The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-08-01
G. F. SnAFFER, Sec'y.
Beecher and "Good Books. !"

10 he hdttors Of the Lancaster Gdfetfs:
" Your correspondent DEL
rA," under the caption "Read good
Boc ks," in your issue of the 25th
ult, {, makes some allusions in a gen.
erul way, to which take objection.
Tho remarks 10 which particular
ly allude arc those in reference to
fictitious writings OF a popular
preacher. From the manner 10
which this reference is made and
other existing circu instances, there
can be no doubt that it was direct
fling at the popular story Of Henry
Ward Beechcr now being issued in
the New York Ledger. In what !
say am not to be understood as
supporting the class Of litcrature
with which the country is gorged
issued on the "Dime" system or
other kindred periodicals; in that
| heartily endorse "Dclta's' views
but speak now solely Of Beccher's
"Norwood," not so much review
Of "pelta's" objections thoroto, as
tho correction ofan idea with many.
Of what is commonly called "trashy,
reading
Mr.. Beechor is a man whose
mind fountain is constantly bub.
bling up and running over with
bright and sparkling poetic beau
tics and philosophic and hidden
aphorisms Of life. To this add his
deep searching knowledge Of hu-.
man nature, Of the hidden springs
and motors to action, the wholeex.
pressed in word pictures which on
ly a Beecber could invent, and to
mo there can not bo q more profit
able and at tho same time enter.
taining use made OF the leisure
hours in relaxation from sterner
duties and harder studies serving
to amuso as also productive Of II
higher refinement of feeling and
deeper insight into the (common'
" conceived TO beg masked beauties
Of nature.
No ono can 60 away from "Nor-
wood" after q careful and studious
perusal but they will, like Frank
Esel, go away with a determine
tion Of beginning anew a higher
and broader life and burning their
past art.studies and Ito views, or
merely saving them to refer to in
the future as landmarks OF their
progression.
A mother view to be tukcn OF this
question 10 this; behind the idea OF
making money or love of fame or
popularity, Mr., Beccher has nm ul-
terror design in writing this novel
Tor Bonner, It is tho educating
and refining of popular sentiment
1t is we'll known that the Ledger
has a larger circulation than all the
papers OF that class in the country
together, and being 20 wide spread
II must exercise wido influence
on public opinion. The class cf
minds which derive their mental
pabulum from this and kindred
sources can only be reached thro
such a medium, and anything
THROWN in these columns which
will lead them up from the quag.
mires Of existence into u higher
planooi thought and feeling will
bo a source Of much good; and
such l consider to DO the cusc with
Beecher'a Norwood" challenge
any one to show u sentence or idea
oi II that might in any way bo cen
s.rucd as tending to "drag us thro'
the slime and filth of moral delin
1uency;" du co ltrdire, all it's teach.
lngs are of that highest standard
of morals-thc pure morality OF
Nature.
To dorivo tho greatest benefit
from Norwood" we must not reqd
II as a noDel but study IL ne q kind
Of series Of colloquiaI disquisitions
on common life, religion, art, phi.
Iosophy, and Nature generally.
IOTA.
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The Deserters' Relief Bill, "a
aiUnon hv tha praa;dant Ia 4, l.lI