Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-07-20
For the Richmond Palladium
MOVER. BEADING.

NOVEL 0EAOkSCs
Novel reading at the present day, is
more or less practised by large portion
Of our community; yet what areits effects!
Does it make great men, or accomplished
ladies! think not. have heard some
say that novel reading improves the mind.
I would ask hov! Does it enlighten the
understanding! Does it fortify the heart
and enable it to meet undauntedIy the
shafts of misfortune! or does it store and
enrich the mind with that useful knowl-
edge, which is calculated to cheer the
evening Of life, Will it make you esteem
ed and admired by the learned and virtu-
Gus. Will it render you beloved by your
friends and acouaintances, or will il meet
the approving smile of heaven! No, be-
iieve it will have tendency to darken the
understanding, to weaken the heart, and
deaden the finer impulses Of the soul. 1t
fills the inauguration with false ideas of
happiness which are never realised, and
crowds the mind with images of hero's
rescuing a fainting female from some ter
ribie impending danger, or stealing her
away from fond father, through an open
lattice, or Of fairy forms, possessing more
than earthly beauty and super-human ex-
celience, secured in some old castle by
BOLTS and bars to prevent her from running
away with one Of the above named heroes.
Novel reading, believe Is particularly
injurious to young minds. Our early i'm
pressions are certainly the most lasting;
If, then, while in youth our minds are filled
with those wild and fanciful views, derived
from the perusal Of novels, where will be
the room for the high and exhaltcd ideas,
avenue by which those ideas should enter,
and lea7es you wrapt in the mantle of de-
,usive fancy.
To prove the pernicious effects of novel
reading on the minds ofyouth, permit me
here to relate one circumstance which &C.
CURED not many years since. and Of which
Twas myself a witness. During my abode
in the village Of WI was one day
somewhat surprised by the unexpected ar
rival Of young female friend from one OF
the eastern cities. We had been compan-
ions in childhood, and the friendship we
then entertained for each other had re-
NAMED mistaken.
1t was in the spring Of Is, that we
parted in Philadelphia, l in company with
my friends, to seek a home in the far off,
and as ] then thought uncultivated west,
leaving her to mingie in the parade and
sp!endor Of that gay city. Never shall l
forget that hour, although but a child,
felt how strong are the ties that bind US to
our native home. My young friend, with
her parents, had moved to this country, for
the purpose of fixing their abode, in some
Of our western villages; but she was dis
contented, she did not like the rude man.
ners Of uncivilized society ,as she play fully
termed the citizens of the village of w.
With what enthusiasm, and in what glow
ing colors. would she portray the beauties
Of Philadelphia, and then seem to wonde,
how people could enjoy the realities Of a
country life; but said she, have brough,
with me good selection Of novels, which
will afford me good amusement for awhile
at least, and these she failed not to peruse
with eagerness, neglecting for them, the
culture ofboth her mind and heart. Wher
she arrived in our village, she was just al
the interesting age Of sixteen. Nature
had endowed her, with an uncommon share
ofpersOnal beauty, which failed not to at
tract the attention of several young gen
slemen with whom she became acquainted
She very soon, however, selected one with
whom she thought to spend her days in
conjugal felicity and domestic bliss. Hi.
mind we'll stored with love stories and son.
nets, was but the counterpart of her own
and with such Companion she thought he
life would he one uninterrupted dream Of
happiness.
They were married in few months, az
ter their first acquaintance. fain would
here finish the picture, for / loved nv
friend and would v ish to see her happy .bu,
it remains to be told, that they were IN.
happy in their union, and what was the
cause! novel reading, / believe laid the
foundation Of their unhappiness. He find.
that he has not married Amanda Fitzalan
nor Helen Mar. and she finds she has no,
married Lord Mortimer nor Sir William
Wallace. but that both possess those pa.-
sions and failings. which re ever the nro-