The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-05-16
Iron Tag nARs RssEa.
Novels nnd Novel, Reading.
Mo- -

TO see, TINT, you have recently directed
the attention OF your renders 10 The psri,i.
cions influence of novel feadifig. This,
every journalist, who consnlts the brs,
interests of the community, should do;
sfo.it Is greatly within tile power Of the
dali aud weekly press to o8connteract, If
they cannot wholly check ], or control, tho
evils, of which, This species of literature
Us so fruitful d source We cannot be-
true 10 the3weli fire ofthe rising generation
especial llys and look without some mis-.
giyings upon The present nnprece edeDted,
triulliplication of chenp and attractive
books. they swarm nverStte land ike.
the locusts of Egypt. Nothing like ithas
occurred since The invention 81. aprinling;3
md though we may readily admit, that,
much useful and profitable reading is
furnished in Ibis cheap form; yet, il. is q
lamentable 8fnct, that, the channels by.
which the multitude ot'rcaders are rencii-s
ed, are oyerfiowing with profanenass,
ribaldry, licentiouSness, personal brnwls,
and incentives 10 all sfnunner of evil
This is not q morbid view OF tho existing
state of things, and lie who supposes thai
IT is, is ignorant Of the Utmost countless
works of fiction which, at the present day,
constitute the burden Of the press and the
mails. ales of hunor, or extreme
caricatnrcs of individuals, of society, or
of current customs and Impressions
meet us every where, md are found in
the hands Of all classes; fol though, for
mcrly, such works were comparatively:
rare, and Hwere luxuries for the luxuri.
ons," they. are now prepared for the mass,
and published in numbers aud cheapness
suited 10 the demands and wants of the
mass. For shilling tho poor may
know and sympalhise with as much Of the
romantic yillainy of London, The refined
md elegnnt del,auchery of Paris, ss in
former times the rich for his guinea
Pollution is cheapcned, corruption has q
wide circulation ut small expense;
on the centre--table of the city drawing
room, on The rough.hewn boards Of The
log.cabin, these books have their positions
every where through our country they
scatter morul decay" .s
The multiplicity, then, Of these works
should excite attention, and awaken soli-
citude to, cur,ail, if we cannot entirely
arrest, their circulation. But there are
other considerations still more alarming
One is, that, The appetite far fcLion cravcs
no morally: nay, al the present day, il
does not even require the decent veil and
semblance oft which was want to be
Gust over these productions, even ffiy
years since. However erroneous and
dangerous The sentiments. unchasie the
associations, and pollu,ing The limoges;
they present, they arc sreedily read by
all classcs-read, as las been truly re-
marked, s'to The Obstruction of ell moral
feeling, to the utter overthrow Of all prin.
ciples, TO the excitement OF all evil pas.
sionS. n
Another consideration Of an alarming
nature, is, the class Of persons upon whom,
this evil influence is principally poured
out--the YOUNG. This influence is felt
by persons of the most cultivated mind
and fixed principles; for il is not, We be.
lieye, in tho power Of the most improved
and strongest intellect, 10 preventive in.
iiuence OF reading upon the hear, and
life. a mere youthfuImin,l, then, whose
Judgment has scarcely tiawned, whose
principles are as yet unsettled, and whose
moral nature is liable to almost any i'm.
preston, must be awtuIly exposed to tho
pernicious influence Of norel reudinp.
.Y"i. Ementable TO state, these are the
very persons that compose The mass off
such readers, over Tie whole country
mere youth, just starting into life with
their feelings ardent, their imnginations
warm, their hopes lively! They gloal
over the pages Of Bulwer and lcar., 10;
admire his heroes who arc thieves and
swindlers; heroines who nre prostitutes
in sentiment and feelings. They svpa
thize with the bandits and street robbers
of Sue, the buffoonery and black guardism
of Dumas. Such is the awfully wretch.
ed influence which novels are dnily exert.
ing on tho minds of,honsands of youth, and
others in our country. Well, indeed.
have such books been called "the seeds
of robbery, arson piracy and assassina.
tion." They give false views Of life and
taint with every touch.
We close for the present, our remarks
on this deeply interesting topic.
The MoHAMMEpAN COMMANDMENTS.
There are six commandments in the
Mohanmedan religion, viz: 1. There is
no deity but God. 2. There is no Proph.
ct but Mohammed-hc is Gods Apostle.
8. 10 fast during Ramadan every day.
4. Topray and practice ablulions five
times day. S. Toapply two and half
per cent. of,heir properly 10 tho poor. 6.
70 make pilgrimmage ioMccca and
Mount Ararat. This religion is 50 gencr-