Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-05-05
On Reading--A Word TO the Boys.

ave boys love stories." or course
you do. like them my self, but the
danger Ia, that with such q multi
tude Of exciting, sensational ones, as
are sold now days, you will read
nothing but stories, Aud that would
be paying dear for the whistle, F"
would IL notp If for the sake OF
books that have not tho slightest
foundation in truth, nor, indeed, in
the probable, written only to amuse,
not more than asingle grain Of wheat
hidden in whole page of chaf, you
loose all relish for higher and bet.
ter style of reading, you do yourself
a grievous wrong.
am not condemning you to cry,
dull books, indeed, am not. My
own young days are not so far away
but | know quite we'll what you
want. But only think OF the books
that are waiting to take you all over
this great world of ours; up into the
arctic seas down below the equator;
show ing 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
adventure that will add to your stock
Of knowledge, as well as enlist your
eager interest; and histories without
end, that will charm you like fairy
tale, il you only give them chance ;
taking you through, not the world
merely, but through the past centuries
and dreadful struggles which have
made the world what IL Is now.
Then think Of the stirring tales oi
real heroes, who have fought the bat
ties Of life and come Off conquerors
have struggled through boybood OF
poverty and trial, and temptation
into u noble, resolute manhood
Isn't theie enough in such examples
as these to interest? Doesn't it sci
your blood tingling to think what
Others have done and what you may
do?
Now, a word about the newspaper
always feel hopeful of boy who
reads, habitually, the daily or weekly
paper. set all such down for live
wide-awake boys, when see then
taking such an interest i'm the eur
rent news of the day. But / wal
first until see what part of the pa
per they turn most eagerly. If, al
the sheet is unfolded, they run oveI
the telegraph column, to find oui
what is passing I'm other countries q:
well as I'm our own, then L know
there is an intelligent Interest,"
Their ears have been open to the dis
cussions among the older members
of the family, aud the mind has beer
at work, too. There Ia no excuse fol
ignorance now. When oil the ma,
| tions of the earth are knocking n
each others doors, we may learI
what we will. LIZ / see the eye
brighten over somo noble deed o
charity to the poor and suffering
then j am glad, for / know there Is ,
generous spark down In their owr
hearts, that shall yet kindle into q
flame of its own. and gladden. Others
some day with other noble deeds.--
But III zee them with eager interes
reading the horrible details Of Grim,
and murders, hope dies out of my
heart, and turn away with rea
pain. 1t Is a crying evil OF our day
this publishing in such minutenes'
these loathsome details OF crime.
see no end or purposes Of justice t.
be answered by ii, but only fearful
harm. Your young hearts shoult
turn in instant recoil from such bru'
tai tales. Boys! If the public jour
nal, that should be school OF bette
morals, spreads this snare before you
do not you walk into 1t. 1t will
blunt all your finer feelings, ant
familiarizs your mind with forms o
cruelty aud sin that otherwise yoi
would never come in contact with.
Every one knows that any thin.
familiar to the mind loses half its de
formity. Never suffer yourself I,
read one of these articles. LII You
eye catches the startling heading
pass il instantly by. Do not fill tina
mind of yours, which should be al
manly and noble, with these dread
ful pictures Of sin and guilt.
! have said nothing about thos,
poisonous books--low and vulgar
that sometimes find their way secret
Iy into some boys pockets. / trus
there Is no need TO caution yol
against these. Never, never, rea,
any thing you would blush to hav
your mother or sister see. Read
but pray be careful what you read =
Hearth and Home.