The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
A Word on Reading.

1--WE boys love stories" OF course you
do. like them myself, but the danger Il
that with such multitude Of exciting, sensa
tional ones as are sold nowadays, you vii
read nothing but stories. And that woulo
be paying dear for the whistle" would
not If for the sake of books that have no
the slightest foundation in truth, nor, indeed
in the probable, written only to amuse, not
more than a single grain of wheat hidden il
a whole page of chaa, you lose all relish fol
higher and better style Of reading, you d,
yourself a grievous wrong.
/ am not eOnGemning you to dry, du
books Indeed I am not. My own youue
days are not so far away, but know quiz,
well what sou want. Bat oaly think Of ,ht
books that are waiting to take you all over
this great world of ours; up into the arctic
seas; down below the equator, showing you
all the strange forms Of life in those tropical
regions; into the depths Of the sea, and
pointing out the still stranger forms of life
there; whole volumes Of travel and adyen
ture, that viii add to your stock Of knOwl
edge, as well as enlist your eager interest,
and histories without end, that will charm
you ike fairy tale, if you only give then
chance; taking you through, not the world
merely but through the past centuries, show
ing the grand discoveries and dreadful strug
giles which have made the world what it is
now.
Then think Of the stirring tales of real
heroes, who have fought the battles of life
and came of conquerors; have struggled
through a bOyhood Of poverty aud trial and
temptation into a noble, resOlute manhood
Isn't there enough in such examples as these
to interest! Doesn't it set your blood ting
ling to think what others have done aud
what you may do?
Now, word about the newspapers. ]
always feel hopeful Of a boy who read>
babitually the daily or weekly papers. SCI
all such down for live, wide-awake boys.
when see them taking such a interest il
the current news Of the day
But l wait first until I see to what part
Of the paper they turn most eagerly. If, as
the sheet is unfolded, they run over the tele
graph column to see what is passing in other
countries, as well as in cur own, then know
there IS an intelligent interest. Their ears
have been open to the discussions among tn,
older members of the family, and the mind
has been at work, too. There is no excuse
for ignorance now. When all the nations OF
the earth are knocking at each others doors,
we may learn what we viii.
IF see the eye brighten over some noble
deed Of charity to the poor and suffering,
then am glad for 1 know there is a gener
Gus spark down in their own hearts that
shall yet kindle into a flame of its own, and
gladden. others some day with other noble
deeds.
But if see them with eager interest
reading the horrible details of crime and
murder, hope dies out of my heart, and turn
away with real pain. It is crying evil of
our day, this publishing, in such minuteness,
these loathsome details of crime. see no
end or purpose Of justice to be answered by
it, but only fearful harm. Your young
hearts should turn in instant recOil from
such brutal tales.
Boys! if the public journal, that should
be a school Of better morals, spreads this
snare before you, do not walk into it. 1t
win blunt all your finer feelings, and fami-
harize your mind with forms of cruelty and
sin, that otherwise you would never come in
contact with. Every one knows that any
thing made familiar to the mind loses half
its deformity. Never suffer yourselves to
read one Of these articles. If your eye
catches the startling heading, pass it instant
ly BY. Do not fill that mind of yours, which