The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-06-26
LITERATURE AND SOCIETY.

The influence of literature upor
society is either productive Of greai
good or evil. Hence Genes The i'm
portance OF inculcating good morals,
both in narratives of truth and fc-
ton. Much has been said and
written against the eading Of nov
els, and other work of the magma
ton. Many able minds have de-
nounced it as a pernicious and dan
gerous habit, was of time and a
catering to depraved taste. While
this may be true in many instances,
(for there are some books that better
had not Eeen written, } it does not
signify that all works Of fiction ale
of this character. Fiction is but a
skeleton to be clothed with beautiful
truths. To the interested reader
the characters in a novel become as
living moving beings; he regards
their career with interest; the trials
of their lives teach him lessons in
his own; their sufferings and vicisi-
tudes as portrayed by the author
touch the readers sympathies, and
move his tenderest emotions; he
laughs at the wit of their dialogue,
and ponders we'll upon the wisdom
of their wise ords. A great and
good book, we'll written, will do
more to promote noble social reforms,
and to create a kindly feeling among
men, than a hundred sermons by
eminent divines.
The human mind Graves excite
ment and adventure. This is par
ticularly noticeable with the young,
who delight to read of hair breadth
escapes, and sanguinary conflicts 3,
that to older minds would seem both
unreasonable and improbable. A
child requires something 10 stimulate
It's imagination, to fix its attention
and ideas. Otherwise the literature
it reads will awaken no interest in
its mind.
There is a class of stories that
though highly extravagant and
wholly improbable, have no demon
alizing tendency, or bad influence
upon a child's mind. Who is there
living that cannot remember with
what pIeasurable thrill they first
read the narratives of Jack and the
Beanstalk," The Giant-killer," and
"Blue Beard" and who has read
them, that will admit that they were
injured thereby.
The human mind must have liter
allure suited 10 It's degree of develop
ment. Wise men like Darwin,
Agassiz, Tyndall, might pronounce
cheap novel or an ordinary serial
most ridiculous conglomeration OIL
unmitigated trash and nonsense, -
yet there are persons living, older
than they. who can read such litera.
ture with the deepest interest and
pleasure. 1t is the common millions
who read light literature because
their minds have not been trained
by education, or developed by disci
pine to go below the surface of com
mon things, to solve the problems
Of science, to comprehend the won
ders Of art, sand to settle and investi-
gate the questions Of philosophy,
religion, and human history.
It is the common people then, the
working people, the great masses of
humanity, that comprise the muscle
and sinew Of our country, that fill
our workshops and our marts O
commerce, and till cur farms, who
prefer and enjoy light literature.
BY light literature [ mean thai
kind of reading that is emotional
rather than logical and practical;
that plays upon the feelings of mer
rather than puts their minds tc
tAlnklng
ANY harmless pleasure men may
find that will promote their happi
ness in living, without injury tc
their morals, is q good thing.
A young boy reads Of daring
deeds and honorable adventures; he
goes through battles and conflicts
with his heroes, he beholds scenes o.
happiness and love that awaken The
nobkest ard best impul Of his ma.