Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-14
THURSDAY. JUNE -, 1897.
ryor the Phenix Gazette.]

& vs. CO.. don', employ your time in more
r,6,,ble manner-Bow can you bear 10 DC
Lin, over books filed with such sfgU as most
2 Of these novels sre?"
co." replied +, "you never catch me WIN the
children Of the Abbey, or any such stuf' as you
;us,ly term il: only read such novels as are
NOW popular These only that are iaith'uloe-
knia,ors OF men and manners, and that are WIFI
ten by men of genius, have place I'D my IL
brary.
yels," said she, "but you Know that nav
s,,ong authority on my side, when say that
,h. "wbo,e race and generation" are perfectly
,,.o,s..-,hat their loss would leave no "aohing
vo;d'in our literature: nav,l gofarlher, they are
not only useless, they are inIuFlous IN 'He'F 'e"
dsncy"
avon have taken up this opinion, lear, be-
fore con have considered the subject in all It's
hearings. don't know that / could convince
vol, 10 the contrary, but am sure that could
mention some things which would remove some
of the objections you have against novel read
ing ,s,,
some reasonable arguments IN favor oil mover
reading" -,
"Why. don't wish 10 support all novels,
said "for believe there i. contained IN some
the yilest trash that could be collected. ldont
refer TO those horrid tales OF "halr breadth
,scapes" and SHOWING accidents by fiooc and
Seld (" and those filed with that whining senti-
mental foolery, which can only please the most
,;eklv and depraved tastes. These, nowadays,
ar, seldom if ever read, aud need not be noticed
The fine productions of lie Sage, Cervantes,
FieIeine. Smollet, Mrs. Radcliffe, Sir Walter
Scott. and our own Cooper, are those 10 which
cur attention should be direc1ed
swell. this is granted; and what have you to
say Cor the "fne productions" as you are pleased
10 call them, of these wrilsrs?'
81 would mention, rs an evidence IN their Ia
YOUR, the great popularity which this species
of ,riting has Obtained. 1t novels had not
something in themselves intrinsicaliy good, theY
never would have been so abundan'.-but you
see wha, fayoriles they are with the puohc.-
Nor have you any right to suppose SO many
p"ople as there are who read novels, 10 De Ia
boring under delusion. You MUS take the
opinion of the majority this question, as well
as upon almost all Others, and this opinion Will,
in the end, b. found TO be correct"
81 have no disposition TO cayil abou, every
thing YOU may advance" said She, smiling
$50 GO on
"To proceed then: An ingenious author can
draw The finest moral from his story; and while
he is pleasing the imagination, and deligh'ing
the fancy, he can be impressing OIL the mind the
greatest adherence Of vice, ana love Tor vir-
tuous actions Indeed so far are such novels as
we have mentioned from propaga'lng vice, that
in MANY instances they have been known to
work great changes in the characters and con-
di,ions ofmeu Many Of those Interesting tracts
which benevolent and pious' christians have
spread throughout The land, are pure lotions,
and, in fact, religious noue,s; vet, the obvious
tendency they have TO correct and improve hn-
man nature, is admitted by every one oil sound
mind. A fine novel-one which shows through
out, shat guilt, though it may attain temporal
splendour, can never confer real happiness; that
the evil consequences of our crimes long sur.
vive their. commission, and, like the ghosts OF
the murdered, forever haunt the steps OF the
malefaotor; and that The paths Of virtue, though
seldom those oil worldly greatness, are always
those Of "pleasan,ness and peace, "-of,en effect
more than the most laboured essays, designed
expressly 10 reform the manners Of the age
The reason is obvious. The human mind de-
light more in amusement than in instruction.
We will read with avidity the productions OF
fancy. & insensibly imbibe opinions and habits
from them; while, at the same time, we will turn
with loa;hing from dry moral dsquisition,
"You have taken up singular idea concern
: ing novels" said the lady. "But let US hear
what more YOU have to say in their favour.
,"When you come 10 reflect on it, perhaps
& YOU will not find il so singular as you now ina
CINE. But another good quality in novels is,
their painting, in striking colors, the manners
and customs Of the people or characters they
represent Holding the mirror up to nature.
and "shewing the very age and body OF The
time, its form aud pressure" l believe tina
from no other source can we derive so COM
plete knowledge Of the Scottish character as
from those Of the Waverly novels whose scenes
are laid in Scotland. From them we Become
acquainted with the beautiful scenery OF the
countryside peculiar traits Of character which
distinguish the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. various de-
gress Of refinement, nay, their very dialect be
comes familiar and pleasing to our ears.-The
minutia Of life, and the little petty every day
concerns which history disdains to notice, but
jwhich, Notwithstanding, give US much usefu:
Information, are SO finely portrayed, that we