The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-21
Novel Reading.

There is a vast amount Of fictitious tcra-
ture or novels issued from the press in the
form of newspapers, pamphlets and bouna
volumes. This is extensively circulated apd
read, aud must, consequently, be exerting
mighty influence for good or evil. Such
writings believe to be evil, and only evil
There are powerful arguments that may be
urged against this kind of literature, some of
which | shall offer, hoping that they may in
crease in some minds "a deeper conviction of
the evils Of noyelreading
Novel reading leads to crime. Facts 90
to show that this is one great cause Ct crime
at the present day. A lew years since, the
chaplain of the Auburn State Prison remon-
strated against supplying the prisoners with
novels, as 1t vas ascertained on investigation,
that the cause which led to the ruin of
large number OF them was nove-rcadine.
Inc heroes of many, if not most novels whose
characters are portrayed are criminals, and
the scenes brought to view are of cores
ponding nature. 1t is impossible to familiar.
ize the mind with such characters, and to re.
vel in such scenes, without becoming contain
mated, and better prepared to pursue a course
Of wickedness and crime. Take, for instance, |
boIwers novels. His earliest work, called |
Falkland, is the history Of an adul,erer. |
the most NOBLE and kind of his race, by for.e !
Of circumstances Paul Clifford the hero
of another Of his novels, is the commander
Of band of robbers in Berkshire. He is
conducted safely through his career of vii.
lalny, and escapes the hand Of Justice. In
Deyereux,' an amiablo gentleman murders
his brothers wife, and afterwards becomes an
interesting phllanthroYist in Italy. The
Disowned, protesting the nobest creed boast
ing the broudest philanthropy, becomes the
murderer OF his beneiactor. sBuwer's nov
els, says an able critic, shows us the virtues
vices seductively garnished gen.
'rous qualities disgraccd by paltry motives,
petty objects magnifed, vugarities CLOSED by
passion, and manners tingcd with affectation.
W hatever is veritable, honest, aud truly no.
Die, fluids little place in this fictitious world
Carvosler, the murderer OF Lord William
Russell, confessed, and wished the sheriff to
make it known TO the world, that the idea of
lis work of blood was first suggested to him
BY reading and seeing the performance of
ack Shepard. This book was lent to him
~ one of the servants of the Duke of Bed.
ord, and he lam en.ed that he had ever seen
t. Oxford, who sought the Queens life
made substantially the same statement: re.
pecting the influence on his mind of the ,
Bravo of Venice
Fictitious reading is one very formidable
obstacle IN the way OF pure religion. The +
Jnrlstlan religion addresses itself both to the
nlnd and heart aud whatever effects these |
'n'4vorabIy, must obstruot its progress. Nov.
Us 10 not call luto exercise the memory ard !
he reasoning OR reflective powers Of the mind
'ut tend to arouse and crafty morbid cray-
ng Tor excitement which is always uofavor.
pie to vigorous mental excrtion. In con.
equencc of this, a great deal of the power |
i the Christian pulpit is lost. Novel read. ]
rs IN our congregations have their minds I'm. 5
TIED to see and appreciate the force OF arm. )
nent5 when presented Some of the first P
'riers IN our lanlua have given their most a
nquallhed testimony on this point. Oliver Il
'oasmith, who wrote novels himself, in :
etter to brother on the education OF his son !,
avs - Above all things, never let him y
ouch novels.-Bostoa Recorder. 4