The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10
WHOLE NUMBER 2 1S
Novel Reading.
A WORD TO COLLEGE sTUDKNTs.


Upon no class Of persons, perhaps does
the ehabitual reading of'that branch of our
literature. denominated, by way of distinc-
ton, "yettoD copered," exert more PERM.
c'ous influence than upon the young men
connected with our colleges and other in.
st'tutions of learning. We have heard It
asserted by those whose positions enable
them to judge intelIigcntly in this matter
tiiat there is scarcely an instance on record
"here young man, who habitually and
regularly pursues works of fiction durinp
MS Undergraduate course, ever received
'hat degree ofmental discipline which is ne.
ccssary for successful entrance upon tl,s
great duties of life, and which it is the aim
OF collegiate course to furnish. And in.
ueeo, II Is hard to conceive how the case
should be otherwise; for, besides the enor.
nous waste OF time, which is the necessary
consequence OF any considerable induleenca
IN novel reading, the mind, accustomed to
follow some sentimental hero or heroine
through all sorts Of silly and unheard of
adventures, and to revel amid scenes of
tancied pleasure and happiness, takes little
delight in attempting to grapple with the
more profound truths Of philosophy and
mathematics even when it is not wholly
incapacitated to do so.
1t is lamentable fact that at least ],nlf os
the young men who graduate each year at
our colleges, hardly possess even the rudi.
ments OF sound and substantial education.
Many, after spending three or four years
within the walls Of a university, possess, in
return for their time and money, little be.
sides their diploma" to which, certainly,
IN our day, no great importance can be at-
tached. Now, all this may be the combin.
ed effect of many causes, into which it is
not our province to inquire but we think
We hazard little in saying that the evil is
question may, to very great extent be
traced to the popular novels" which form
so important an element in the compost
ton Of the students libraries in many of
our colleges. And so long as our young
men are content to spend the precious mo.
ments which ought to be devoted to the &C.
QUESTIONS Of substantial knowledge, and to
fritter away tie knowledge which God has
given them, in poring over books worse
than pro6tless to the neglect of all that is
useful and instructive, just so long are We
to expect superficial thinkers, instead ofpro.
found thinkers, men tri1ers, instead of men !.
We admit that it is very important, that
the imagination he cultivated, and we are
quite willing to grant there may be, and
! undoubtedly are, works of fiction which
have an elevating rather than degrading
tendency, and which are calculated to
, strengthen rather than impair the-intellect.
But such words, we apprehend, are ex-
tremely rare. And the direct tendency of
nine tenths of the popular novels of the
present day, is to inculcate false views of
life, and to corrupt instead of cultiyating
the imagination.
And we should say to students, whose at
tention We wish at this time, more particu-
larly to arrest that is a most erroneous
idea, to suppose that it is necessary for
young man, while pursuing his academic
course, to become acquainted with tho
whole range ofgeneral literature. Better,
far better, to confne your attention to the
text books, which have been chosen for
you by your superiors in knowledge and
experience with perhaps very few we'll
selected volumes each term, than to waste
your precious hours oyer a confused mass
of miscellaneous trash" The elegant
bindings and illuminated covers Of this
latter class of books, may serve AS orna-
ments to the shelyes of your Libraries, and
assist in making display on '.commence-
ment occasions" but their contents are i'll
! calculated TO furnish wholesome food for
a mind duly impressed with the value Of
time, and the infinite importance Of
thorough preparation for the great duties
which our Creator designs u.s. to perform.