The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-12-29
How to Exclude Bad newspaper. and Books.

The best way to expel foul air is by fur
nishing an abundance of fresh air. To
keep every kind of air out of an apart
ment is very difficult, if not imp ossible.
So tits with people and books and papers.
The best way to exclude the bad is to fur
nish the good. The present is a reading
age. To read is habitual with persons of
all classes. II good reading matter is not
furnished to meet the universal want, bad
will
We sometimes think that many persons
do not sufficiently take this fact into ac-
count. They imagine that, because TWEEN
ty or thirty years age books and newspa.
pers had but little to do with forming re!i-
gious opinions, "r with tho strengthening
or weakening of religious zeal, that this ID
still the case. 1t, however, is far from be-
ing AS for the young, II paper, or
pamphlet, or book is just ms customary
part Of q boys equipment, as his ma, bles,
his bat and ball, and kite in summer, or
his skates and sled in winter; and 30 with
Young girls. 1t ia not qasstien between
bad literature and none. If the contest is
made on that issue, it will inevitably be
decided in favor of the bad. Tho battle
must lie fought between good, healthful
literature, aud an evil one.
AS vel have already remarke ed, we fear that
this IS in many cases overlooked. Were
| it not, we are sure that Catholic literature
would be better supported. On all sides,
and fron every part ofthe country we hear
complaints of the general diffusion of bad
books and newspapers, of the scanty sup
port given to Catholic writer's, and of the
little interest taken by Catholics in their
own publications. Tho onr of these facts
results from the other. Ii Catholic books
and papers are not read, nom Catholic Ger
tainly will be-. On the other hand, whore
good Catholic books and papers are read, n
| healthful taste will be cultivated, and there
will be no desire aud no occasion to resort
to the popular sensational literature, which
is as poisonous to the mind as the habitual
use of opium or arsenic is to the body.
Here then, apart from others is a reason
for supp0rting heartily and earnestly Ca
tholic literature. And not least in the i'm
portance of it's various forms, is the news
paper. For the Catholic newspaper makes
known and opens the way for all the more
substantial and permanent forms Of Catho-
tic literature. 1t provides reading matter
too, in the only form in which "the poor
and uncultivated-the masses, as it lie pop.
ular to call tbem-can we'll receive and
profit by it, 1t gives them every week
some news of the Holy Father at Rome
and done somewhere, by holy men and wo
men, by pious Priests or venerable Pre-
lates, in behalf of our Holy mother, thu
Church. It every week furnishes some IL
lustration of the truth and power OF GU
holy faith, recounts some deeds of charity
| and piety, the smartyrdom Of some hol.
. servant of God, the labors and success o
, some jealous missionary, the conversion Q
! some heather or non Catholics. Thus fait'
t is strengthened. zeal increased, interest II
our Holy Catholic Church renewed, by tn
quiet and seemingly Insignificant influenc
a of the weekly Catholic newspaper.-Cincin
a aaE TeIeUrdph