Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-12-26

we are among those who believe, as a pe-
neral thing, that the reading of novels is pro-
ductlve OF no good results. Inasmuch ne
there is nothing in their favor. the fact that
they tend to consume much time which
might be more proftably employed, should be
fatal to them. Did we live only in the world
created by the novelist, the morals they draw
might be highly beneficial: but we live in a
world where stern reality is fore-er giving
the lie to these nicely drawn morals. and
they must therefore fail of any beneficial eff
fect. There may, however, be exceptions
where the incident of a novel is merely used
by the author as thread on which TO strino
the gems which philosophic mind gathers
by reflection and study Such an exception
IN our opinion, is Eugene Sues s.Mysteries
OF Paris" Although no work has greater
amount of interesting incident than is found
its pages, it has evidently been written for
noblcr purpose than to amuse for the time
the gaping crowd, aid bring its author cor
responding number of pence. Ii is lesson
and profitable lesson if they will study it,
to society at large. Sue compartments cor
rectly, the sources of the vast evils which
aftilct society in the shape of crime, want,
and suffering on the plrt of its individual
members. lie believes that the wisdom, CHI
crgy, and resources ola nation had better be
taxed to do away with the cause of crime,
than only to ferret out and punish it, after it
has been committed. Where an individual
has been guilty of crime, he would have So
clcty weigh the causes which impelcd him
TO crime, and make distinction between the
man who takes loaf for his starving fimly
and he who steals from depravcd and vicious
nature. All of his characters have their mo-
raj, and unlike the moral of most fictions
VIII ch merely tend 10 illustrate abstract prin-
cplcs which we all admit the truth of but
which, as a general thing, we never hope to
realize, the morals in this case are practical
in their character. Every heart may realize
them. We may all be '.Rodolphe's,' to the
extent of our means, and TO lift up and cheer
the degraded, and assist the needy, will bring
happiness TO any one INDUCING in such works.
Whilst by kindness and charity we may spye
and make noble and useful members of So
ciety. characters such as .'Fleur de Marie
and 'Chorlncur," we may by the opposite
course make such as the fierce and unrclen-
ting 'Nlartiais7
Sue, we take it, belongs to the new school
OF Social Reformists who have sprung UP ia
France and extended their influence to other
countries. We doubt not the field he has
chosen to occupy will produce as GOOD fruits
as the stcrner field which the more practical
have entered. But we have not time for
further remark.
We cannot however forbcar here, TO ten
der our thanks to the gentlemanly publisher.
of the New World, for his prompt attention in
furnishing Us with the back numbers; and
those of our friends TO whom we should like
much TO lese Them, we trust will not put us
to the pain of infic,ing so great an injustice
upon SO obliging publisher They can be
had complete of j. Winchester, 30 Ann st.
n. \. for one dollar.