The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-28
From The Christian Examiner.
NOVEL READING.

In complaining of the reading of the day,
as, to a great extent, novel-reading, we do
not intend to speak disrespectfuily of thai
great department of fictitious writing,
which, of late years, is so abundantly sup
plying the public demand. 1t is the vehicle
of much pure morality and of much exalted
and refined sentiment, though it is some
times (yet how much less frequently than
in former days p perverted to other purpss-
es. II is the field which modern genius
has chosen for many of its most splendid
efforts; and fair honors have been won in
it, by competitors of our own country.
Nor do we object to the pe,r1sal Of these
writings, in its proper place and measure.
Those who do, may be reminded that al
most the entire mass of poetry is fictitious
writing; that "The Pilgrims Progress" is
nothing but novel; that the very parallels
of Holy Writ are relations, not of real
events, but of circumstances, imagined and
arbitrarily adopted to convey moral truth.
1t is not the fictitious character of any COM
position then,th is to set upon it the mark
of exclusion; but the moral character, or
the effect upon the mind, must be the test.
On these points, it will be easily seen, we
are sufficiently disposed to be strict but to
prescribe whole class of writings, for the
faults of some, or the faulty manner of read
ing others, is the part neither Of sense nor
of piety.
Neither do we object to the reasonable
desire or pursuit of mere entertainment in
reading. Let that be an object as far as it
deserves to he, and as far as circumstances
warrant. There are times of languor or
WEAKNESS either of the body or of the mind
or of both, when there is scarcely ability
for any thing but to be entertained. There
are times when the mind must resign itself
to amusement, or to stupor and sleep. Read
ing is then to be regarded as a recreation,
and to be INDUCED in for the same purpos-
es, and under the sane regulations, as any
other recreation.
But the principle which we contend for,
having made these qualifications, is this;
that reading, as general pursuit, should
have some object beyond mere recreation.
beyond mere entertainment; that it should
| have, for its distinct and lie aiding object, the
improvement of the mind. To become wi
ser and more intelligent beings; 20 know
more and more of all that our creator has
| given us the power to know, OF nature, of
the mind, of the eternal principles of truth
and virtue to add continually to the stock
ofiust and valuable ideas, and to the power
/ of just reasoning upon them; to cultivate
! all our facultleS, throughout the Wnole OF
| life, as if it were school to fit US for no
bier action and higher advancement in
some loftier sphere,-this should be the OBJ
| ject. And to accomplish this, there should
be a settled and serious design, we believe.
| if not definite plan. A definite plan, in
deed, course of studies for this purpose.
is what many have an ability and opportu-
nifty to mark out and pursue. But ali nav
entertain a settled design of this nature,
which would prevent them from giving up
their minds to waste, or Incidence, or mere
amusement"
PRIDE. Diogenes being at Olympia, saw
at that celebrated festival some young men Of
Rhodes, arrayed most magnifcently. Smiling
he exclaimed, "Ths is PRIDE" Afterwards
meeting some Laeedemonians in a mean and
sordid dress, he said, and this also is pride"
EeGs. The surest mode Of irving an egg i,
to apply tho tip Of the tongue TO tho blunt end
If il feels warm: and the acute end cold, it is
| proof tina, no fermentation has yet taken place
AT party in New York, one Pear. street cler
inquired Of another il his master had failes
ono, not exactly" said the other, who sporte
the exquisite, he has only met with mercsr
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