Litchfield enquirer., 1850-04-18
Nprtl Readlng.

fact arises from the wonderful clieapncss cf books anl the extraordinary appetite ot individuals for whatever is sasrtiing or romantic. This species of mentai ex. 1 cltenlcnt Is dtten rcsorted to as an arrec.
 able method of killing time, and general. 1 Y speaking 1t tiatters tie imagination.
 and enables it's deyoteos to fTild their
 airy castles more readily than by the ob. 1 scrEation of the usual occurrences of fife. Thousands on thousands of novels and novelettcs. as they are fashionably term, ed, aTcissaed yearly, ayc almost month y. Generally this class of readers sis 1 among theAyouth of both sexes and all l conditions. Ths grand object of tis to 1 begui!e weary hours by feeding the in
 aglnatlon; such persons not considering
 that other depai tmcnss of tho mind 1 should be cultivated as much as this one. and that Memory and the exercise of our ludment and reason stand first.
 There are various kinds of novels. Js. uaAy they are useless, foolish stories,
 wherein the events arc impossible, tAe
 characters unnatural, and the ideas feg
 and light. But in the vast sea of what
 IS commonly called light reading there arc a few which are considered standard
 works. Scott's historical novels are of
 this class, and it has been said they
 should be read to complete onc's educa-
 tion. This may be considered at least rather doubtful. Possibly they have ] done good; more probably they have at
 times awakened love of novel reading
 of every kind. It may be that at the
 proper age. ani under proper counter.
 acting influences, an occasional historical
 work of fiction may be occasionally irn,>
 dnlged in; but almost always the effect on the mind is bad. Such reading weak ems the mnd--gives 1t wrong notions,
 and wrong views of life. The future
 appears in distorted light, and the pres.
 cnt unpleasant and dreary without the
 unnatural stimulant which it so morbidiy
 craycs. It disqualifes tho mind for the
 sorrows, duties, and pleasures of life. Again. the heart will and must be se- riously affected by it, and sound princi- pies stand ln danger of being oyerthrown by it's influences. The factis, our books arc our companions, and consequently our characters are formed by them and it is highly important that we select such as will tend to make us more wise, vir tuoas, useful and happy. We want common sense. and we will be unlikely to Gnd all novels stocked with it. This is reading ngc.and we should read what will do us good at any agr. A novel of l the lowest grade has more readers than a serious book of great merit. This is l evinced in the Caae of newspapels.- Those flashy and cheap wecklies, filled with tales, prize stories, and half dozen columns devoted to fun, aro eagefly sought for, while sober and sensible paper is often merely glanced at. If we should examine the characters of novel 1 writers. we would generally find them
 unstable and unsound, with some talent perhaps, but with overNown imagira-
 tions, and lacking sound sense and ener> gy of character: Resides all this, much precious tinac is wasted and health ruined by indulging in this fascinating amusc-
 ment--time which, if improved arisht,
 would almost revolutionize society, and
 would certainly benefit individuals an
 hundred fold. We should read what
 will furnish us with our own thinking
 materials. and for the strengthening of
 our judgments and moral principles we
 should read what will benefit ,,s through
 life; we should read what will give us
 happiness of the right kind. We should
 not r ad for excitement, but for the bet
 ter performing of the duties ofiifc. We
 want sound sense, active principles. and right hearts. Novel reading will no; give us these.
 TIE MEDIpAL STUDENT Sr, r,RY.--A ru- nor has been some time in circulation, l.A.. I... Il