The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-08-24
THE POWER OF FICTION.
By T. 3. ARTHUR.

By T. 3. ARTHUR.
Than Deacon Prescott more unvieldinc
opponent OF fiction, in all its forms, was no
where to be found. lie denounced all com
posed histories ms lies, and referred the or.
igin Of this particular order Of literature To
the Father Of Lies. II was but rarely that
Deacon Prescott had patience to reason
with any one on the subject. To him the
truth Of his position was SO clear, that be
felt irritatcd when others attempted to sus-
tain an opposite opinion. Knock down
arguments were his weapons in dealing
with the Monster OF Iniqui.y, as no was
pleased 10 call il.
Unfortunately for the peace Of Dca-
con Prcscotl's household, his sons md
daughters by no means agreed with him as
to the siniuness oil fiction. In spite oi his
most watchtul care, novels aud tales were
obtained aud read bv them in secret, with
an nvid,y increased by the fact that the
pleasure was stolen one. Mnry. quiet,
thoughtful. loving, Mary Prescott. who.
from the time her sweet Young mouth could
take kiss from her fathers lips, up to the
period when the bud Of girlsh beauty cA-
banded into tho lovely Young woman, bad
been acknowledged bv the Deacon ms his
most precious gift OF llcnvcn-saving, al
ways, her mothcr-cvcn Mary, in the soil
tudc Of her chamber, long after the house,
hold had retired for tho night, would often
Ioso herself for hours in tho deep spell TINT
lies in Ivanhoc, Waverly. Kcnilworih. md
other master pieces Of fictitious history from
the pen OF gifted novclists. Often, as the
light Of morning came s,calthily in, and
blending with. at length destroy cd the dim
raysofthe feeble lamp. she has started with
surprise 10 find that the nigh was past
aud hiding away the fascinating book, that
had caused her 10 take no note nt time,
throw herself upon the he'd to catch an
hours sleep before joining the family. aud
entering into the regular duties 81 the
dav.
Sometimes Deacon Prescott would dis
cover n stray volume Of romance, and then
came trouble to the guilty one who had da-
rcd introduce the "moraI poison" But il did
not NIL do. Mrs Radcliffe, Scott, Cooper,
and dozens Ut others, were familiar names
among the young members Of the family
Tho evil resulting from Deacon prcscotl's
rigid views and practice on the subject O!
fiction, was that j, ceased 10 he the rational
guide OF his children. Had he wisely dis.
criminated on this subject, he would have
understood that there was wide difference
between mere fictitious history, in which
imaginary characters are TO appear and act
ont their ultimate consequences. md n dc.
libcraic falschood uttered with end IL de-
cciyc. lie would have seen TINT there WINS
power in fiction TINT might be made 10
subserve good ms well ms evil purposes
and instead If nter,lciing light reading.
ms il is called. altogether. have introduced
that which was clcvatng to his children,
aud thus being their guide where one 81
much needed.
But instead oe this, he condemned all as
bad; and the inevitable consequence was.
that his children, unable 10 see TINT he was
right, obtained novels aud romanccs, aud
read them in secret. Two evils were the
result. In the first place, they disohe, ed
their father, aud lost respect for his l,,ig-
ment; and, in the second place, With no
guide to n selection Of books. read the good
aud bad Unfortunately. Nor was per-
version ol taste, so far as bad books were
read the only consequence. Mary. he sI,h
she wns ii n delicate constituiion-.rom
sitting up late ut night, and often in cold
room. 10 devour, rather than read, the ias-
cinating works 81 fiction that she was able
10 obtain from one source or another, was
seriously injured; and her parents remark.
cd, with anxiety her altered appearance,
without in the lcast suspccting the cause
Thus matters went on, until Mary, so
deeply loved by her father, was addressed
BY young man for whom Deacon Pres
colt entertained dislike almost equal Ia
what be Eel, for novels and tales of fiction.
The rigid, Incorporating old Puritan,
the moment he saw what was going on. nc
ted with his usual decision. There was no
temporizing in his policy.
MARY. il that Young man comes here
again, shall request him net 10 repeat
his VISIT said the fa,her. on The oc-
cosion Of Edward Baldwin's first formal
visit to the lovely maiden.
Tears came into the eyes Of Mary, and
n bright flush to her check. Her hend
dropped, aud her bosom hcnved strongly
hut she made no answer, and M soon as il
was respectful to do so, arose aud left her
fathers presence.
Deacon Prescott considered the matter
rs settled. Mary had always been low
ing, ohcdient child, and the thought that
she would 60 directly counter 10 his wishes,
did not once cross his mind. But he erred.
The very fact Of opposition to the young
man caused her to think Of him with more
a