Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-01-03
LII RE.pINe. or rnn ACE.

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It Is our gloty aud boast that we live IN 4
country where ample nezns far intellectual
cultivation are attaiaable BY alt Every
man islable, through The medium Of books,
&c, tosgain knowledge Of an infinite va.
riety of subjects Books are our principal
teachers and the instructions derived from
them, have . great deal to do in the forma-
tlop Of oar characters Like the company
we keep they soon assimilate the mind to
themselves; And the character receives .
stamp that is not easily effaesd As there
are.diferent kinds Of company, SO there are
Of books, and Of reading, SPREAD before us
atthe present day And as il becomes us to
make ! wise selection Of our associates, dis
terminating between the worthy aud nnwor-
thy SO should we in the choice of books, SO
leet thepure and eleyating, aud reject the
worthless aud detestsbls
si - ~, issnass ita tsavAlsxe mind TO
acquire, to strive to progress II is early
man manifested, iApelllng tae mind to seek after
knowledge, and may be beheld in tie III.
daisitiYeness aud curiosity of young children
Ills Impulse which is ever active, will te
employed In some way aud SINCE books are
the great mirror by which Is reflected all
knowledge, lana the principal source by.
which il is ohtaiaed, too stern discrimination
IL selecting them cannot be exercised
There are books aud papers which may be
read with lasting benefit snch as will ad
vance The miad ip knowledge, the heart in
goodness, and yield just and profound de
light But there are innumerable others ID
circulation, low in character and pernicious
in tendency which can only corrupt the
heart and degrade tho morals Much of the
light literature 20 called, is fitted to poison
and debase the mind of the rising generation.
1t aboundslin illusions of diseased magma
tions love sick stories, whimsical disgust
ing trash, fitted only to destroy all relish for.
useful aud manly reading Yet such 1ltera.
tureis printed and scattered over our land
like the autuuinal leaves of the forest on the
mighty. wings Of the wirlwind, for the novel
devouring sons and daughters Of America.
while the distributors fill their Golfers with
the almighty dollar BY the deprivation Of
Immortal mind 4.
But for all this VIC have hopes that better
days Are coming Although there is great
quantity of reading matter issued In the
form 81 fashionable magazines, and other
splendid, trashy concerns, yet We have peri
odicals among US (which L fear are tso little
,read0 that contain pure, sound, and Gle
waited, christian literature; works which~
should be scattered broadcast over the land
and be found in every cottage, however Sc
Guided, las we'll as in the palaces aud man
slons of the rich; works fitted to exert
purifying and enrolling influence on all
those Who read them, and help sustain those
great principles aud moral influences Of chris
Itianity which lie lat the foundation Of our
Republican Liberties and free institutions.
This is he kinasof reading which is destined
to effect changetsin oar literature to a
loftler and purerkind, and TO cheer the hearts
Of thousands who have SO long mourned over
the effects Of the wretched light literature
of the day
/ Still there is much to be done yet
4 The vast food of newspapers and weekly
periodicals, whitb constitute the great book
Vt the people, is the chief and grand repre-
sentative Of the great National mind Of our
Reppbir But how far does this grand mass
ofreading fall short ofthat standard BY which
it should be tested, Of that pure, elevated and
cnnobhng character which it ought to bear
But, says one, how shall this great work Of
renovating our literature be accomplished
WHO is to take the first step Let the mass
let the community let those who arein the
habit Of skitqming over the laat novel, or
some fTotby newspaper, let the readers of
this Reading age = discard all reading what
soever, that has no high tendency, and en- 4.
courage that which will exert aSpure and
ennobling Influence on the intellectual and
moral lifeof socfety, such as will infuse right
principles on ali Subjects into the great heart
qf the community, encourage virtue, enter
prise, and industry, and support our institu-
lions, civil religious and literary. Then,
and not till them Will our literature become
the Glory of this our happy Republic
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