Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-19
G o 40 t,t u uIcattous.
For The Lewistown Gazette
RAYDO TCHES.
BY A RESIDENT OF IDLERsyILLE.
No. III.

No. Ill.
The principal occupation of young peo-
pie who have nothing particular TO do.
seems to be novetreading, at least | should
Judge so from having seen almost every
Young lady within my knowledge with
one on hand at hours that might nave peeh
protitabiy devoted to more useful siuuy.
This indiscriminate reading OF loose works
is undoubtedly one of the evils OF the age,
and in nv opinion requires as much reform
,s profanity, immortality, or lntemperance.
would not 90 so far as TO prescribe all
works of fiction, for there are many lncul-
eating sentiments well worth the study oil
man. but these are drawn from nature,
and the characters who figure in them are
generally but mortals-but for the vile
trash engendering immoral thoughts and
feeIhos. and creating a distaste for solid
raodinp, /. for one. would be willing to
make an auto de fe of the whole tribe.
The Rev. James Lyon, of St. Louis, re-
Gently delivered lecture on this subject,
in which so faithful a picture Is drawn oil
the reader and writer of such stuff, that
doubt whether any sensible man can be
found 70 dissent from him III his views.
Af.er classifying novel writers, he goes on
to show that the writings Of such persons
cannot be beneficial, for, as 4 general thing,
,hev have not even the advantage of an
elegant stvle or brilliant characters, while
the princi pies they inculcate are most lnJu-
lous.
Novel readers he divides into four class
Is first. those who consider it fashionable
or genteel to read novels; secondly, the
idle in mind and body; thirdly, the won
der loving. credulous and weak; and fourth
". the restless and unhappy, those with
whom time is drug, life burden. He
cutters into specific descriptions of these
different classes of writers and readers,
and shows them off in colors not quite so
fascinating as those in which their tavorte
heroes and heroines are usually represent
ed, but his characters are realities, while
The heroes and heroines of romance exist
only in The vivid imagination OF the author.
He then goes on to describe the detini-
lion of the characters indispensable to
novels of the kind | speak ol-the hero,
:he heroine. and the villain:
The hero is, for the most part, fash
ionable rake, ibertine, a free-thinker, an
outlaw, but fine locking, and possessed of
some generous traits Of character, suffi-
cient. at least, to constitute him a clever
fellow whom every one must love-or at
all events, if censure they must, 1t IS very
faint, and only serves TO show in bolder
relief their insuppressible admiration.
The heroine is always in love-gener-
ally with the hero but sometimes with
4 minor character. She is lovely, patient
and incorrup6bly constant, and very much
oppressed. This rule is almost arbitrary !;
hence nothing further can be said about
her'
The villain, who is generally hypo-
critic in religion, perhaps himself a priest,
OF minister of the gospel; or, dean or
IN office-bearer in the church or he may
oe a school master, or Judge or an Off
Ger of the law or one selected from some
class or profession, whose duty 1t Is to re-
strain vice and recommend virtue, is drawn
hateful in the extreme, but, at the same
lime, most expert and successful IN his
yillanes insomuch that, whilst you de-
lest the man, YOU cannot but admire his
ingenuity, daring and bravery. He Is
made to display to the eye of the behold
cr, or the mind of the reader, all the dev-
Gus paths of yilainy. lie gives, by ex-
ample, full instruction in the arts of the Sc
lucer-the tricks of the gambler-the
plots of the assassin-the unerring devices
Of the robber-and the deep laid schemes
of the slanderer and traducer.'
Fools and clowns are also an indlspen-
sable part Of the dramatis persona OF the
modern novel. They are generally taken
rom the sober, industrious, the plain and
honest part of the community. The hon
ysl Iaborer is the butt the machine is the
awkward BOBBY and the farmers daugh-
srr is the questionable lass TO be laughed
IT,
There is a great deal Of truth expressed
n the foregoing paragrap aphs-iruths that
rannot be TOO forcibly impressed upon the
minds of old and young-because the lat
scr are too frequently led into paths they
.hould not follow by becoming tainted with
4 passion for reading such moral miasma,
md, to crafty it, neglect all those oblga-
IONS of duty incumbent on every member
Of society. Reader, if You have such
rash on hand, throw it into the iirc-that
80 ghc only fitting place for it.