The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-05-13

lapssge of iikc duration. flt has changed
18Th insfesitsirApidi,S inpropotsiSs to
saeincrease OF lositimNte Works Of 'dction.
It's not merely tina. storieshsvo been writ.
ten md ftus,sA MttssivNnisttn inf,iescs.
buy that the method OF tho novel is the
true method. 1t pavcs tho hill. of duty
with thc paths of pleasing walks. II
ci'"b' the mountains oeptejudice by the
easy grsdcs of interest and excited END
SION. 1Isn orod for leo years. IL Is the
BIBLE methods nay, 10 10 Gods rno,l,o,,ii
Tho moment 10 burst anew upon tho
worid's literature In a. a charmi,ie storv a,
,RobInsor Crusoe, II commenced a raj r,n
which has widcned its Influence and IN.
creased its, forco, until tho novel Of the
18th century has taken its tr,,c position In
tho world, as c book written for purpose.
Study tho writings Of tho times never so
carefully and you eanno. fail to perceive
how rapidly they have yielded TO the in
Auehce Of tho noycl. Like tho novel
they appcn' 70 man ycatnns Tor that
which he can syinpalhiz;, fer that which
interests him, lor that Which cxeitcs his
Imagination, add ior that which leads him
out Of himself. SOC fss
My real plea tonight, tbon, is not
moroly for works Of fiction, but for the
methods ;ho novel IN ,ha dutios of tho
age. it IL Tor live tcachers and interest.
ing schools whore tho terchtrs love their
duties aad crqstc rrel in,ercs. in tho
work Of their pupils; whore tho studies
OF tho week The lessons for the lie and
the recitau0ns of tho hoor arc tho mos,
interesting portions of tho day wherc
che eye OF the pupil IS sparkling with in.
teros! in old lessons cas-: in now moulds
by Teachers whose slillis in tho heart an d
whose mind IL u beehive OF swect indus.
try. My Flea Is for that kindness in men
Of bus'ness which delights not only O. in :
nrnc. and AID thoir employs, bn. also to
interest thom IN tho principles and in.r..
caeies of successful busintGs. II is for
the iniercs. and sympathy OF young
man in his work by which alone he can
master It's duties and mako himsclf n
necessity TO his employer 1t 10 for
scientific truths presented in popular
forms, who're the farmer can turn from
his field 70 the stpiy Of the Garth which
lgiyos him dis food and any lsborcr from
! his work to the giories Of our world. 4,
is for press which has worthy purpose
in view, not writing Tor party in prefer
onoc TO TigAL no: working out tho accom-
pliShmert Of meraly selfish nirn., bu, com
Ing forth with tho rays of Tie morning
sun to interest tho mad Of ;he peop!o in
living truth and pressing duty, and by the
charm cf real interest. 90 improve shd els.
vato, day by day, the condition, OF all
sorts ot men. IL is for y p4lpi. whose
eyes are open 20 the necessities and dis.
covorio' OF our own age, whore Tho words
are living words, coming from burning
hearts, dealing with tho he OF tho I'D,
century and by pleasing discussions ..of
things in which mon are now in:erestod,
leading tAem from error 30 truth and
from vice 10 integrity OF lie. Not for
tho whip which lsshcs tho child, DIT for
the love by which tho mother teaches her
little ones not for the pctulance which
snarl' II. tho clerk, bu. for the kindness
which encourages him TO learn; not for
the EolAshreas which works for only tho
pay Of tho month, bat for the efor. TO
learn the methods of success in business /;
not for press which is dry and prosy, but
for the crisp editorials of ono who love.
his work not for pulpit which ia full OF
anathemas, but for tho words which love
! and sympsthize with tho immortal part OF
man. In nil departments Of iifo, plead
for the movers method, viz: OF influence
By EaeaLa OF in.eres. and sympathy. For
this Is natures method it is the Bible :
it is Gods method
l have said tina. works Of fiction are de-
veloping q purpose which is Characteristic
of tho age. The reason for this Is, in my
judgment, tho utility which characterines
tho efforts OF the present times. We live
in an intensely practical age, where every
thing is worth only that which its useful
mesa merits. And tho novel ia an accu.
rate index Of the lifo IN the times which
il represents. Tho social culture and
tastes Of the people are given MS correctly
as in biography and history. The customs
Of the nation and tho inward movements
Of the times are accurately portrayed
in tho popular novel. II it did not har-
monte with existing tastes and customs,
or if i. did not expose existing evils it
would not be a popular novel. 1t would
DO read by only few. Hence the popu-
lar novels OF a nation sro tho indices OF
of national chsrscter, prevailing tastes
and widespread customs. Fiction Of the
better kind never departs from human ma
ture. II may presen. phases Of life and
thought which arc untrue 10 our own
experience, but they are true TO tho lifo OF
another. 1t portrays lifo as it 10, and
shows what life ought TO be. 1t iss truoJ
exponent of our civilization aud tastes
Tho popular novels of Now England are
those which treat of New England life
and its pecul!arites tho popular novels
of other sections Of tho country are those
which portray tho familiar lifo OF
IA