New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-14
burning Injurious Books.

tits stated as a memorable fact In ancient history
that during great Reformation a, Ephesus, num-
Der of the converts brought together their PERM
cious books and at once burned them, TO the value
of " fdy thousand pieces of silrer" This was trn-
" noble manifestation OF Christian decision; and
we should suppose that all having such books In
their families would, if brought TO proper sense of
their accountability, heartily approve OF this course
and Immediately go and do likewise But there are
protesting Christians, in this enlightened age VINO
can not only indulge their children with pernicious
publications. but even make it their daily business
10 multiply and sell them throughout the community.
In reference such, the most charitable supposi-
ton u.s. that they know not 10hatheydo do. Very pos
sbv in the multitude OF their cares, they never read
themselves the impure works they put into the
hands of others. Their author has, perhaps, acquir
ed Il name in the world his writings are popular;
and why, say they, should we not share in the pro.
ftsl Others will sell such books II we do not
Oar business is TO make money.
Mahy of these works thus widely circulated and
greedily devoured by the young, under The bewtch-
ing name OF n0UelS, though perhaps unsupported,
found. from examination OF their contents, as
we'll as from their obvious effects on those youth
VINO indulge in them, 10 be impregnated with de-
s,ruc,ive mora. poison. Indeed some Of them as
indicated by their title pages, seem specially adapt
ed as text books. for educating g" robbers, " pi-
rates" and proiiciests in nameless mysteries!
evil and threatening rnin the very face of them,
probably their publishers and retailers knou not
uhat then do. In their efforts for accumulation,
thew have not time fairly 10 look over the whole
community, and over coming years; and they
never have once counted the mulrtudes they have
injured or likely TO inure and perhaps ruin,
by the mental and moral poison they thus distribute
They have never entered the thousand aoodes OF
hsh life and low life where their dssi pating cooks
have entered, and where they are silently operating
10 make the idle more indcleai and the vicious more
corrupt.
They saao,c not trhat they do: for they have
conIe plated in their full extent, the bighted hopes
the disap pointed expectations, or the unutterabie
griefs and aDxieties OF parents mourning over sons
or dan ghters ensaved by such delusve and PERM
cious reading. when they might De lnvgorating their
mental powers and preparing for usefulness and
honor.
They knooc not rjsat they do; for they have new.
err heard all the curses Of those parents, returning
With fearful emphasis upon the authors OF their
ch;ldrsus ruin-upon The distributors OF This poison
Much less they have though OF the unnumbered
curses and waiin2s of those lost who bat for
such dissipeing Influences, might low be sharing
in the intercourse Of the most intelligent and useful
or Joining in the harnonies of The blest.
They kn0W not wEat tksy do: for intoxicated
with the love Of gain, 1.-The root of all evil they
are no, really conscious of the hardening influence
OF tnis kind OF traffic on their otrn minds-how il
sears the conscience, wraps the Judgment steels the
heart others good. cherishes The spirit OF cove,
ousness and keeps up shame aud renorse for days
OF sooer reflection and how il may be insensibly Ill
ing them Tor the conpanionship Of those only who
can take pleasure IL others ruin.
They know not tehat hey ia for fattered as
they are by many, commended perhaps for Their
enterprise and encouraged by the already depraved
taste of multitades, they are not aware how exten
siyey the truly wise. honorable and patriotic, re-
gard such traffic as IN Christian gnoble and runous