Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-31
LIGHT Literature.

In n report of RUFUS KING, of Cincinnati,
on the school library, occurs the following
passage about works of light character:
As a beginning, some fifteen hundred vol.
umes were selected, containing wide choice
of histories ancient and modern, of leading
nations and countries, with biographies trlv-
els, the most generally accepted works relat-
inc to religion, morals and manners, treatises
more or less familiar upon arts and sciences,
the works Of the most celebrated poets, dra-
matists, orators and essayists, with fair pro-
portion of works of fiction, such for example
rs those of Miss Edgeworth, Scott, Cooper,
and few Others of those whose writings have
become classic, and stand above the mere
passing illusions of the day.
Permit me to say that it is in this latter
department of the Library, from which the
very least good is to be hoped, that You will
encounter the most difficulty, and / venture
TO suggest that it be watched with the closest
attention, now and at all times hereafter. We
are admOnished not only of the well known
penlicious effect of this species of reading but
we also have before us the testimony of the
only Public Libraries of any note in the city,
that it has become almost impossible to con-
troll the growing demand upon them for such
hooks. The Directors of the Mechanics In
stitute state, in their Annual Report that,
" the demand for late works has greatly in
creased, more especially those of a light and
popular character" but they are constrained
to say, that they and their successors must
promptly yield TO the demand, if they wish
TO continue the interest and usefulness of the
Institution.
The Directors of the Mercantile Library
even more significantly say, it has been
found next TO impossible to supply the de-
mand for new books particularly those of a
light and ephemeral character" Such publ
cations, they truly state, can add but little to
the Library, though they too have to confess
that they are indispensably necessary as part
Of the literature of the day" The same
Board add that in order TO crafty their sub
scribers, they have purchased three, four, six,
ten, and in one instance, (Mrs. Mowatt's Auto
biography of an Actress )nineteencopies of the
same publication. Even these large num-
/ bers have failed, to use their own language, to
satisfy "the popular craving for this descrip-
ton of works"
These Libraries It'll to be observed, are SC
dependent upon the eradication of the taste
of their subscribers that the Directors do no,
feel permitted, much as they deplore 1t, to re.
sist the waste of their resources. They regard
themselves as under necessity which they
cannot or are not disposed to resist.
But to us there is no such alternaiive-er
= the contrary w under grave and impera
/ tivcobligation-the more imperative from the
examples thus brought before us-not onl,
to prevent the abuse or waste Of the Library
Fund, but to make earnest efforts to encour
age in the young and impressable subject
under our charge taste for fondness for
more wholesome order ofreading-to supply
: if possible, some counteractive to the CROWN.
evil Of Which we are forwarned. 1t is our du
, " and should be our constant endeavor Il
place before the pupils of the schools in Tia
Library, whatever is at once attractive an,
good for them and by every means to stimu
, late and diiiuse the taste for reading, bu
such reading as shall not tend to idleness an
! folly.