Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-07
VOL. x. NO. 81

ERNEST Malttavers,o Bulwer's las,
work, is more coarsely and vrlgariy i'm.
moral than any Of its predecessors. The
thin veil of decency which the author has
previously worn is here thrown aside, and
RIGHTEOUSNESS, so gross as TO put even con.
6rmed novel readers 10 the blush, stains
almost every page. We are certain that
no one can read that book without being
either unutterablv Disguised or lamentably
corrupted. A lady of our acquaintance,
in an interview with poor falien female,
asked her how she, and others of her
class contrived to get rid of their time.
She replied, 1--WE lead all The new nov
els, especially BuIwer's, which we like
better than any others" And weIi they
may. Truth, which is their greatest en-
envy, is banished from these seductive and
polluting pages, in which every thiGgis
calculated 10 soothe troubled conscience,
and make them teelthat they are no worse
than others.
We appeal to every youthful reader Of
the Advocate, whether this fact does not
speak volumes, in relation to the nature
and tendency Of novel reading? Canlhe
innocent and vrtuous love the same kind
Of books with the profigate and abandou-
ed Can works which serve as an OPT
ate TO the guilty conscience Of the one, be
profitable, or even safe, for the other? l.
cannot be. A fountain does not send forth
at the same place sweet and bitter waters.
Such novels ought to be abandoned 10 the
class for whom they seem 10 be expressly
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certainly augment if scattered through
he community.
l. may be said, that as all novels are
not alike injurious, some among them
may be safely read. But why resort to
this kind Of reading at all? There is
sure y sufficient variety in the existing
scenes Of creation and providence to graf
ify a rational mind, without having re-
course to fiction. 1t is, in effect, casting
reflection on the plans and conduct Of
the Creator. to affirm that it is necessary,
for the entertainment Of the human mind,
TO resort to the wild vagaries of an unbri-
died imagination. 1t implies, that in the
scenes Of nature which surround Us, and
in the administration Of his moral gov
eminent among men, God has not pro-
duced sufficient variety of interesting
objects for the contemplation, instruction,
and amusement Of the human race and
that the system Of the moral and phys
ical world must be changed, and blended
with the creations Of human folly, before
it is rendered fit to crafty the diseased g.
fastidious tastes Of mankind. But is this
true! If we look to the heavens above
r u.s. or the earth beneath our feet-if we
explore the wonders Of air, earth, and
sky-if we investigate the structure and
economy Of animal and vegetable life
or, if we contemplate the present eondi.
ton Of civilized and savage nations, and
the moral scenery Of the world, shall we
not find enough to engage our attention,
and occupy the short period of time we
can call our own? Works of biography,
{ of voyages and travels, of natural histo-
~, or Of profane and ecclesiastical histo.
ry, present a rich variety of amusing and
useful reading. which NAV safely be nlac-
ed in the hands of ALL From these sour
ces We can learn something of the attri-
> butes Of God, and the moral and physical
state Of mankind. But it is evident to all,
that no distinct moral instruction can fair
Iy be deduced from events which never
> did and never can take place. And when
we consider the injurious effects Of novel
reading, we think every philan.hropist
, must be willing to throw the weight Of
his influence into the scale against them,
remembering that for all these things, eur
; reading as we'll as speaking and acting,
!, God will bring US into judgment