Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-01-17
THURSDAY, ganuary:r7. 1853.
NOVEL READING.
What is meant BY Norels-Thc:r per-
nicious tendency.

evil, it is necessary to explain what we
mean by novels. We do not mean that all
reading is to be limited to statement OF
naked facts, and those stated in the most
dry and graceless style. Very far from
this is our view. We believe that he VINO
writes either for the instruction or amuse-
ment ofothers, should throw around the sen
timents or facts he set forth, all the arts OF
STYLE which he can command, to arrest and
hold the attention of the reader. The art
ofgood writing or speaking consists IN ma
king the deepest impression on the mind OF
the reader or nearer, that the things utter
ed are capable Of making. The same sub
iect, embracing the same facts, presented
by different persons will produce vastly dit
ferent results in consequence Of the differ
ence in style.
Nor are speakers, and writers to con-
fine themselves to simple statements ofiit-
eral facts; facts cannot always be CON-
manded, and supposable facts are to be SUBJ
stituted. Then there is ample room to
moralize on facts; and the whole may be
put in one dress or another, to suit the suit.
iect itself, and the character, circumstan-
ces, and taste of those designed TO be reach
ed BY the effort. Nor do we mean by no.
wells, simple fiction, without reference toI
the character and degree ofthe fctions en-
sployed. There is not a good, statesman;
or minister but INDUCES in more or less
fiction. A principle is to be illustrated,
and its practical bearings are to be exhib.
tied, and this can be done to the best ad-
vantage, by giving it an embodiment in
some real or imaginary person. The spea.
ker has no real being in his mind, whose
history meets the case, he creates one in
whom he plants the principle he wishes to
exhibit, and sets it at work. and proceeds to
draw it out Of him in practicle life, carry
ing it on to lis final results. This is often
done with great power, both at the bar and
in tho pulpit. All good poetry has more or
less fiction in it. Milton. immortal spar.
adiss LOST is full of fiction. Pollock's
sCourse of Time" is but little more than
fiction from beginning to end, and yet it is
read by all classes Of good people. and
highly valued by all lovers ofpoetry. Bun
yan's "Pilgrims Progress" is as purely fic-
titious as any novel in the country. and yet
il has been read and highly priced by many
who would think it crime to read novel.
Some portions Of the scriptures are high
" fgurative, and other portions are fiction.
Nathans story Of David describes an i'm
aginary character, created for the occasion
to represent real one. The same may
be the case with the PARALLELS of our Lord
That Of the Prodigal Son is one Of the fin-
est fctions in the English language, if It
be- 4 fiction. The mostthat can be claim.
ed for these parallels, is that all the princi.
! pies they deyelope and illustrate, are strict
lytrae, and the assumed characters and ac-
tors employed to give these principles a
practical application, are such as have e1-
listed, Or such Is may exist.
What has been said will be sufficient to
convince the reader, that we are no ultraist
on this subject, and yet we do not hesitate
to say that We regard novel reading as a
fearfulevil. To draw proper distinction
between the evil and the good, may prove
difficult task, but we shall venture to Al.
tempt i. j
All novels, the principles Of which are
unsound. Are unmitigafed evils. Tho sub.
ject itself may b defective. \ novel, to
be skilful must breathe and infnse the spir-
: i Of the enterprise and leading actors.
70 suppose that novel can present ma
jority ofbad characters, for actors, gov
erned BY false principles with most Of the
transactions bad, and the whole as whole,
accomplishing more evil than good; and
yet Do 30 written as to tnrn the mind ofthe
- l..>. f.r,,r vs~o n The lnvo and nra<