The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-18

;. ing of bad books. Unhapp
= youth, whittier dost thou direct thy steps
Behold the, abyss open before thee
wilt not fall into it, and perish for eve1
But in vain his friends adv ic
is useless; heis blind and deaf; he LA
already swallowed up too much of impur
water; he does not perceive the danger
He continues to feed his soul with the fruit
corruption is penetrating more deeply int
bis heart, and subtle poison is fused int
his veins. His good books have disap
peared and with them the rules retracins
to him all his dutf6s. Now he feels but
disgust for holy things, he has NO more re.
course to the fountain of all graces to
purify his soul, and to receive strength
against temptations. Religious instructions
are for him q food insipid, unsavory, nau-
seous and disgusting. At last, We see him
plunged in the deepest abyss of corruption;
and he who had been the pride and orna.
ment of the college, has become the shame
and opprobium of it.
Alb let me e1claim with Isaias: "The
crown is fallen from our head woe to us,
because We have nned."-Lam. v. l6.
Deplore, dear trends, his fatal destiny,
fear the danger, and do not expose yourself
to 1t. For the young man we have por-
| erayed is not a chimerical being; expert
ence, now and then, gives us many similar
examples and lessons. May our good God
preserve every one of you from falling into
such a state of degradation.
In spite of SO frightfal evils, some find
pretexts to read romances =; but let US see
If they have any weight.
They say. why forbid -romances, and
allow the reading of history, which unveils
the most shameful crimes7
Young man, who are pleased to raise such
an objection, do you know what is history9
m la chor f,,l 81
is to brand them with infamy, and to in
spire us with sentiments of horror: il il
shows corrupted men and depra ved nations.
it is to cover them with ignominy, and to
excite against them the contempt of man
kind. Besides, find in history counter
poison, unknown in romances. II in his.
tory see crimes, see also most sublime
virtues admired by all wise men of past
aud present generations. Hence, do not
compare any mere romances to history
let US read history for our instruction, and
let romances rot in the dust, or, better yet.
let them be reduced into ashes,
Some object again and say, we must
learn how to speak we'll, and romances are
almost the only books which can procure
as such an advantage. Sophism of evil
passions! Romances only teach US how to
speak well God be thanked, We
learning to do evil, in order to learn how
to speak! Oar best writer's have found |
the secret of joining eloquence to solidity /;
dry and barren subjects have received un .
der their pen the most charming aepect |
But were We to ignore forever our language, |
ledge from impure sources, the waters of
which, being poisoned, would cause death.
We, however, deny romances the homer of |
learning to speak well. If by speaking well !
they understand idly to use in CONVERSE
ton hyPerboiical expressions, yes, we must
n N fapa n N fx>r a.
have the advantage. But if to speak well |
they mean to discourse with precision, dis
solidity, with lively and natural |
friends of romances, humble |
yourselves, they shall never give you such
, knowledge.
Some others might yet say, if obscene
books are forbidden. they ought, at least,
20 allow us works, wherein there are only
;ender expressions. Religion ought to per-
nit you the reading of books full of tender
expressions. My friends, you have
me, my design was not to
orbid you monstrous productions, wherein
he corruption of the human heart has
'verhowed all limits suppose your edu-
'ation and your natural feelings are such, ,
70 to inspire you with horror for books of
hat kind. The question is only about =
hose you have spoken of; and 1 maintain
hat they are more dangerous than the ,
theirs. Obscenity itself revolts and turns !
mes stomach nature gives against it arms
o every one who has not smothered it's n
dice. But where the means to resist vice, {
'hen itappears adorned with the ornaments n
f virtue, and embellished with all it's {
harmsf Where find soul vigorous e
nough to reject poison so well preparedf
his is the snare the most seduclng to in
ocence, and the rock the most famous by a
hipwrecks. \
Hence, anathema to romances. Woe to b
hose who read them! Woe to those who
md them! Far from you those
centious writings, produced by lbertin-
I'M, the vogue and success of which are
'tally due to the dreadful merit of sudu- Y
ng and corrupting.
All if any one amongst you had ever =,
lie misfortune of suffering any injury from W
,e reading of romances, let him beware vi
ot to proceed a deep, very deep Ii
,yss is open before him! AS to
ou, who have been SO happy as to pre-
rye your innocence, do not touch the for
dden fruit, it brings germ full of deadly
bison. Be not insensibie to the interest
your salvation, and to the consideration II
the eternal life which is to be the recon-