Litchfield enquirer., 1860-03-01
.= s-a4 For the Litchfeld Enquirer.
 COUNSELS TO YOUNG MEN.
NUMBER EIGHT.

] COONoELS IO 1OUNd MEN.
 M a NUMBER EIGHT. T
 Though in my last number, gave 70, strong and earnest warnings against the SC ductions of novel reading, which have ruin ed so many young persons of both sexes, would by no means dissuade you from eye
 unbeuding your minds with easy and anu sing reading. But there is no reason in thu world, why you should go to Bulwer anl George Sand for it. Truth is not only stronger than fiction. but more interesting te every inquisitive and unvitiated mind. Whal could you ask more quickening to, one who loves to combine instruction with relax ation, than Irving's Columbus than Pres cott's Conquest of Mexico and Peru; than hundred Voyages and Travels which nigh, be named These and such as these are deserts, iu which there is no poison, and up. on which you may regale yourselves, after q substantial meal, and be the stronger fo, hard work. But do not, I beseech you, waste your time, dissipate your minds, and corrupt yonr hearts, by seductive fictitious reading. You can find more than enough, that is quite as full of strange and thrilling incidents, perfectly safe, and infinitely more profitable.
 If you desire nonsense, as well as variety. there is now mass of improving periodical literature, ill foreign and home qnarterles aud monthlies, which in one way and anoth- CT, you may get the reading of, at 8 very small cost. Some of the pure in heart, like Hannah Moore, have clothed moral and re- ligious truth in the attractive garb of ima- ginary characters and incidents. Where books of this class are true to nature, and the divine teachings of the Bible, they will excite pure aud clevating aims in the youth full breast. But there are so many counter feits in this department of popular reading, and it is SO difficult to draw the line between safe and dangerous fiction, that you ought never to read book of this class, till well assured, that there is not sentence in it, in the remotest degree hostile to pure and un- defled religion. Your adversary, the devil, knows so well how to transform himself into anangel of light, that you always have req son to suspect him in the fictitious literature of the day, and to shun it altogether, where there is the least danger of ensnarement. Better never to open fictitious volume Of any sort, than to have one of the safeguards of virtue and religion thereby endangered.
 One word of advice, about reading the weekly and daily newspapers, and I have done. If the golden age was a fabulous ago, the paper age is and indisputable reaH- ty. The press is fast becoming the mighti- est engine in the world for good aud for evil. In free government, nothing can stand before it. Nothing can shake thrones aud dyuastics like it, and much of its pow CT is concentrated in the weekly aud daily press. The signs of the times, statesmen and politicians must carefully watch but they make no such demands upon you. You may look into the papers in some of your leisure moments, for passing events at home and abroad but any considerable time spent in this kind of reading, is rather dissi- pating than profitable. For an occasional lunch it will do, but never for full meal s
 Such, my young friends arc the maturest thoughts l have to offer you upon reading and the choice of books. But cannot close without adding, that we'll regulated aud discriminating taste for reading, is one of the richest gifts of Heaven. What inter- esting and instructive companions are good books, when we are withdrawn from good society, aud especially, in those solitary hours, which from ill health or advancing age, would drag heavily along. ......
 For myself, can never be thankful enough to God, tor giving me an early taste for reading. It has been one of the greatest blessings to me, through all my past life, and l enjoy it more and more, as old age comes on, and have more leisure aud hours of retirement. May your enjoyment and proftirg. in this regard, be far richer than mine. With the illustrious Sir William Herschell, in the following extract from his writings, l most heartily agree.
 If were to pray for taste, which should stand me in stead under every variety of circumstances and be a source of happi- ness and cheerfulness through life, and shield against its ills, however things may go amiss, and the world frown upou me, it should be taste for reading. I speak of it, of course, as only worldly advantage, aud not in the slightest degree superseding, or derogatiug from the higher offices and snrer and stronger panoply of religious prin- ciples, but as a taste and instrument, and Q mode of pleasurable qualification.
 "Give man this taste, and :he means of gratifying it. and you can hardly fail of ma. king him Q happier man, unless, indeed. you put into his hands pcrverse selection of books. You place him in contrast with the best society in every period of history l; with the wisest and the wittiest, the tender est and the brayest, and the purest charac. tcrs who have adorned humanity. You make him denizen of all ages cotempo- rary of all ages, The world has been crea- ted for him. It is hardly possible, but the character should take a better and higher tone, from the constant habit of associating with class of thinkers, to say the least of it, above the average of humanity. It is morally impossible, but that the manners should take a tinge of good breeding and cultivation, from having constantly before one's eyes, the way in which the best irr
 formed men have talked and conducted
 themselves. in their intercourse with each
 otner: There is Q gentle but perfectly fire.
 sisti0ie co-ertlon, in habit of reading well
 directed, over the whole tenor of mans
 character and conduct, which is not the less
 effectuai, because it works insens;blv and
 because it is the last thing to be dream
 ed of." aaaal ade i9ta., s,aI7i gi F. HE OLD MAN or THE MouNrArs.. :, I ~ .azs.
 The leaf of a memorandum was picked u, in Amherst. Massarh hnsetts, few days ago
 with the following matrimonial items npo + it j. Metereological Journal of my wife