Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-23

cuse these pnrncious productions, on III.
ground that they convey salutary lessons in
morality and virtue, under the guise and
charm Of fiction. This is but poor ex-
cuse, and yet it IS all that can be offered in
their favor, especially when we reflect.
that from the very Constitution Of our
minds, we cannot be made wiser or better,
from the study Of that which we know 10
be untrue. On the contrary, morality, re
ligion and virtue, to the novel reader, may
all IN time assume the appearance Of fiction.
Connected thus with romance, those who
read, become finally impressed that all are
alike, and renounclng the story as the pro.
duction oil fertile imagination, they regard
the morality inculcated as no better; and
hence we find, with all their sentimental
fits and tragic tears, novel deuourers are the
most hearlless, the most unfeeling to scenes
Of real distress of any people on earth.
They will waste the midnight oil in perusing
tale Of wo, and shed many briny tear as
they read, and yet on the next day, would
perhaps, with Pharisaic indifference, pass
on the other side of an object Of real dis
tress, who implores their charity or asks for
aims. Tell me not of the virtue and NOR
atty taught in novels and romances. Far
better, in my opinion, put into the hands OF
youth, the works Of \ Paine, Votaire, or
Bolingbroke. In these the grossness of the
infdeity is disgusting y manifest. In those.
YOU read and imbibe the poison, while re.
posing on he'd of flowers. Besides nsidl.
ously undermining, our religious and moral
sentiments, these hot beds OF impiety ener-
vate the mind, destroy its powers of appli.
cation and profound thought, making that
wilderness OF lhorns and rankest weeds,
which was designed to be as the garden
of the Lord, bringing forth fruits delicious
and useful. You will then permit me to
urge you to renounce novel reading as the
bane Of happiness, the destroyer of reli-
gious, vrtuous and moral sentiments, and
the promoter of the most fatal evils, tina,
ever belall your sex.
The acquisition of knowledge mus: be
directed by wisdom, and therefore in our
intellectual and moral attainments, we
should ever be guided by the circumstances
in which we are placed, and the sphere OF
life in which we are called to act. There
are many branches OF science, which il Is
proper that some persons pursue, the stud!
of which would be time unemployed by
others. Young ladies do not deem a
knowledge OF Anatomy or jurisprudence
essential to their station IN life, or to the
duties they owe their trends or their coun-
try. Neither should they suppose that all
of what is called polite or fashionable ed
uca'on, is suited to the circumstances, by
which some OF them may be surrounded in
life. Can any one tell me Of what use "A
knowledge OF instrumental music will be
to Young lady, whose situation in lite.
after leaving school, may be such as 10 de.
prive her OF an opportunity to exert her
talents or to improve her acquisitions.
You will not understand me, as decrying
this innocent and pleasing, and in some ca
ses useful attainment. Remember that all
Of you may no, be equally fortunate; some
may move in the humber spheres Of life,
where the cares and tolls by which you
NAV be surrounded, will but lily comport
with the testivity and music Of the fashion,
able world. How would the piano look 10
the rude cabin of the pioneer? How would
it be tolerated among your equals in sta
ton, who have never listened to any music.
but that of nature and OF rural toll? So
far, however, from discouraging proper
attention TO music and other ornamental
branches of science, now say to all,
whose means and opportunities permit,
rest not satisfied until you have also tried
this source of pleasure, until you have felt
its refining, spirit cheering influence. But
you must still permit me to caution young
persons against that excessive vanity,
which in too many instances, induces them
to neglect important and essential branches,
for those which are merely ornamental and
| have no immediate connexion with their
usefulness or happiness in life. do not OBJ
iect to young lady's studying the fashion.
able branches of an education, after she
shall have attended to the more essential
and indispensable parts. But if either the
ornamental or useful sciences are to be omit
ted, by all means dispense with the former
and bestow your time and means upon
those, without which life would indeed be 6
burden and a misfortune to you. would
have you good English scholars at least
before you attempt to thrum on a piano, OIL
take lessons from a French teacher, who il
many cases, while he is teaching his pupils
the Partisan dialect, is setting an example
OF mos, barbarousIy mangling and dslort
ing the Kings English.
l would also further insist on those o
you, who may have an opportunity OF a,
tending this institution only few sessions
TO let French and even music alone, ant
attend more strictly to the elementar!
branches, without knowledge OF whicl
YOU can never be scholars, and with which
by hard study, in subsequent life, you ma.
accomDljsh much in the literary world