The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-03
FROM the Chrfssia n tfess,nger'
Light Literature.

|, are poisons for tue ininu, ~
bndy. There are persons whs are interested
q in the manufacture aud sale Of strong drinks
. because there is a strong demand Tor the
means of intoxicatien, and money can De
made in the traffic. The same desire Tor
gain, induces the plant slaves of averlce' to
make and sell thoi books that a vltated llt-
erary and moral appetite so strongl y Graves
that money can be made in this demora lHlng
business The appetite for the excitement
of romance and fiction, in many respects,
may be compared with that of the inebrlate,
who has quenchless thirst for the poison
that destroys him. In each case the appetite
has been self induced and it's repeated iudul-
gence, gives it keener edge, and wcaksos
the strength Of the victim to resist Its power.
We are now having daily access to class of
persons, who have been, TO say the least, un-
fortunate in the development of mora char
acters, and in the associations and influences
to which they have yielded. AS We pass the
books of the Prison Library, an opportunity
is offered to consult the taste and wishes of
those, who here Gull from the volumes fur
nishcd for their use Some relish the facts of
actual history, and few can find entertain
ment in the developments of science, and are
not indifferent 10 the interesting topics of re-
vealed Christianity, but the great mass treat
with neglect works o! real merit, and banker
after their bane, in the shape of light litcra-
ture. They have an extreme longing for the
exciting tales Of fiction, and often ask us for
a good story, and inquire if we have certain
books, Of we'll known tendency, which we
doubt not have been their favorites as they
we're taking their incipient lessons in the
school Of vice.
Parents cannot be too cautious in regard
to the nature OF those books they furnish for
the family circle Tho Christian Herald ap-
says: This class Of reading
enfeebss the intellect The laws of mental
growth and culture are as fixed snd we'll de.
hnsd as the laws Of physical culture. The
grand and universal law, simple as it is grand,
and benevolent as it is sinple-applicable
alike to body and minds, that growth and
strength correspond with the judiciou. and
regular use OF the powers We have. The
musician trains his muscles for rapid action.
he socks not for great strength of arm.
The blackSmith's arm must DO taught to
swing the hammer all day vithou. fatigue.
For these different purposes, very different
processes OF discipline are requisite. Either
will keep the arm in health. Blu. if one can
aud no use for his arm, and carries it in a
sling, Ind nurses it as 4 sick child, it will
"ither aud decay.
Just so with the mind. The learned black.
smith kept up and increased the visor of his
mind by grasping, one after another, some
MY different foreign languages as he did
that of his body at his anvil. So the cele-
DRAFTED DR.. Bowditch, while his physical con-
stltutIon was lnvigorated by the hardships Of
common sailor before the mast, nurtured
his intellect by employing his leisure moments
ns'udylng Nauiica Almanacs and in ,aking
observations With nautical instruments and
such energy OF mind did he thus acquire
hat when Ms further progress was interyun..
~ oy the necessity OF learning The Latin
aeguage, in order to read Ncwtors prip.
''p'"' nc heSitatcd not moment. He soon
'urlnounted the obstacle, read Newton in
"'lh' and became Que OF the most distio.
5u'Sned mathrneticiau, of the age.
The great law Of mind and body can no,
'e dlSregarded with safety. Shut up your
10Y IN the nursery, aud iced him on SUGAR
''u"s and swsetmca,s, and expect to have .
tout aud healthy child, and YOU show no
more want of sense than if you allow him to
eed lis mind on the light trash Of the dav
nd expect him to have any thing but a tsebI.
lckly, neryeless mind.
1t vlsla'es the taste The taste is formed
y culture and generally the prevailing tastes
u nea are formed ia early life. The tastes
nus iolmed determine thu course oi l;fs
ne employment Of both body and mind
dany lad has formed his taste for rs.a;,