Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-08-18

far deeper interest, are totally neglected.
There is no reason in all this. Novels
arc useful in their place; but well reg
ulated taste will find more fascination 10
the discovery of some truth heretofore
unknown, or more delight in the history
of real life, than in any romance. Be
sides, question much whether such
Inourshnent for the mind does not en-
feeble it. | doubt whether the intellect
that is fed upon fiction has that nerve
which will qualify it for any useful pur-
pose; | doubt whether the Imagination is
not too much enkindled, so that the con-
seouences are exhibited in an increased
sensibility that deranges the system, and
excites the nerves. Too much horror
cannot be expressed against that system
of education, which allows young ladies'
to devote whole nights to the pcrusal of
some ncw novel: or which during the
day keeps them IN an alarming excite
ment and leaves their nerves when re-
tired to bed in so much agitation a to
take away all sleep. In our fashionable
boarding schools, it is too often the prac-
tice with young ladies' to set up a great
I part of many nights in alarming proXlml-
ty to some highly heated FIRE, or to take
some favourite novel to their beds, and
to read il through there. have seen
beautiful and once intellectual gils, whose
minds were wholly disordered by such
practices as these. Reason had deser-
ted its throne, and a sickly sensibility
reigned in its ste ad Domestic life, do
mestic occupations, or historical facts
were too common place for their atten-
ton. They were like the opium eaters,
and could not be wrought upon but by
extraordinary excitement.
\ But there is romance in history -
There is charm mingled with profit
Tell me where there is more intel est
than in the history of Asia, or in the his
tory Of Greece and Rome; or in the his
tory of the Crusaders; or in the settle
ment Of our own country; or in the wars
that have agtated Europe for centuries
past. There is Roman chivalry, patriot
ism-whatevcr you wi>h-of deeper and
more stirring nterestthant the best wrought
tale that ever carried over its front the
stamp of probability. In sciences there
are other motives Of equal interest,"
Every thing is full of interest-the air we
breathe, the earth we trample over, the
food we eat, the construction of our bod
les, the sea about us, and the sky over
our heads. A well regulated taste will
find enough to read and to think ofhere,
without resorting to artificial stories,
| am however not so much puritan
as to condemn all novels, | advise you to
read some e them Among the supera
bundant productions of the press, which
throws one or more novels into the mar
ket every week, il is often very difficult
to make selection. Perhaps the bet
ter course is to take the advice of some
friend whose superior acquaintance with
books gives him the ability to Judge of
their merits. BY adopting such advice
you will save the trouble and expense of
much useless reading; and not incumber
your mind with matter of no earthly use.
And remember here, that it is not the
quantity You read, which is to give you
instruction, but the monuer, a remark
which is more applicable to historical
and scientific works than to novels
Think, think, think, and not be the mere
receptacle of others thoughts, for it is
thought that ennobles the mind, and gives
power to the reader. Yet have none Of
that ostentasion, ana oddity of mind,
which many so ioolisly affect, merely to
distinguish themselves from others, dis
tinctlon which they covert, but which
they are unable to attain by any pre-emi-
nent excellence, and hence their resort
to extraordinary means the common essay
OF an easy soul.