Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-27
Influence OF Books.

Il mere Is no more Title SuDlect nan
this title suggests, and none, of conse-
quence, SO often passed over without
yielding to it that Difference i, demands.
Lord Bacon says, "Some books are 10
be tasted, others swallowed, and some
few to be digested; that is, some books
are to be read only in parts; others to be
read, but not curiously; and some few to
be read wholly and with diligence and
attention" He nigh, have added,
there are others, still, to be avoided as
deadly poison; that is, they should neUer
be read at all. ,.., ....,., ......
OF the multitude of books, il canno
be denied that vast numbers fall within
the last class. Especially is this true oil
immense quantities Of trash sent out fol
the last few years TO be scattered, like
leaves from deadly Upas tree, to spread
moral contagion and death every where.
Such is the character of large portion
Of the present most popular newspaper
literature, ill a sound Journal of superl.
or tone, and of intellectual merit, must
either anguish or die for want of read
ers, while a vile compound of trash, vul-
garity, and mawkish seniiment4lily, will
flourish and make its proAiga,e yenders
rich. ,f tsa.a-g ..rE s....sE -e..., a,t,
But the evil is chiefly to be deplored,
az exertlng pernicious influence upon
the young. We have recently become
acquainted with an alarming example in
point. Three boys, the eldest not over
twelve, were detected in truan'ing from
one of ourcity schools, having kept it up
by various preiexts without being discov.
cred, for nearly three weeks. They
wers all lads from the best OF families
resident in a good section of the city,
and of superior general character, espe.
cially al school. On the day Of discov-
cry they were traced to diiTeren, parts
of the city, and a, length to railroad
Stations where they had purchased tick
cts for distant part of a neighboring
Stale. Search was instituted TO discov-
er whence they had Obtained money,
and it was made evident that two Of them
had purloin, d from their mothers purs.
es, quite large sums, having provided
themselves with brace of pistols each,
shawls aud blankets, provisions and
clothing, together acih books of a vile
class, having villains and cut-throats for
heroes! They were traced to the inie-
rior of neighborine State, discovered
and brought back TO the city the second
day of their absence. apparently glad
enough TO see home once more. NIB
I'm answer to inquiries IS to the caus-
es that had led them 10 such precocious
wickedness, and their purpose in it, they
readily confessed that they had gone of
for no other end but to become despera-
does, thieves. highway robbers and no
ted bad characters, intending to camp
out in The woods, and live upon what
they could obtain by dishonesty and vio-
lence! They were brought to this deter
mination by reading Lives Of Celebra-
ted Highwaymen," Jack Sheppard,
and other diabolcal records of diaboli-
cal acts, till they became enthusiastic
in the wish to become like the scoundrels
whose deeds were registered, and began
their career by stealing, and falsehood
at home. This is solitary case of ac-
tual occurrence, and goes far TO show
what a terrible evil is being produced
from the vicious literature of the day.
Physical crime seems to US as nothing
in comparison 10 the guilt incurred by
those who write, print, and circulate de-
moralizing matter To corrupt the minds
of the masses.-.4merican Household
Budget.