The Columbian fountain., 1846-07-17
For the Columbian Fountl
NOVEL READING.

For the Columbian Fountain.
NOVEL READING.
A fondness for light reading is one Of the
most striking characteristics of the present
age. A restless disposition, and dissatisfied
spirit seems TO obtain universally among the
young; especially among those who are in af-
fluence and ease. From the public press, that
great and mighty agent of moral reform, is
continually issued, day by day, every variety
of fiction that the ingenuity Of man can posi-
by invent. And the world seems 10 be food
ed with novels, and novel readers. This is la
menlable trulh-a "trulh far more strange than
all fiction" Imagination is striving to take
the place Of reality; error Of truth; fiction of
fact. Art is manlling the nations Of the world
with an endless variety while philosophy is
promising to redeem thousand hidden truths
to man. The mind is ever busy, save when
wrapt in the soft embrace Of sleep. 1t needs
employment. But why should it seek plea
sure from that g which salis6eth not?" Why
drink in the waters Of falsehood, or attempt TO
satisfy the cravings of its Immortality with
the airy phan,oms Of a fligh,y imagination.
In the entire animal kingdom, man is tie
only being made in the 'simage and likeness Of
God," while the whole animated Creation
bends its sight downward, and is made subser-
Went to the will of man, ht
"He looks aloft, and with uplifted eyes y,
Beholds his own hereditory Skies" !,
And for the purpose of holding communion
with his God, he is endowed with principle
--an emenaton from Deity-an existence
that is co-equal in pefpetuity and duration
with God himself.
That principle is the mind. That immortal
part which must live forever. Oh! the mind
Of man-its powers--its esponsbity-i
destiny 1t may soar on the wings OF con-
temptation, but its imaginative flight must be
heaven ward, in order 10 be proper and holy
Stamped with the impress Of our maker, it
will be worse than vain and fruitless TO expect
the empty things Of earth, to give US real and
abiding satisfaction.
The character Of the avowed novelist would
battle description. He may soar in the regions
Of fancy rise upon lis airy wing and fly o'er
boundless space. He may tread earth's ex-
tended domain he may describe in touching
and lofty strains, terrestrial Paradise; he may
portray as with living pencil, the pleasing
scenery Of this world ;-but though he tint the
landscapes Of earth with the richest hues of
hesven-though he picture with the brightest
glow the pleasures of an earthly Eysium-
though he unravel the most profound and mys-
terious occurrences, in real life TO human ap-
pearance; yet, after all tits not SO. He but
offers cup, the bitterness of which can only
be tested, when the mind is left to its own ST.
lent contemplation. In the dark hour of dis
tress and disappointment, instead OF givipgjoy
and comfort, it will give misery and pain.
If,he young votary Of Fame is seeking the
renown of earth--if he wishes TO stand upon
the pinnacle of this worlds glory, let him en-
rich his intellectual powers with solid treasure;
then may he leave behind him an immortal
name. asss t4i .JE 1-
If the votary of Pleasure, wishes TO be real
ly happy, let him go to the temple OF Truth,
and there at its altar, hallowed by God, pour
forth the homage OF heart sincere.
Young man lay aside the novel. Like the
chilling, and unexpected BLAST of an autumnal
night upon the tender herb, it will exert a
blighting, scathing, whitening infuence-prey-
ing upon the very vitals of morality, uproot-
ing the seeds of virtue. sapping the founda-
tons of religion, and leading the youthful
mind far from the paths of innocence, integri-
ty, and moral rectitude.
PHILANTHRoPos.
july 18th, ls46.