to himself and his country,
been irreparably lost and ruined.
In late number Of your paper, Messrs. Edi-
tors, observed an article signed &C." 1T was
a dialogue on novel reading, and superior in
every respect exec IT argument; and taken IN that
point of view, il is obnoxious 10 many just
structures. l shall, however, conhne my re-
marks 10 few of the most obvious and strik
ing defects
In the frs: place, the lady has share in the
argument. To illustrate this, the following is
a summary Of all ,ha, is said by the lady in the
course Of the conversations: She asserts that "no-
wells are filed with siuG--are useless and inju-
rious--,hat she should be glad to hear some
reasonable arguments in favor Of novel reading
that she had no disposition 70 ca'il about any
thing advanced, and that persons have become
so fond of novels, as to neglect more subs,an-
,ial and useful reading" 1t is certainly very I'M
fair that but one argument pro, should be intro
duc,d to batter down more than column of
strong and forcibls reasoning con. The writer
should have remembered that while there may
b. much in favor, there may be more against.
Recollect that the lady is not suffered 10 prov {
a single one Of her assertions.
&c" seems to think that popularity is always
the true criterion of excellence. 1t may be in
many. cases, blu, "uhere are ex options 10 all
rules As has been remarked above, whate.
yer pleases the Imagination fails not 10 please
the man; and this surely, is enough TO accoun,
for the good opinion which the worlt generally
snlertains of all productions of the imagination
1t is also argued BY &C" tina, IAN ingenious
author can draw the finest moral fum his slo.
ry; and while he is pleasing the imagination
and delighting the fancy, he can be impress'ng
on the mind The greatest adherence Of vice
and a love for pirtuous actions" shall leave
il to the reader whether novel reading can in
any measure be justified because san ingeniou.
author can draw the finest moral from his slor, .
The alluson TO "religi,us novels" or tracts
in my opinion, is the most unfortunate he could
have made. He admits "the obvious tendency
they have TO correct and improve human ma
ture" But let me ask, what tendency would
novels Of eractiy contrary character BE- likely to
haves
To "C's" argument, that novels "pains in
striking oolors, the manners and customs Of The
people or characters they represent" nothing
can be objected: but is single and triling ad
vantage. An historical novel may be conpar
ed to a dose of poison, with here and there a
sugar-plun. swimming on the top.
"The proper study Of mankind is man.
To this assent: but 1t appears to be The OPT
MON of &C." thar man is to be studied only in
novels and books Of romance. Where, ask,
does the novels, derive his knowledge Of hui
man nature but from man himseyS And mnst
we depend on the representations of novelist