The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-09-19
WHAT WE READ,


The majority of Americans, with
average intelligence, are careful not
to take positive poison into their
systems, nor to allow their children
to do SO. Apothecaries must label
all dangerous articles, under penalty.
But minds and souls are of minor
consideration, Judging by the impun-
ity with which loS, corrupting liter
ature lies about, staring US in the face
from counters, desks, boudoirs or
parlor tables, or is Struggled away
in by-corners devoid the stamp that
should ace on it aIl-the death head
and cross bones in blood red. A mo
ment may make an impress on our
minds IL at time cannot obliterate,
perhaps not even eternity. What
then shall be said of the habi;ual
reading of such works as blight viz
tue, and infect the mind with loath-
some disease Among the reading
class in England parent knows the
child's reading, what it is, and how
much OF each kind, SO that not only
is this impure stream of literature
turned away from the doors, but on
| ly as much of any sort is allowed as
will stimulate healthy mental
growth. How many American pa
rents stop in the rush for wealth or
place to look after their child's in
tellectual aliment ?
Two other kinds of reading very
largely absorb the attention of our
young people, trashy stories without
points, and unnatural, oyerdrawn
| tales gotten up for mere excitement.
These bear about the same relation
TO the first kind mentioned as baby
| food and dinner-castor diet do to pu-
trid flesh or deadly nightshade !;
none of the three can promote sound,
dormal mental growth.
A man connected with the public
library in Boston, said to q circle OF
literary friends, that he doubted if
they understood the public taste
enough to name the three most pop
ul ar authors of the day. They rather
scornfully accepted the challenge,
and ''guessed" all the renowned
English and American names from
Shakespeare down. In vain. Judg-
ing by the works that are most eager
ly sought after, the three persons
relished by modern readers above
any that ever have written or now
write in The English tongue are EN-
ma ID. 4. n. Southworth, Caroline
Lee Hentz, and Mary Jane Holmes.
Shades OF the illus,rious Aud this
in the Hub It is some slight con,
ISOLATION, however, to consider that
the readers who do not buy books,
and who read the public library, may
in classic Boston be composed large
ly OF Irish serving maids, whose
tastes run in the dish-water channel.
In the West, though, sad to say,
schoolgirls in their teens, who ought
to have their literary appetite in
mory healthy state, talk vehemently
OF the superiority of Mrs. Holmes
and the unnatural tone of sweet Miss
| Alcott! Ii puts one somewhat in the
frame of mind of gruff old DR.. john
SON, who, when complimented by Q
dullard for happy sally, sarcastical-
ly replied eff have said any
thing that You understood, / beg
pardon of the rest of the company. +"
Americas future veal or woe lies
in the young hands that are holding
the popular magazines and books OF
to- day. Too great q proportion OF
these young people are voracious de-
vouring machines, who, with no APP
parent effect but weak eyes and soft
ened brain, take in cord alter cord OF
this driftwood literature. How are
these boys and girls, fed on Oliver
Optic diet, re hashed in a thousand
dishes, to digest the science OF gov
eminent and grave moral duties, by
and by ? Meat for strong men, and
milk tor babes, but highly seasoned
slops for neither. nj. IT.
New SHARON, Aug. "a, 10.