Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-18
Notes. of n Traveller.

IConcludcd irom yesterdays Gazette. =
Passing on. We remark the sudden spread on
board Of papers and books. Having had in the
past six months Il fair opportunity OF seeing
the general regime Of schools, both public aud
private may we not ulgress to remark upon
the wide spread circulation that light literature
has attained 10 our country, especially among
the Young. and which, after school hours,
becomes the recreation OF minds, that should
indulge only in healthy meuta food. Milton
wrote. He wha is born to promote the public
GOOD should read the law Of God all his
years, and make it his whole delight. No
doubt this was the poets lofty views of the
minister, the legislator ard the writer. The
mission OF the unacknowedged Legislators OF
the world should be kept holy solemn
steps and slow they should walk abroad and be
the pure exemplars of their doctrine. The
crosier the wand OF office, and the pen, should
rest in unsullied hands. 1t Is OF first importance
10 the moral dignity and physical webeing OF
Il State that every man who bears crosler.
orwelds Il pen, should labor to ri pen his judy
ment and keep his conscience swec. aud tender.
Since Milton wrote pens have fallen into many
hands, unworthy to hold them, gifted men
have basely misused their genius. \ price has
been paid to the poet for his lutte, the orator
has been III the open market place, the priest
has stained his cloth Still these unworthy ser
| wants have been few, when compared with the
| noble ariy O.. righteous thinkers, and brave ac-
tors on the State scene, who have sped the
world along THE ringing grooves ot change.
| The shameless sOngStGr. ard the llelarlouS
author of indecent fiction. no longer hold Place
in the body social. They are hidden away III
foul corners they speed their work IN the shlde,
for society will none OF them. But thla Is not
enough: it is L scandal, and disgrace, that they
are in our midst, albeit they are treated a.
! social le,ers. OF late these hired scr!brs nave,
there is too much cause to lear, been On the IN
crease since their coarse ware, has found It's
way into open places. and their yellow covers
are unhesituingly laid upon the counters Of
! book vcnders who consider them,cvcsrr>r
! table trader. These books may he seen also i'll
/ lII,. hands Ui people villa are slaves Ia public
ouiuon they are advertised. and arc 10 De !ia
| at railway Stations. uniform with the cheap
| popular editions OF Bulwer, DlSraeli. DckenS
| Thackerv and other standard authors Of rcputr;
a taste for them Is growing; they are teaching
/ the Young idea-it is the thing to nave read
them, and their popularity has moreover
! broug lit Il certain amount Of unscrupulous tai
! cnt 20 bear upon their production, :" that e.
capiug from the vulgar cuarSrne>S "f the pur-
lieus Of New York, they reach hands that
would shrink from anything more externally
contagious. Many 81 these hooks published
| abroad are ~ i,c seen IN the win,IuH, Ct ln"-
prominent >latoncrs III our large c!tl's.aii !'.o-
1,ir have III iiGa that thcE are either "'i;"r "r
w"r>;. than tic n'NrIs which. hlrin" attained
! :, certain favor. arc reprinted III rIIrl? ioru:
| they are uot without L degree of r'"T:ricSS, not
within the meaning Ol any statute, i"' IL DC
called Indecent. but simply Infamous There is
subtle but most deadly poison il thcm--;l
| having the s:ii!c alm-Prc&cItIug 10 the rising
! ycli.laiuu gallery I'll! portraits, not ri famous
men AMI wulrcn VIII" have done noble work,
! in their day. but uf the ir,'., of society. the
! heroes ui vice and crlmr here painted and
! Haunting III brouyhan anl there sweeping
! ITO quote Berangcrj the stairs is concierge of
! the house in which the sometime NlabIic Queen
once occupied the .ildcu Gntrc>ol. These are
! the familiar presents Of the young of all co,ln.
tries, they are in the garrett and i'll the boudu!r,
| subjects ui conversation III every grade Ut So
c!etv. an! ~ Sc the wnciul result that already
stands clear in the near distance. If the strong
feel degraded rs Il cur>Ury pcrrl>al OF these
works. what must be the condition Of those 10
whom they are daily mental food ? Should
! books like these be permitted to enter the houses
Of the virtuous aud respectable, 10 fail into the
! hands OF matrons and children? We arr warned
! that the yellow covers already appear III places
deemed respectable, VT see that they are
crowding from the prcSs-a conclusive proof
that they find Il ready sale. How Is this stream
Of pollution to be stemmed? Representative mcIl
arc apathetic, the press remains quite passive,
heads of families continue indifferent, while
every opportunity requisite for their suppress
! sion is afforded by legislation, announcement,
! ,rI rroii!itjnn. 'f.RRATIC."