Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1873-10-29
Fiction as a Teacher.

Tho Office of teacher Is no light
ohe. Treading always a path bcset
with responsibilities and cares, each
step sliould be weighed and consider
cd. As shepherd the flock, so di-
rccts he tho learners. Does he walk
that the distance may be
near ?--fhcy speed too. Docs he gaze
lovingly anl mnsipgly on natures
pictures. or bend Ills ear tn the nnusic
OF spheres ?--ihcy gazc. they listen,
likewise. Does he rise to heights, to
purer air ?-thry are beside him. Has
he missed his footing, aud fallen to
the earth Pin eagnrncss OF Disciple
ship they have fallen too Sucii q
teacher is fiction; for the primary
office of fiction is, we maintain, TO
teach. 1t may give power, it may
amuse-to do either Is still TO teach.
Laughing 70 teach the truth
What hntieraP' .-..
The power of fiction does not rest
upon the masterful interest of great
authors. 1t lies deeper, it is hidden
in iiie heart of humanity. "Parablcs
are more uncieut than arguments"
Where is the child who loves not
stories? And the story-'oving faculty
grows with growth. In some il de-
generates into craving for mere story;
but In oilers-=and thcy-. aEe, -wa-slaeis
lievc. the majority-the love OF story
is but a seeking after the ideal, a
studying of the mysteries of life and
! nature, both Of which are but great
parallels. In these days justice is not
done 10 the "Faeric Queehc it is
| neither sufficiently read nor studied.
Let il be So, and we believc there is
10 book short of inspiration, the
study OF which will better teach the
| higher duties of man. or better urge
10 nobleness of life. Milton, i'll his
"Arcopagitica,'' calls Sour sage aud
serious poet Sponsor a better teacher
than Scotus or Aquinas :" John Wes-
ley used to recommend his clerical
disciples TO read tnc Bible and tho
"Faerie Queene" IN combination; and
kcblc speaks of it Us "a continual
, deliberate eudeavor tn e.,list the rest.
less intellect and chivalrous feeling ol
All inquiring and romantic age OIL the
side of goodness and faith, OF purity
and Justice" Indeed, Spenscr SAYS
himself, in his Introductory letter to
Sir W. Raleigh, that 1.-THE general end
of all the book is to fashion gentle.
man or noble person in v;rtuous an,
gentle discipline" The good spirits
the evil genii, of fairy tales, have We
not met them in life? There is, il
truth, wise fuolishness in fairy
tales; there is clear thread Of right
aud wrong running through them
Our old friend of the nursery, "Jack
the Giant killer;' ''Beau.y and the
! Roocf ~ ,l, 1hn,,
nothing? And legends, though Often
beautiful teachins-the one OF ths
..lloiy Grail' for instance. In I'll,
form given it by TcnnYson, both Tho
imagery and action are full of spir
itual significance. The longing aitcl
something better and purcr than augh
of earth 4; the earnest careful seeking
the tinting; the glory-misted passin:
! OF Galailad, are full of lessons. VI
take the Arthuriau legends as w
have them i'll the .ldylls of the King.
1t has been well remarked, .'in hi
coming, his foundation of the Hount
table, his struggles, disappointment
and departure, Arthur the King
teaches us the conflict continual,
maintained between the spirit ant
the flesh" Historical prose tictioi
mag be said TO have been created b,
Scott. Before him the pictures Sivei
of by-gone ages We're caricaiures; ant
IL is much to be regretted that ou
historical fiction is of such modcri
+data---liallanlas how mnei
value would have been n genuiu
English novel, the mirror of actua
life in the various ranks of society
written under Elizabeth or the Stu
arts" Modern novels will affort
mines OF material to the future his
iorian. Shakspeare's historical play
are, in the main. admirable. Villa
he invented is as truly historical il
the large sense of moral history a
what he read. History has been call
ed philosophy teaching by example,
In Shakspeare's hands the truth o
this is brought out with wonderful
force, witness "IIrnry VIII.." or
"Julius Cesar" Scott's his.orica
fictions are excellent pictures. '.Ivan
hoe" brings before us with surprising
clearuess fcudal aud chivalrous times
The picture is idcalized still it is
picture. Quentin Durward. ""kcn;'
WORTH ''The Abbott indeed al
the historical "Wavcrlcys," ar,
worthy of high praise. We hav,
more modern examples of the histo
rical novel in the ''Last Days Of Pom
peii." "Romola," and "Westwarc
Ho" of great Elizahetl's glorious
rcign.-[Town and Country.