Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-11-27


young mind. Balwer, Sue, and Sane
can no, even be pu, on probation with US.
"And now for the second condi,lnn.' .
sis is that such as stand the les
in every respect, shall be read heath
fully; that is, at proper times and seasons
in the daytime, and not when the body
requires sleep; not TO the neg lee, Of your
regular course Of solid reading, or of daily
practical duty with moderation, not like
a dram swallowed a, single draugh'."
"Oh. aunt Deborah. your second rule
is harder than the first. What read q
novel by piecemea ,interpersed with hislc-
ry, moral essays. mendng stockings, &c.
1t is ou, OF the question for me 10 stop for
anything short OF matter Of life and
death, in the midst O! story. The only
way for me is ,ogo through i, with rush,
and done with il.''
! Now YOU touch the kernel Of the ques-
,lon," replied aun, Deborah. By your
own admission, this sort Of reading comes
into practical life as a disturbing influence.
The mind loses for a time lis seIi.coniroi,
! the feelings are diverted from their proper
objects, und, of course. duty is neglected.
Yet the claims upon you remain just the
same. The household, of which the eldest
daughter is SO imporlan, n member, can
not accommodate Itself to your unseason-
able enjoyment. Your mother has, sup
pose. no extra supply Of strength for the
occasion. you Can't magnetic your little
brothers and sisters into a convenien,
state OF. suspended animation ,ha, YOU
may read undisturbed. and nobody suffer
by il. Is ii not true tina: the enjoyment
is, on this account, almost without excep-
ton, an unquiet and feverish one, and fol.
lowed by feeling Of selfreproach -
Amy looked very thoughtful a few min
utes, and then replied, with a sweet ingen,
uousness Of manner !: believe YOU are
right. aunt Deborah. must own this has
been my experience great many times"
And how much worse the case must
be with hundreds and thousands who are
not blessed with the countless influences
which surround you Novel reading
grows with them into an inveterale habit.
no less strong and no less fatal than that
Of the drunkard or opium-eaier. That dis.
order of mind which you experience from
an occasional indulgence, becomes their
habilual state, the only change being 10 a
craving for more frequent and stronger
poiaiions. The moral sense is weakened,
not only by the false sentiments imbibed
from vicious novels. but by the daily neg
lect OF common practical duty for the sake
Of the indulgence. The reasoning powers
suffer a paralysis for want of exercise.
They live, no, in the real world, nor vet
in world of thought, bu, in a land of
dreams-dreams born Of unhealthy fancies
and emotions. And suppose this habit
carried, as it often is, into married life, lis
victim the wife, mother, guardian of the
order and purity OF home'
"And yet" said Amy. after n pause,
" it seems to me that nave gained some
good from novels. Miss Edgwor,h's Hell
en-, for instance. What II picture the case
of Cecilia gives Of the influence of falsekood
on moral characte: ~
81 have no superslilious fear of novels,
nv dear, nor do Judge Of them 'alI in
heap Some Of The fines, fruits Of the
finest minds are found in this field of lite
rature. But the whole number Of those
which should reckon beneficial, or even
safe, for ardent and imaginative young
persons, would hardly supply genuine
novel reader a single month. And even
these should be read not in solitude, but in
the domestic circle, as a social entertain
ment."
" On the whole, then, you think much !
cultivation OF the IMAGINATION and sensi. /
biliiy, undesirable for woman"
81 think. my dear, that every faculty
Of mind and heart which God has given
US, should be cultivated TO the utmost
bu: no one or two at the expense of the
rest. A woman all reason, is only half
fitted for life, for she can not be even use.
|ul in The highest sense, unless she be
Ioreabie also. A woman all fancy and
feeling, will be sure 10 attract, to interest,
70 awaken sentiment, but her reign will
be short, because her character offers no
solid basis of trust and confidence. In the
PRACTICAL duties Of life, in the exercise oil
he kindly Offices and swee, affections o.
nome. the heart and the judgment grow
,ealihiully side by side; that is the best
school Of character"
"But the imagination, aunt Deborah
you seem 10 forget that"
"Ah, my dear, that is full chapter
~ itself. must 60 now and visit poor