The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-04
Light Reading.

The Discourse of Dr. Hatfield, the above subject,
addressed to young people, and which postponed
the previous Sunday delivered last evening
his church-the Seventh Presbyterian of Ridge
and Broomo streets.
In the formation of the character he observed the
utmost attention should be given to the occupation of tho
thoughts that for the most part gave shape to the
opinions, plans and purposes for, as man thought
he. There intimate connection between the
understanding and the afiections and between these
twain and the WILL the whole governing faculties of
the soul. The vacant mind which seldom applied
itself to intellectual pursuits, and employed
itself in thinking (whatever might be
its original formation capacy) would attain
mental emnence bring forth works of any value to
Thought exercise necessary to the mind
food and exercise to the body and the mind should
therefore not only be trained to h NIX but furnished with
food for thought; too much attention could not be paid
by thoe who had the of youth to turning their
thoughts into proper channel The utmost attention
should be paid to the selection Of teachers and in the for
nation Of friendships, for by these, and resoring to
preachers and lecturers the mind was to be formed.
BY constantly dwelling on the pages Of others,
made their thoughts our own-and the power Of
the press individuals, and in the aggregate
over towns, cities and nations illimitabc. What
read must need make some impression upon The
child who had been brought in the principles of any
sect OF religion could in after lite completely obi
terate he and by the constant reading Of nfde works
the mind receive bias from the books with which
became familiar. No subject could be Appropriate
for remarks and advice than what famiary cal cd
eight reading He had before addressed them the
worldly fascinaions and temptations which set
before the young; but these all to be encoun-
tered only In society; they could not however, be
always whrlDg in the dance enjoying the play
the optIa, (fascinations which palled the
and tastes when they became common), and the
Of busy life not being suicient for the young
when they could not go out into the world they must
bring the world to them. The printing press enabled
them TO live over again those scenes Ii they could not
perutal of tales Of love- novels and To meet
this demand the pens of genius had long been devoted
and these productions far exceeded in number those OF
oil other depa tments of literature. They not only
in single Volumes but formed large portion of all
periodicals. This had been observed by writers in the
eighteenth and beginning of the present century, since
which half century had passed away, during
which the arts had advanced with prodigious
strides, and thousand pages printed where
would then suffice. II became question OF impor-
tance, especially for the young whether this propensity
for light reading sud be gratfed, and If so to what
extent. II concerned the church. and all protesting
Christsns within or without. The phrase suf-
centy comprehensive, aud distinctive too He inclnded
Of course. fashionable novels and romances and the
vapd and ephemera productions Of the periodicals.
but he would not condemn all fiction, as So the most
sublime of poets must be excaded from libraries
The grand opc poem Of Paradise Lost felton, but
dreadful truth underIad the WHOLE and 1t in rea
ty but the dress that fancful. The immor.
tai Bunyan conceived the idea while in prison, Of de-
scrbng the Christians p to salvation under the
suse travel; but was the "pisrin'a Progress &c