The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-03-09
(For the Cecil VMg)
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
BY A YOU TIL.

b1 a 1'D II.
"Rctre-the world shut out-thy thoughts ca II
home,
Inagination's airy wind rcpress. n-YouNG.
The mental and intellectual powers of
man, may justly be compared 10 naluraI
soil. Take, for instance, a piece of ground
that has never felt the fostering hand Of the
husbandman; 1t bears a short, slunted
growth of heritage, with here and there
the hramble, the thistle and the creeping
wild vine. Contrast with this. spot of
the same soil, where skiIlul industry has
piled her untiring hand; there the tall
rank grass springs up iii maled thickness.
the ripe grain bends beneath its weight
and Flora spreads out her endless variety
of blossom stand forth in rare and
beautiful perfection, the effect of cuitipa-
ton. Even so is it, with mankind.
Lett IN an uncuiilvated state aud deni-
cd the means of intellectual improvement.
The mind is barren waste upon which
the rich and beautiful flowers of genius,
have but a sickly and dwarfish growth.
But under the influence OF judcious train
ing, it puts forth fruits to gladden. the eye,
rejoice the heart, and thrill the soul with
It's strange and fascinating powers.
Having thus demonstrated The practical
blIiy OF improving the mind by cuilva-
IIon, II remains for us to show, what are
the means adapted to this end. They are
many aud various. But without entering
INTO a minute detail OF them we vii! no
tlce as worthy Unmarked attention that Of
Rearing. There is perhaps no means Of
mental Improvement, of So much impor-
lance as that Of reading. By the unquaI-
ihed term reading, we do not mean the
IndScrImnate perusal of every book that
comes INTO our hands. There is first a
proper course Of reading, and secondly a
propcr manner Of rcuding; which 1t is i'm :
porant to learn and necessary to pursue
There is III this day no scarcity Of books;
the world seems to be already flooded with
them anc yet they are daily pouring into
the market. Among so many there are OF
course number that may be called use
less, some that are pernicious, and many
that are valuable and instructive. Itlhen
bchooves The young, to be careful IN the
course of reading they mark out for them.
selves, tor independent of the dangerous
tendency of some books, we should re-
member that we can not, if we woul d
read aU.
Consequently it is important that we
choose such as Te will derive the mos
benehl from. Ii is. TO say The least. diff
cult to lay down any definite rules. by
which to be regulated in a choice of a
course Of reading. Much depends upon
taste and individual Judgment All works
OF science and history are undoubtedly
beneficial and important; but even in these,
we sometimes find doctrines the most
dangerous and perniclous, and against
these we can not be too much guarded
Most works Of biography ale not only
interesting bnt highly instructive, and
tend to stimulate the reader, to initiate the
virtues and arrive at the excellencies tina,
characterized the suhjec: of the work
Some entirely condemn all works of fc-
non as useless and injurious. Take them
as a class and they are so. Bat there are
exceptions and IN a general course of read
ing, moral and well written novel may
be read with good effect. What Is gen..
orally understood, however, by move
reading, is to be avoided. Their inds-
erlmae perusal Is calculated to give falst
co.orng to life. and erroneous views o
human nature - IS a waste of time and /,
lhdLlgcd IN to any extent, will destroy
the taste for more solid aud more ustfl
reading In many too, vice is made ,c
triumph over virtue, and the hero is SC
skIltulIy drawn. that we are alike inter
esled in his vicious adventures and hi.
rIrtnous exploits. Such novels can no
be too severely condemned Poetry il
not to be forgotten, and will not be ne
elected by those Of refined feelings ant
cultivated 'asle. He who has once lelt tn
strange fascinating thrill, inspired by poet