Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-01-14
THE READING or TIE AGE.

/ II is OH glory and boast that we Iivs n 4
coantry where ample means Tor intellectual cill
ivation are attalnable by all Every man is
able, through the medium OF books. &c to gain
. knowledge OF an infinite variety OF Subjects
Books are our principal teachers and the IN
structions derived from them, have a great deal
to do in .ha formation Of our characters. Like
the company we keep they soon assimilate the
mind to themselves and tlat, character receives
! a stamp that is not easily e1iaced As there are
company so there are of books afr u TING spread
before us III the present day. And as it becomes
us to make wise selection OF our associates, dis.
eliminating between the worthy and unworthy,
SO should we in he choice Of books, select the
pure aud eevating, and reject the worthless ant.
dptcstable.
1t is an innate impulse in every rinl 10 &C
Galre, to strive to progress. II is early manifest
ed, impeliing the mind to seek after knowledge.
and may be behed ia. the inqliisi.iyeness and
curiosity Of young children. Ihis impulse Inch
is ever active, will be employee in some way.
and SINCE books aEethe great i.lrror BY which is
reflected all knowledge, ana the principal source
by which ii is obtained, t.,o stern discrimination
III selecting them CAN'T be exercised
There are books s.ld pa,..ls " llieh NAV be
read with lasting bsneft; sln h as will advance
the mind In know ledge; the heart is goodness,
and yield Just and profound delight. But there
are lnhumera1le others III circulation, low in
character Dad pernlcious III tendency : VI ich
can onlv Corrupt the heart and degrade the NOR
ais. Hillch OF the light literature, SO called is
titte to poison and del,se the mind of the rising
r.tneration. Ii abounds in illusions of diseased
i imasinations love sick stories, whimsical, dis
gushing trash, fitted only TO destroy all relish for
useful and manly reading. Yet such literature
is printed and scattered over Our land like the
! Il al 1
Of the whirlwind, for the novel devouring sons
and daughters Of America, while the dstribu-
tors fill their Golfers with the almighty dollar
by the deprivation of immortal nainds
But ior all This we have hopes that better DAYS
are coming. Although there is great quantity
OF reading matter issued in the form Of fashion
able magazines, and other splendid, trashy con-
Germs, yet we have periodicals among us w hcll
| fear are too little read, J that contain pure,
sound and elevated, christian literature works
which should be scattered broadcast over the
land, and be found i'll every cottage however Sc
Guided. as well as in mansions and palaces Of
the rich works fitted TO exert purifying and
ennoblinG influence on all those who read them,
and helpo sustain those great principles and
moral influences OF christianity which lie at the
foundation OF our Republican liberties and free
! Institutions This is the kind of reading which
is destined to effect change jill our literature TO
a oitier and puref kind, and to cheer the hearts
of thousands no have SO long ,nourne,l over the
effects OF the wretci.ed light literature Of the day.
Still there is much to be Done yet.
The vast flood of newspapers and weekly pc.
! riodicals, which constitute the great book Of The
people, is the Chief and grand representative Of
our Republic. Bat how far does this grand mass
threading fall short of that stansard by which
it should be tested Of that pure elevated and en-
nobling character, which it ought to bear But,
says one, how shall this great work OF renova,ino
our literature be accomplished! Who is to take
the first step Let the mass, let the community
let those " no are in the habit of slirntuing
over the last novel, Or some frotay newspaper.
let the reader Of this 'Rsading age" discard ali
reading whatsoever, that h;s no high tendency.
and encourage that which viii exert a pure and
ennobhng influence on the Intellectual and moral
life of society, such as will alllse right principles
On all subjects into the great heart of the com
munity, encourage virtue, enterprise and indus
try, aud support our institutions: civil, religious
and literary. Then, and moi til then, will cur
literature become. the Glory Of this our happy
Republic. A. L. H.