The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-07-07
THE DANGER OF lNDISCRIMINATE
READING.

Psalm l44: l2-"That our sons may
grow up rs the young plants and that our
daughters may be as the polished corners
Of the temple"
In the previous dscourses upon this text,
we have considered the influences of home
and of school upon the welfare of the
young. There are certain other general
considerations too IN portant to be over
looked in q discussion like the present,
upon which we must ut least bestow a pass
ing notice.
1t is one of the boasts of America, that
we are reading people. There are very
few native horn citizens who cannot read,
and while this may justly be n matter OF
national pride, yet it is much to be
doubted If the dangers of indiscrminate
reading are at all properly estimated.
There Is vast amount of literature
now overrunning the land, the bulk OF
which is altogether pernicious and debas-
ing. 1t were better not to be able to read
at all, than with passionate greed to follow
the train of the licentious publications Of
the day. Ignorance is at least compatible
with innocence, but one cannot read this
vile literature without contamination.
And because it is communicating, because
it appeals to the lowest passions of the
human nature, it Is one Of the DEVILS po-
tent instruments for the destruction of
souls. To be reading people, is to be
open to this very temptation Of Satan and
the temptation is a peculiarly fascinating
one for young. persons. Ishould not say
that ignorance is the proper antidote to the
evil, but do say that the ability to road
ifturned to no better account than this, /,
a blessing turned into curse. The devil
has great facility in turning useful thing
to destructive ends. Fondness for reading
may be the very means for the ruin of the
SOUL all the more efiectual and dangerous,
because fondness for reading" is thing
well spoken Of and commended. 1t is
thing most parents would encourage in
child and rejoice to see. 1t is not my
pu, pose indeed to deprecrte this fact, but
only to point OFT the responsibility which
parents bear and the guidance they must
exercise in this matter. Left 10 them
selves, the youth would naturally seek tina,
which psnders 10 the passions. Youth is
fond of adventure, novelty, excitement. A
literature which presents these attractions,
no matter how unreal, no matter how
immoral, will secure their attention,
when that which is reslly useful and
edifying would be regarded by them as
too dull for endurance. Is it not fact,
then, land this matter deserving serious
r-aeciion) that in many cases the sup
posed fondness for reading, is really fond.
ness for the poison of q corrupt literature,
q literature which stimulates rather than
restraints the passions, which dopraves
Esther than improves both the morals and
the taste Is it not fondness for the ex-
element, fondness for the very sins which
are painted in bright colors and clothed in
enticiny garb. There may be no
fondness for reading, except as
means Of gratifying this Immoral and per.
verified taste. The reading is a mere me-
dunn by which a stimulant is obtained.
1t affords no qualification in itself, except
as it affords the nourishment Of an evil
mind and food for II corrupt heart. Let
us be careful how we delude ourselves By
fair seeming speech. That which is mos.
fair seeming, is, by that very reason the
most secure cover of sin, the most efectual
screen Of Satan's operations. A fondness
for reading needs wise guidance. 1t may
entrap the unwary, and easily lead to splr-
itual ruin and death. Fondness for read
ing is too apt to be under such circumstan-
ces only the real index of heart far gone
from righteousness, poisoned with the iss-
cination Of sin and infamed with evil de-
sires. Let US beware how We apologize for
such sin, or how we blind our eyes to It's
presence and danger do not care to en-
large to an unreasonable extent upon IN
extreme which may be said to DO Of rare
occurrence. l doubt if the case supposed
be SO rare US some Of US imagine, but
whether So or not, the danger have de-
pic,ed is a very fearful one, and one quite
possible, Il had almost said probable), to
involve large numbers of the youths of
every community. Suppose that it does
not reach ourselves, it concerns us never.
theless to know that such danger ex-
lists; that souls are being destroyed by it,
and that the sin engenderea by an im-
moral and lustiul literature are Iursed
into life and strength under the guise Of
that which is supposed to be virtue (;
namely, fondness for reading. 1t would
perhaps be presumption in any father Of u
family to say that SO far as his own house,
bold is concerned, it is quite removed
from this special danger. 1t may DO so,
but the disease is as n pestiIence and none
Of US can be sure Of the exemption Of hi:
household. The morals and the tastes OF
the age permits the public exposure and
sale of prints at which modesty would
blush, and OF tales which would shame the
face OF virtue. Illustrated papers of the
lower class, go AS far in the direction OF
immortality, as is possible, and avoid arrest
by the officers of the law. doubt hot in
the least that news vendors would admit